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Out of the blue oil leak

  • Thread starter Thread starter GS1100GLMLA
  • Start date Start date
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GS1100GLMLA

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I've replaced my case gaskets with new this past winter and just put on a new oil pan gasket with a fresh Rotella 5W40 Oil change. I have ridden it about 50 miles with no leaks and problems and on the way to work this morning I passed a car and missed shifted from 1st to 2nd but didn't think anything of it. When I got to work and sat down I realized that I had fresh oil all over my right pant leg bottom. I went out and checked the engine and it was on the right side on the bottom and top of the engine block and spread on the right side back to the passengers foot peg. Any guidance here? Could the miss shift have caused this? I think the RPM's went to about 10,500. I cleaned it up best I can and will see what happens after work on the way back home.
 
Could be a number of things. The oil on the bottom probably is weeping down from the top of the cases. Now where is it coming from? Anything up around the valve cover or end caps or is everything from the base gasket on up clean and dry?
If you ride home be careful you don't run that puppy out of oil.
 
Thanks Chip. The oil level was still on the full mark. Its dry on the valve cover gasket and the front of the engine. It's tough to tell exactliy where it's coming from. On top of the block (below the carburators was quite soaked. It's definately coming from the right side. I'ts on the side of the clutch case where your foot is at. Not much up ahead on the signal generator cover. It seemed to just start on the ride into work this morning.
 
Need more cowbell.
You over revved the motor which should not cause an oil leak (usually).
If the oil level is still on the full mark and there is so much oil, we'd have to assume the oil was overfilled.
If it was overfilled, perhaps you pushed enough oil up through the breather and into the airbox.
Is oil leaking out of the airbox?
Even then it should run out the airbox drain unless there is so much oil in there it's leaking past the airbox side cover onto the top of the block and down the clutch cover.
I could be way off base here-just some ideas.
 
That's a good comment. I will check the airbox when I leave for work. I had thought I put in about 3.75 gallons in on the oil change. There's a small tube that comes out the top of the block (below the Carburators) thats about six inches long that was pointing towards the front (where the carbs go into the engine). Do you know what that tube is venting?
 
GS1100GLMLA said:
There's a small tube that comes out the top of the block (below the Carburators) thats about six inches long that was pointing towards the front (where the carbs go into the engine). Do you know what that tube is venting?
Click to expand...
I'll have to look at mine when I get home. My guess is that it's the breather for the shaft drive primary case which requires gear oil, not engine oil. So if that was leaking you should be able to smell the difference. Gear oil stinks. Unless someone put engine oil in the primary drive unit.8-[
Even then, I don't think missing a shift would cause it to leak because when you missed and over revved, there wasn't any engagement to that unit.
 
Yea, I think your right. I just ran out and looked at the airbox and it is fairly clean. It doesn't look like there is any oil on it or dripping from it. It hasn't leaked any oil after I cleaned it off sitting in the parking lot all day.
 
Well, I drove it home and it leaked oil real bad all the way soaking my right foot and lower leg. When I got home, I looked it over and it looks like it is coming out of the #4 exhaust right were the header pipe bolts onto the head. I could see it pooling up on the engine while I was driving and then blowing off onto my leg. What does it mean when it is coming out of the #4 exhaust at the head when running?
 
Well, I'm stumped. I can't see what's causing the oil leak. It looks like it is coming from the #4 cylinder exhaust. That's where it looks like the leak is originating from. Anyone got any ideas?
 
The only things I can think of:
Tach drive is above #3 cylinder, maybe tach drive "O" ring?

There is a 10 mm bolt between the #2 and #3 cylinder that screws upwards. (you can only see it if youre laying on the ground, looking up, with your head behind the front tire) Maybe it has loosened?

Loose valve cover bolt?

If nothing else, you could retorque the head bolts in the off chance one has loosened.

Valve cover gasket leaking.

If none of the above, I would say you have a blown head gasket.


E.




GS1100GLMLA said:
Well, I'm stumped. I can't see what's causing the oil leak. It looks like it is coming from the #4 cylinder exhaust. That's where it looks like the leak is originating from. Anyone got any ideas?
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Last edited:
Thanks for the reply. I replaced the o-rings for the tach a few months ago and didn't have any problems. The oil leaks seems to be below the valve cover gasket. I replaced the valve cover gasket and half moons a couple of months ago also. The valve cover gasket is dry. I can't see any break in the head gasket but if I did blow it would it pour out the crankcase oil fairly rapidly?
 
A blown head gasket can weep oil slowly or at a pretty good rate. Depends on how big the blowout is. :-) When mine went, it blew oil all over my left knee/leg and my leg looked like a dike had burst, but the actual volume of oil wasnt much. I think I only added a half quart of oil during my 800 mile return ride home.

E.





GS1100GLMLA said:
Thanks for the reply. I replaced the o-rings for the tach a few months ago and didn't have any problems. The oil leaks seems to be below the valve cover gasket. I replaced the valve cover gasket and half moons a couple of months ago also. The valve cover gasket is dry. I can't see any break in the head gasket but if I did blow it would it pour out the crankcase oil fairly rapidly?
Click to expand...
 
What you might try is wash the front of the engine off with liquid Joy (or whatever you have) to get rid of the oil. Let the bike dry, or blow dry it with a leaf blower. Then "splash" the front of the engine with some talc or spray it with some foot powder. (or, in a pinch, I guess you could just "dust" it with flour) Then start the bike and you should be able to see where the oil leak starts to show first. (yeah, I know, "pinch of flour" pun and all that hehehe)

Gotta find it before you can fix it. hehe

E.


GS1100GLMLA said:
Thanks for the reply. I replaced the o-rings for the tach a few months ago and didn't have any problems. The oil leaks seems to be below the valve cover gasket. I replaced the valve cover gasket and half moons a couple of months ago also. The valve cover gasket is dry. I can't see any break in the head gasket but if I did blow it would it pour out the crankcase oil fairly rapidly?
Click to expand...
 
I agree with earl on this one. Pretty bizarre. I'd recommend buying a half dozen cans of brake clean and spraying the area cold with great gusto then use an air compressor to blow dry it. Then repeat the process. You need to get every bit of oil off of the area-so clean you can eat off it. Then use some aerosol medicated foot powder and evenly spray the whole area with it. Get a good strong light going and start the bike. The powder will immediately darken at the exact source of the leak.
Please let us know what you find.
 
Those are great ideas. I never thought of puting powder on it to find the source of the leak. I will definately do that. I probably won't be able to get to that until Saturday evening or Sunday though but I will keep you updated. Thanks.
 
I probably wouldnt use brake cleaner because it destroys painted surfaces, eats plastics, etc.

E.


chiphead said:
I agree with earl on this one. Pretty bizarre. I'd recommend buying a half dozen cans of brake clean and spraying the area cold with great gusto then use an air compressor to blow dry it. Then repeat the process. You need to get every bit of oil off of the area-so clean you can eat off it. Then use some aerosol medicated foot powder and evenly spray the whole area with it. Get a good strong light going and start the bike. The powder will immediately darken at the exact source of the leak.
Please let us know what you find.
Click to expand...
 
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