Oil Still Leaking - Might Need Me a Torque Wrench

[Guest]

The first thing I did when I got my bike a while ago was change the oil. I pulled the oil pan, put in a brand new gasket, replaced all the bolts with ones I found at the local hardware store (maybe a mistake that I didn't use OEM?), replaced the oil filter, filter cover gasket, acorn nuts, washers, and the studs.

And I'm still leaking oil. It's a slow leak, but enough to get some oil in my catch-pan underneath over a week period.

I suspect I may have failed to torque the bolts correctly. I just used a regular wrench, as I don't own a torque wrench. The oil is basically all over the bottom of the engine, so it has to be leaking from down there somewhere.

Any ideas? Think I should invest in a torque wrench to make sure? New gasket again? OEM bolts to make sure? Who knows what the PO used - I doubt the drain plug washer is OEM - it looks like he got it at a hardware store too.

[tkent02]

Bolts is bolts, that ain't it. Was it leaking before you operated on it?
Overtorqued, cheap gaskets? Or was the gasket OEM?

New cruch washer on the drain bolt? How about the pliug on the filter cover? They get micro cracks after too many uses.

The 6mm bolts and the nuts in the pan and on the filter cover don't need to be very tight, 60 or 70 inch pounds will do it. Finger tight then a little bit more with a couple fingers on a short wrench is enough.

Clean it up, use the powder technique to find out exactly where it's leaking, it may be something else like the bottom of the stator or clutch cover. Possible even the center seam on the engine cases is leaking, possible it's running down from the Mystery Hole and blowing around to where you see it.

[srg]

Not sure if the gasket was OEM or not. I just went to a local bike shop and asked for an oil pan gasket for my bike. That's what they gave me - it was my fault for being ignorant in the very beginning - I should've checked.

My filter cover has no plug in it at all.

I'll try the powder technique. I suppose you just clean it all up, then apply baby power (or whatever) everywhere and see what darkens up first?

[tkent02]

Not sure if the gasket was OEM or not. I just went to a local bike shop and asked for an oil pan gasket for my bike. That's what they gave me - it was my fault for being ignorant in the very beginning - I should've checked.

My filter cover has no plug in it at all.

I'll try the powder technique. I suppose you just clean it all up, then apply baby power (or whatever) everywhere and see what darkens up first?

Was it a paper gasket? An aftermarket one might be OK, might not.

Exactly, something that sprays like foot powder is easy, baby powder that you squeeze to shoot some out is harder to control, but it doesn't really matter.

Kind of like the joke about the fat chick.

[blowerbike]

roll em in flour ect..???
i'm glad i quit drinking!
anywayssssss

[tkent02]

That's the one.

[GSX1000E]

roll em in flour ect..???
i'm glad i quit drinking!
anywayssssss

Worm gear.

[blowerbike]

Worm gear.

now that was funny!

[mrbill5491]

Not sure if the gasket was OEM or not. I just went to a local bike shop and asked for an oil pan gasket for my bike. That's what they gave me - it was my fault for being ignorant in the very beginning - I should've checked.

My filter cover has no plug in it at all.

I'll try the powder technique. I suppose you just clean it all up, then apply baby power (or whatever) everywhere and see what darkens up first?

If the pan gasket is not the right thickness its gonna seep all over the place. Use OEM. Also, there are two bolts on the left side kind of under the starter. You have to take the sprocket cover off too see them. One of the members here found his leak was coming from there.

[srg]

Thanks for the tips guys. I ordered a new OEM gasket and some other minor things (the drain plug washer and such).

Would it be safe to leave the engine without oil in it for a month or so while I'm waiting for parts? I was thinking I'd take a look at the clutch and stator while I'm waiting and it's drained (and replace those gaskets too).

[Big T]

That's no problem, as long as it had oil in it before you drained it out