oil leak

[ozman]

There's an air passage there?

correct there is.... it allows air to flow through the head past the spark plug area and centre of cylinder head,airflow exits in front of carbs but any oil leaking front rocker cover in the centre will exit at the front because its downhill !

ozman

[ozman]

ozman, thx for the reply; so it's not leaking between cylinder head and cylinder block?
what this air passage is meant to do?

the fin the oil is running off is above the line where head joins cylinder
refer to my previous reply as to why air passage is there

[chuck hahn]

He means that between the cylinders the there is a space for air to flow thru the engine and around the cylinders for cooling them down. And he is right..new cam cover gasket is in order. When removing the parts of the old gasket thats stuck to the head and cover..dont scar it up.

[ozman]

hi chuck
both the cylinders and cylinder head have air passages through them to assist cooling in this case the oil appears to be exiting from cylinder head air passage


ozman

[JTGS850GL]

Pull the gas tank and inspect the top of the engine. You're bound to see where the oil is leaking from and how it's getting to the front of the engine. My guess is you'll see a pool of oil around a spark plug as well.

[Lorenzo]

ozmyman thanks again
O L@@@, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go silently to Sheol.

but gasket only had 3000 km / 1864 ml and I did not mean to skimp, just tougt could get away with it, as it came off easy and seemed supple (I did not overtighten it first time).

I would have thought the passage was to recirculate oil as a means to be EPA compliant, but if is for providing fresh air, and is in contact with the outside of engine, than, what prevents from matters to get in / road tar to block it?

JTG I already have removed the tank and valve cover again, and there is no oil anywhere.

[azr]

I've reused plenty of valve cover gaskets as have most people on here, there no problem with that as long as it's intact. So you've had a good look at the engine with the tank off and cannot see oil coming from anywhere but as shown on your video? I'm a bit confused by your comment of "removed the valve cover again, and there's no oil anywhere" do you mean you looked at the valves and there was no oil up there or do you mean you took off the gas tank and had a good look around and found no oil leaks?

[chuck hahn]

Oz..I agree the oil is above the head gasket line. But the only way I can think of oil coming from above is via the valve ( cam ) cover gasket. Unless the head wall by the cam chain tunnel has cracked, I cant think of any reason there would be a leak.

Fill me in on this Helicoil deal...have I mised something???

[Lorenzo]

sorry I really ment I removed the tank to gain a better view, and valve cover, to check I did not make some coke-up with the shims, but they where there, in their places, (of course I did two full rotation of the camshafts by hand, prior to remount the cover but, you never know....)

[chuck hahn]

Looked at the video again 3 times. Heres what I would do. Wipe the area off well and clean in between the fins in the area. Have someone else start the bike while you are ready with a rolling camera to capture a few seconds before and thru the entire process of the oil starting to flow.

By time you start the bike and make your way down there is already oil and your not seeing it actually start building up. But honestly, IF the oil is seeping out around that bolt head in the center..youre head gasket is blown.

[Lorenzo]

a measly 90 posts guy, shoud not really mixing-it with a father founder, so if you are ever so kind to take my humble opinion with the benefit of doubt, I could say that, helicoil, if frequently removed, do exhibit a tendency to unravel;
That's what just happend to me, and the how, I found the thread was helicoiled.
Time-serts might be a better option.
I still do not get how an air passage could be in contact with the outside, even if this could, in my case, mean a cracked head...

P.S. no disrespect above.... but sincere respect for an experienced person.

[azr]

I wonder if one of the valve cover bolts somehow cracked the head while you were putting them back in?? VERY unlikely but there's a large hole/crack somewhere and since this wasn't present before you took the valve cover off it very likely has something to do with that.

[chuck hahn]

If whoever helicoiled the exhaust flange bolt hole had drilled thru the oil passage thats behind it in the head, the oil would be coing from under the exhaust flange and bolt..it isnt. this rules out the exhaust bolt hole being drilled too deep. And yes I love Timeserts as compared to the coils..apples to oranges.

Back to the video. The pooling, to me, looked centered on the front head gasket bolt. It wasnt running down from above in a manner that looked like a valve cover gasket leak. So, by process of elimination and that video, I am concluding a blown head gasket in the front. And yes they can blow while cranking it over to start it...so dont be so hasty to say its not possible.

[Lorenzo]

Looked at the video again 3 times. Heres what I would do. Wipe the area off well and clean in between the fins in the area. Have someone else start the bike while you are ready with a rolling camera to capture a few seconds before and thru the entire process of the oil starting to flow.

By time you start the bike and make your way down there is already oil and your not seeing it actually start building up. But honestly, IF the oil is seeping out around that bolt head in the center..youre head gasket is blown.

So you would not chance to try a new cover gasket (even RTV) and I should bridge for the worst (head gasket)?

I cannot make another video until I repair the thread on the pipe clamp; I have only an half inch helicoil at the moment (sunday) and do not know if it would be enough.
Are you ruling out a leaky cover gasket could lead to oil finding it's way out the way we see?

Apart from the perfectly acceptable odds, of blowing a gasket upon remounting another gasket, what could have caused it (if it's proved the head gasket has blown)? edited: my reply came late
Thanks

[azr]

a measly 90 posts guy, shoud not really mixing-it with a father founder, so if you are ever so kind to take my humble opinion with the benefit of doubt, I could say that, helicoil, if frequently removed, do exhibit a tendency to unravel;
That's what just happend to me, and the how, I found the thread was helicoiled.
Time-serts might be a better option.
I still do not get how an air passage could be in contact with the outside, even if this could, in my case, mean a cracked head...

P.S. no disrespect above.... but sincere respect for an experienced person.

The air passage they are talking about is on the outside of the engine, not connected with the internals..if it were it woudn't be an air passage, it would be an oil drain hole.....