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    80 gs1100e Oil draining from engine breather

    So I changed oil a few weeks back and a Surprisingly low amount of oil drained out.
    Filled back up with Rotella T6.
    in the past weeks since riding, I’ve been finding oil spots on the ground where I park the bike after a ride. Oil is coming out of the engine breather hose, which exits into a small filter that hangs right above the swing arm pivot.
    Most of the time I’m riding less than 10 miles at a time in Chicago weather (below 35F), and the oil spot is small. Today I rode it hard for 30 miles on the highway and when I came back to the bike after work, there was about 1.5cups of oil that had been pumped out.

    Initially I thought it was just bad quality control, and me overfilling the engine oil, but after weeks of this happening, it seems like something else is to blame. I checked the oil level after getting home this afternoon, and the level is below the F mark in the sight glass.

    aside from user error and overfilling the engine oil, what might be causing this?
    bad rings leaking exhaust pressure into the crank cases??
    need to do a compression check this week, but it was good (all cylinders about 145psi or so) before winter.


    will try to get some pictures up soon. The top of the swing arm is covered in oil, and the oil flows down the left side and drips near the rear axle while the bike is on the side stand.
    81 gs1100E
    81 gs550
    74 xlch 1000 custom
    03 ktm 525 exc supermoto
    76 honda cj360
    72 honda cl350
    2 green parrots

    #2
    Yes, a compression test is called for... But make sure your petcock has not failed and is dumping gas into #2 causing over pressure situation in crankcase
    1981 gs650L

    "We are all born ignorant, but you have to work hard to stay stupid" Ben Franklin

    Comment


      #3
      copy that. i think the petcock is alright, but it's worth a check. gas mileage has been consistent during this whole experience.

      while kicking it over in my head, i think i may have figured it out (hopefully). the aforementioned oil change was brought on by an unsightly leak on the breather cover. there was about an inch of gasket failure, and it was dribbling oil out the left side of the cover, and going absolutely everywhere behind and below it.


      the gasket came off in mostly one piece, and so with the cover, i was able to make a pretty good re-production of the way the previous gasket functioned, using some gasket paper and a sharp utility knife.



      it fixed the external leak, i did the oil change, i rode away with a new problem, which is this oil-from-the-breather issue.
      everyone on here talks about OEM GASKETS OR DIE, so i thought it was worth a shot to look into it.

      that's the NOS gasket. obviously looks a bit different, and hopefully once i get that installed later this week, it will help keep flung camchain oil from finding the breather hose.

      fingers crossed. in the mean time, i got a compression check to do. so if you'll excuse me.....
      81 gs1100E
      81 gs550
      74 xlch 1000 custom
      03 ktm 525 exc supermoto
      76 honda cj360
      72 honda cl350
      2 green parrots

      Comment


        #4
        also something that is very cool is that it appears that my base gasket has developed a small leak below the camchain tensioner.

        81 gs1100E
        81 gs550
        74 xlch 1000 custom
        03 ktm 525 exc supermoto
        76 honda cj360
        72 honda cl350
        2 green parrots

        Comment


          #5
          First I would make sure the filter on the breather is clear any restriction here will increase crankcase pressure if that's clear then it is time to do the compression test (warm engine and throttle held wide open) then post the results.
          a decent home made gasket should suffice for the breather cover.
          The big guy up there rides a Suzuki (this I know)
          1981 gs850gx

          1999 RF900
          past bikes. RF900
          TL1000s
          Hayabusa
          gsx 750f x2
          197cc Francis Barnett
          various British nails

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by CincinnatiKid View Post
            ... it appears that my base gasket has developed a small leak below the camchain tensioner.
            Before you do anything crazy, make SURE it's the base gasket.

            If it appears to be leaking below the camchain tensioner, make sure it's not the camchain tensioner.

            It's a LOT quicker and easier to change.

            .
            sigpic
            mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
            hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
            #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
            #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
            Family Portrait
            Siblings and Spouses
            Mom's first ride
            Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
            (Click on my username in the upper-left corner for e-mail info.)

            Comment


              #7
              Copy, I did bassclif’s tensioner overhaul on my 80 gs750 because of it being leaky.
              its such an oily mess down there, it’s hard to determine the source.



              this is what the bike is doing today (which is the same as all days), pulling into the driveway at home after work. I thought this white smoke that was happening from the breather vent was because it was cold in the previous weeks, but it’s 41F here now.
              81 gs1100E
              81 gs550
              74 xlch 1000 custom
              03 ktm 525 exc supermoto
              76 honda cj360
              72 honda cl350
              2 green parrots

              Comment


                #8


                so if that first oil leak wasn't enough, today we're profusely leaking from the exhaust side of the engine.
                we're parts shopping, ladies and gentlemen.
                i was hoping to delay, but it's time for a rebuild. found a lead on a place in town that will do the machine work on the cylinders and head
                any opinions on whether head resurfacing/removal to increase C.R. is worth the time/money?

                OEM base and head gaskets
                New rings at least, potentially new pistons/rings in a .5m Overbore
                Camchain Tensioner rebuild/gasket
                Valve Guides (Viton)
                Cylinder/case o-rings
                Exhaust gaskets

                What else might I want to invest in @ this time?
                (besides a working bike (or a bus pass) to get me to work and back!)
                81 gs1100E
                81 gs550
                74 xlch 1000 custom
                03 ktm 525 exc supermoto
                76 honda cj360
                72 honda cl350
                2 green parrots

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by CincinnatiKid View Post
                  any opinions on whether head resurfacing/removal to increase C.R. is worth the time/money?
                  I don't have any experience in this area to give you any comparison numbers, but my line of logic says that by the time you remove enough material to raise the compression a noticeable amount, the cams will be a bit closer to the crank. The question would be whether that distance will be enough to affect cam timing. Slotted cam sprockets would rectify that.

                  .
                  sigpic
                  mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
                  hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
                  #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
                  #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
                  Family Portrait
                  Siblings and Spouses
                  Mom's first ride
                  Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
                  (Click on my username in the upper-left corner for e-mail info.)

                  Comment


                    #10
                    sounds like more oil than one would expect from this, BUUUUT.....a leaky valve cover gasket or half-moons can get oil spraying in some pretty unlikely places. Before you tear it down I would clean it up and try to locate the leaks, there is a chance it might not be as bad as it looks....
                    1983 GS 1100 ESD :D

                    Comment


                      #11
                      And please, when it's rebuilt, no more exhaust tape!
                      1982 GS1100E V&H "SS" exhaust, APE pods, 1150 oil cooler, 140 speedo, 99.3 rear wheel HP, black engine, '83 red

                      2016 XL883L sigpic Two-tone blue and white. Almost 42 hp! Status: destroyed, now owned by the insurance company. The hole in my memory starts an hour before the accident and ends 24 hours after.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Had an unexpected few hours today to get a preliminary look-see. Cleaned it up with engine degreaser after a compression test, so tomorrow I can run t after spraying some talc powder on the front and around the engine to look for leaks. The compression test was pretty discouraging though.

                        cyl1 - 100
                        cyl2 - 0 ish
                        cyl3 - 100
                        cyl4 - 85

                        not sure exactly what happened in the 6 months since I last did the test... I certainly don’t abuse this engine in the ways that others certainly do!!

                        either way I have a shop waiting for me to drop the cylinders and head off for a hone and valve job. Rings and gaskets and valve seals on their way.

                        the goal is to get the engine broken down enough to drop the parts off at the shop tomorrow before the day is done.
                        wish me luck
                        81 gs1100E
                        81 gs550
                        74 xlch 1000 custom
                        03 ktm 525 exc supermoto
                        76 honda cj360
                        72 honda cl350
                        2 green parrots

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by Rob S. View Post
                          And please, when it's rebuilt, no more exhaust tape!
                          LOL these pipes are hella ratty underneath the wrap. I priced out a 4-1 Mac exhaust a few nights ago and it’s like 250-300. Not quite sure if it’s on the shipping list yet.
                          81 gs1100E
                          81 gs550
                          74 xlch 1000 custom
                          03 ktm 525 exc supermoto
                          76 honda cj360
                          72 honda cl350
                          2 green parrots

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by CincinnatiKid View Post
                            LOL these pipes are hella ratty underneath the wrap. I priced out a 4-1 Mac exhaust a few nights ago and it’s like 250-300. Not quite sure if it’s on the shipping list yet.
                            I don't want to derail your thread but if/when you look for a new exhaust leave the MAC behind and spend a bit more for the Delkevic.
                            Color/Finish: Natural Material: Stainless Steel Fits: Suzuki GS1000 1978-1980 Note: Not eligible for free shipping
                            2@ \'78 GS1000

                            Comment


                              #15
                              thx for the link. what makes the MAC second tier? the delkevic looks sweet either way, and not that much more $$

                              things have stalled after a particularly abundant weekend/week/coming week of work, on top of a nasty tussle with whatever illness has been making the rounds recently.

                              found a great machine shop on a good recommendation out in the CHI suburbs. Fornarelli Motorsports, if anyone can vouch...

                              I have a day off on sunday to drop the engine out, soda blast it as clean as i can get it, break it down and drive the head and cylinder out to get work done.
                              pics of the breakdown to come.

                              also figuring on a fresh chain and sprocket set while the engine is out, etc etc.
                              likely will stay with the same ratio, but swap to a 530 setup.
                              81 gs1100E
                              81 gs550
                              74 xlch 1000 custom
                              03 ktm 525 exc supermoto
                              76 honda cj360
                              72 honda cl350
                              2 green parrots

                              Comment

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