oil leak

[bjrehill]

Last time I rode I came back and parked my 1980 GS 850 GL in the garage. I came out the next day to find a puddle of oil. The bike was parked on the side stand. The bottom of the engine was coated with oil. There does not seem to be any oil coming from the oil filter cover or the seam between the cases. It looks like maybe it's coming from the side covers.

Any ideas? Is there a gasket in there? This would be the shifter side. Thanks

[rpickle]

Well, it could be coming from almost anywhere. The oil drain plug can leak. The oil pan may be loose or the gasket hosed. Mine drips a bit from the shifter lever, but not enough to make me worry too much. Wipe 'er all down and keep a close eye on where the oil begins to drip from.

Best I can do.

Rick

[JayH]

When you put the bike on the centerstand does it look like your oil level is over full?

[Redman]

Is it oil or is it oil AND gas?

[Jethro]

Not sure if the GL's are the same, but my 1100's commonly leak at three places (all easy to fix): the valve cover gasket, the tach drive and the cam chain tensioner. Be aware when you are cleaning your engine and checking, these leaks have the ability to defy all laws of science and reason. I learned the hard way when I was convinced that my head gasket was leaking. It was bleeding oil from the front of the engine, at about the base of the head. After a new head gasket it still leaked. My Cam chain tensioner gasket had torn. #-o The cam chain tensioner is on the other side of the engine, and much lower than the head gasket. Totally Twilight Zone...