Out of the blue oil leak

[earlfor]

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.

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?

[chiphead]

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.

[GS1100GLMLA]

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.

[earlfor]

I probably wouldnt use brake cleaner because it destroys painted surfaces, eats plastics, etc.

E.

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.

[chiphead]

I probably wouldnt use brake cleaner because it destroys painted surfaces, eats plastics, etc.

E.

Yea but with the foot powder at least your motor won't get athletes foot.:-D

[Dave8338]

Go with a can or two of engine degreaser and have at it...take the hose and wash it off and you're done. Is the foot powder thing like rolling a fat woman in flour? :shock: :-D

[chiphead]

Go with a can or two of engine degreaser and have at it...take the hose and wash it off and you're done. Is the foot powder thing like rolling a fat woman in flour? :shock: :-D

I'm not familiar with the fat woman in flour thing and I don't think I want to be.

[GS1100GLMLA]

Would a loose tach cable screw that goes into the valve cover cause a leak like this? As I was inspecting it I felt the knuled tach screw that goes into the valve cover area and it was real loose. I tightened it up but I don't have the exhaust on yet. What does everyone think?

[earlfor]

I believe it would. If I understand correctly, that screw holds down a small plate which compresses the sealing "O" ring into place. No seal, BIG leak.

Instinct tells me you have found your problem. :-)

E.

Would a loose tach cable screw that goes into the valve cover cause a leak like this? As I was inspecting it I felt the knuled tach screw that goes into the valve cover area and it was real loose. I tightened it up but I don't have the exhaust on yet. What does everyone think?

[GS1100GLMLA]

Well, I guess I'm not that lucky. I cleaned it up real good and took it for a ride thinking I had solved the problem and got the same results. Oil all over the engine. It is definitely coming from the front. I will have to clean it real good again and do the foot powder test on it to see where it is coming from. It kind of looks like it is coming from around the head gasket or #4 and #3 exhaust ports where the headers bolt on.

[earlfor]

Well crappola!!!! Damn! OK then, clean her up and do the powder test to see exactly where the leak originates. At worst, it could be a blown head gasket and we can walk you through that disassembly and installation if you need any help. From where you've indicated the origin, could be just a valve cover gasket too. If the leak is below the exhaust flange, that would be a head gasket, If it starts above the exhaust, its valve cover.

E.

Well, I guess I'm not that lucky. I cleaned it up real good and took it for a ride thinking I had solved the problem and got the same results. Oil all over the engine. It is definitely coming from the front. I will have to clean it real good again and do the foot powder test on it to see where it is coming from. It kind of looks like it is coming from around the head gasket or #4 and #3 exhaust ports where the headers bolt on.

[natedees]

Really curious to hear the source of the leak - I just sprung a leak in the same spot - it looks to be coming out of the connection between the exhaust and the engine, but there is just a little bit on the lip above the interface, so i know it must be above, but cannot find a trail!!!

[GS1100GLMLA]

I FINALLY FOUND IT! I did the foot powder test and saw it coming out the front of the engine by the #4 exhaust port inner bolt. I After tracing it back I found it was sourcing from the inside section of the valve cover. There is a section that has a half circle in it and the gasket slid inside enough to allow oil to leak out. It basically was leaking out there which is mostly concealed by the gas tank and then flows forward across the top of the head through a small part which directs it next to the #4 exhaust port inner bolt. Now I'm going to find me a high quality valve cover gasket to replace it.

[earlfor]

Hot Doggy! GOOD JOB!! A valve cover gasket is the best of a lot of not wonderful choices. :-) Almost home free. hehehehe

E. Cheers

I FINALLY FOUND IT! I did the foot powder test and saw it coming out the front of the engine by the #4 exhaust port inner bolt. I After tracing it back I found it was sourcing from the inside section of the valve cover. There is a section that has a half circle in it and the gasket slid inside enough to allow oil to leak out. It basically was leaking out there which is mostly concealed by the gas tank and then flows forward across the top of the head through a small part which directs it next to the #4 exhaust port inner bolt. Now I'm going to find me a high quality valve cover gasket to replace it.

[natedees]

When you say "valve cover gasket", is that the same as a Cylinder Head Cover Gasket?? That is what I am reading off of BikeBandit as I am trying to order the right part for myself. I am trying to attach here a picture of your bike (I think) - the cylinder head cover gasket is the big gasket #2 in the picture - is that the one? Thanks!