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Huge oil leak coming from exhaust silencer

  • Thread starter Thread starter nicholascott
  • Start date Start date
If that cylinder is not firing, then it wouldn't smoke much. That plug should be totally wet with oil and not firing. Did you check the plugs and find one all wet and black? Also, with a bad head gasket, you would have low compression in that cylinder. Do you have access to a compression tester?
 
My bet's on mystery leak. I've had leaks from side panels drip down from those seams... the oil drips off the bottom of the bracket. Turned out to be a leaky seal between the stator cavity and the starter motor.

The only way to truly track down an oil leak is to really clean things off and powder it up. You can end up chasing oil demons for months if you just start pulling things apart. Good luck!
 
Griffin said:
I think if that much oil were coming through an exhaust valve and collecting in the exhaust (assuming that cylinder is actually firing), it would be smoking like a Hollywood fog machine.

Clean the engine and exhaust really well, I mean scrub it down good with simple green and a brush. Dry it off with a fan. When it is completely dry (generally overnight), lightly dust the engine and exhaust with talcum powder. Start the bike, let it run for a while (five minutes idling won't hurt anything), then shut it off. Use a fan on a light setting to blow the powder off. Examine closely any areas where the powder is stuck to the engine.

You'll find your leak.
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Whoa, that's a damn good idea! Well played, sir.
 
Well, here's where the fun begins! I took off the exhaust and looked in the pipe. There is definitely oil in there. So it looks like I will be replacing some gaskets. I also noticed that 1 of the spark plugs had oil on it. I have never replaced a head gasket. ( I'm assuming that's what I need to change. ) However, I will search through the posts. I'm sure there are detailed instructions on here somewhere:) I just want to say thank you to all of you who gave me some ideas on what to check. I always appreciate it.
 
Man if that bikes been sitting for a long time, and you've just got it running and it's only firing on two cylinders, you'll probably have a problem like that. I know my bike leaked and shot oil everywhere when I got it running after sitting for 3 years and it was only firing on one coil. Make sure all four cylinders are firing.

Once I got all four cylinders firing on my bike and got it out and rode it for a bit, it stopped all the oil pumping out pipes and the headers. When I first noticed it doing this, I was worried it had bad rings, or bad valve seals. But, it doesn't do it anymore, at all.....after i repleaced the valve cover gasket and half moons, it only has a couple leaks now, and those are from the tach gear and the cam chain tensioner.
 
possible has stuck rings from sticking, put some sea foam in the oil and ride it softly then change it after a while
 
I contacted our dealer/mechanic here in my area and he said it was 6 hours worth of labor to change the head gasket and not worth the time to do it unless it was a family heirloom! He said that even though the gasket is cheap that it's not worth changing. Is this true. I mean I didn't pay a lot for the bike. However, I would like to get it running. Does it really take that long to do? It doesn't look like it's that complex. Or, will I be getting myself into more trouble than it's worth?
 
I can't see how it would take anyone that long to do, let alone a "bike mechanic". Tell him he sucks.

I did the one on my Escort with no prior experience in about 4 hours. I have been in the top end of my bike and can't see how it would take half that...
 
Did you do a compression test yet? Why are you dead set it's the head gasket that is leaking? If you are getting oil blow by the top choices would be leaky valve seals, stuck piston rings, exhaust valve burnt or not fully closing. If i was you, i would do a compresstion test, make sure your carbs are clean and in spec, valves adjusted. After all that, I would pour some sea foam in the oil and run some rotella sythentic oil for about a 100 miles change the oil and see if that helps.

report back if the bike smokes more on start up or on decel after running it in the higher rpm range.
 
I'm also not following why you're so convinced you want to replace the head gasket. The only oil passages in the head gasket are at the corners, and these will leak externally long before oil would get into the cylinders and make its way into the exhaust.

Even if the valve stem seals were missing entirely, you couldn't get enough oil through there to drip. It would cause a blue cloud of oil smoke, but that's about it.

Same story with the piston rings -- you'd get a bunch of smoking but never enough to drip.



You have an oil leak that's dripping onto the pipe and running to the lowest point. That much oil is not coming through the cylinder.

You say you're sure it's oil, but the first thing I thought of was that the petcock diaphragm is torn, allowing fuel to enter the #2 cylinder, mix with the carbon, and get blown down into the exhaust.




And whatever you do, don't take it to a shop. That way lies only madness and heartbreak. I think the 6 hour quote was pretty fair -- it's about two hours of work, if that, but at least four to eight hours of scraping and cleaning.

But again, I don't think the head gasket has anything to do with what's wrong with your bike.
 
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I will do the compression test and check out the petcock diaphram. I will definitley check out all the other possibilities of what may be. I guess I just worry to much and always assume the worst. :)
 
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Well, I'm posting an update. I sure didn't need to replace ANY gaskets. You were right Bwringer. It was the petcock. I was so sure that it was not a fuel leakin. Well, I sat in my garage wondering why I wasn't smelling fuel. After all if it was a fuel leak you would certainly smell fuel, right? Well I watched the leak and caught some of the drops in my hand. And smelled it right away. It was fuel all right. Fuel mixed with all the black dirt and junk in the exhaust. I purchased a petcock rebuild kit and that fixed my problem. I have since fixed some wiring issues that I had. The bike now runs like a dream. I'm now just trying to get it looking as good as it's running. I just wanted to thank everyone for all the help. I also wanted to eat a slice of humble pie and let everyone know that sometimes you don't know what you think you know. Thanks everyone!
 
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nicholascott said:
Well, I'm posting an update. I sure didn't need to replace ANY gaskets. You were right Bwringer. It was the petcock. I was so sure that it was not a fuel leakin. Well, I sat in my garage wondering why I wasn't smelling fuel. After all if it was a fuel leak you would certainly smell fuel, right? Well I watched the leak and caught some of the drops in my hand. And smelled it right away. It was fuel all right. Fuel mixed with all the black dirt and junk in the exhaust. I purchased a petcock rebuild kit and that fixed my problem. I have since fixed some wiring issues that I had. The bike now runs like a dream. I'm now just trying to get it looking as good as it's running. I just wanted to thank everyone for all the help. I also wanted to eat a slice of humble pie and let everyone know that sometimes you don't know what you think you know. Thanks everyone!
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Change your oil. OR at least make sure you don't have gas in your oil.
 
nicholascott said:
I tried searching and I can't find a repair guide. Is there a repair guide similar to the carb rebuild guide on the forums?
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nicholascott said:
Does anyone have a guide or instructions on replacing the head gasket and seals?
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nicholascott said:
I have never replaced a head gasket. ( I'm assuming that's what I need to change. ) However, I will search through the posts. I'm sure there are detailed instructions on here somewhere
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You have a bike and you don't have a service manual for it? :eek:

Do you remember your Mega-Welcome from BassCliff? He has several manuals on his site. Here is a link for the one that you want.

.
 
I purchased a used manual on Ebay a few days ago. I also changed my oil and filter as soon as I repaired the petcock. Also, I have bookmarked Basscliffs website. Lesson learned...Please learn from my mistakes! LOL! :)
 
Thanks for reporting back -- reading about your problem and the solution will probably help several people understand and fix their bikes. :)
 
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