Any luck with liquid oil stop leak?

[motogeek]

Wheeeww. My first post.
Sorry I cant open with pics, but I have been the owner of a 80 gs850 for about 3 months. I got it running with much help from this website and I appreciate all the information from all. Anyways I've got a small, what I believe to be a head gasket leak, and was wondering if anyone had tried any of the oil additives promising to fix oil leaks on this problem with any success?
Happy to finally be a registered user and I look forward to a super mega welcome from Sir BassCliff.

[Greg B]

Don't use additives in your oil. Replace the head gasket.

[motogeek]

Greg B. Thank you. That was quick, are they real bad? I am a novice and don't Know if I should tackle a head gasket, but it is starting to get pretty chilly in these parts maybe a good winter project. Does the motor need to be pulled to do a head gasket?

[Greg B]

If you were able to get the bike running just by reading info on this site, I have no doubt you can change the head gasket. Plus, everyone has to start somewhere.
Get a service manual for your machine, if you haven't already. Stick with a Suzuki manual if you can get one. Follow the steps and I'll bet you can do it in a weekend. I can do it on either of my 1150's in a few hours. Of course I don't have an airbox on either bike, so that makes it alot easier.
Just take your time.

[TheCafeKid]

Fortunately, you can pretty much rebuild the entire top end of the motor without removing it from the frame. That makes things nice, cause they're a bit of a PITA to get out without dinging the crap out of the frame, especially by yourself. Not so much that they are heavy, just awkward. They only weigh about 200ish pounds, but its not very evenly displaced, and makes life not so much fun (especially when you catch a finger between the motor and the frame!! OUCH) Replacing the head gasket isnt too bad, I was a bit sheepish the first time I did it, but once you do it, you'll think to yourself, "Man, that wasnt so bad at all" Like above said, take your time, pay close attention and A MANUAL IS YOUR BESTEST FRIEND EVER!! Id suggest having everything on hand before you start, and you can probably get the job done in a good weekend of tinkering. Good luck!!

[tkent02]

I've got a small, what I believe to be a head gasket leak,

Stop! Make sure where it is leaking. Clean the engine thoroughly, run it just a little until you can determine where the leak is. If you can't tell clean it again and use some powder or something so you can tell where it first leaks. A little bit of oil can travel a long way, cam chain tensioners and tachometer cables (which ALWAYS leak unless they have been fixed) can look just like leaky head gaskets.
Second, how much is a small leak? Having to clean the engine twice a year is a lot easier than pulling a head. If it blows a quart each day that's something else.

[TheCafeKid]

Stop! Make sure where it is leaking. Clean the engine thoroughly, run it just a little until you can determine where the leak is. If you can't tell clean it again and use some powder or something so you can tell where it first leaks. A little bit of oil can travel a long way, cam chain tensioners and tachometer cables (which ALWAYS leak unless they have been fixed) can look just like leaky head gaskets.
Second, how much is a small leak? Having to clean the engine twice a year is a lot easier than pulling a head. If it blows a quart each day that's something else.

Aye good point too, Tom. I need to stop assuming that everyone would do what most of us would do before deciding the problem is indeed the problem..lol.

He's definately right. A leak from ANYWHERE above or around the headgasket on these motors can look like a headgasket leak. Verify its indeed the culprit, as most times, if the motor has been overfilled, weaker gaskets (Cam chain tensioner gasket, valve cover gasket, half moon rubbers, etc.) will blow out before the headgasket itself. However, my only disagreement would be that even if its a SMALL headgasket leak, its worth fixing, as a leaking headgasket can cause other problems (and sometimes detremental) aside from an oily mess. Just my .02 tho..

[motogeek]

Thanks guys! Thankfully BassCliff had a manual for my bike. I had looked through it but was unable to figure out whether the motor had to be removed or not. I'll get a gasket coming and when it gets real cold I'll tear into it. Do you know any resources for gaskets rather than the $75.00 one at Babbitts. Really seems a little steep for a gasket. Is that typical or am I really that cheap? I would also like to do something with the seat to possibly lower the seat height. I'm short. Any other recommendations on how to lower seat height? Thanks
Wow you guys are quick let me edit this post.
It leaks very little like not even making it to my clothing, but after running I can actually see some action around the head gasket and while riding it blows up around the spark plugs. I will make sure and pinpoint the leak before a top end rebuild, but I am pretty confident it is a head gasket. It's more of a two times a year cleaning as tkent suggests rather than the quart a day. What other problems could this possibly cause?

[TheCafeKid]

Thanks guys! Thankfully BassCliff had a manual for my bike. I had looked through it but was unable to figure out whether the motor had to be removed or not. I'll get a gasket coming and when it gets real cold I'll tear into it. Do you know any resources for gaskets rather than the $75.00 one at Babbitts. Really seems a little steep for a gasket. Is that typical or am I really that cheap? I would also like to do something with the seat to possibly lower the seat height. I'm short. Any other recommendations on how to lower seat height? Thanks

If you find you DO have to replace the gasket, PLEASE PLEASE spend the money on a Suzuki OEM gasket. You can get cheaper ones, but, search the board, you will see many a thread on poor souls who used cheaper stuff, and the horrible problems and destruction that followed. Spend the bucks ONCE, instead of spending a little bit less two or more times, because if you go the cheap route, maybe not next season, but SOON, you will be doing it again.

As far as seat hight, how tall are you?

[motogeek]

If you find you DO have to replace the gasket, PLEASE PLEASE spend the money on a Suzuki OEM gasket. You can get cheaper ones, but, search the board, you will see many a thread on poor souls who used cheaper stuff, and the horrible problems and destruction that followed. Spend the bucks ONCE, instead of spending a little bit less two or more times, because if you go the cheap route, maybe not next season, but SOON, you will be doing it again.

As far as seat hight, how tall are you?

I'll be sure to get the OEM one if need be. I'm about 5' 7-8" and have clubmans on my bike. I think a lower seat height would make for a somewhat more comfortable ride and allow me to touch the ground with both feet. reverse doesn't work very well with only one foot.

[TheCafeKid]

I'll be sure to get the OEM one if need be. I'm about 5' 7-8" and have clubmans on my bike. I think a lower seat height would make for a somewhat more comfortable ride and allow me to touch the ground with both feet. reverse doesn't work very well with only one foot.

Well, just a note, Clubmans, IMO arent "comfortable" on ANY bike...lol. I happen to be 6-3almost4 and *I* dont even find them comfortable. Usefull when used to their purpose...but not comfy..LOL. You can try to pull the cover off, and shave some of the foam out of the seat, OR you can also drop the forks thru the trees a touch, and use some shorter shocks in back, but keep in mind, do both, not just one, and do it equally, or it will mess with the handling and steering speed quite a bit..

[SqDancerLynn1]

You could cut the seat down or use a shorter rear shock. Before cutting try to slide the fork tube up in the triple clamp, don't go overboard, maybe 10mm
or what the Bars will allow. Make sure to use a 100/90/19 tire on the front, I have a 110 on mine but I also have the vetter farring. If the oil does not get on you or the tire I wouldn't worry about it until the rest of the bike is repaired. The only thing oil additives are going to do is ruin the clutch

[motogeek]

Well, just a note, Clubmans, IMO arent "comfortable" on ANY bike...lol. I happen to be 6-3almost4 and *I* dont even find them comfortable. Usefull when used to their purpose...but not comfy..LOL. You can try to pull the cover off, and shave some of the foam out of the seat, OR you can also drop the forks thru the trees a touch, and use some shorter shocks in back, but keep in mind, do both, not just one, and do it equally, or it will mess with the handling and steering speed quite a bit..

Your right they certainly aren't comfortable but they came on the bike and they look so cool. I'm probably gonna get in some sort of trouble for that comment but I think so. They also make for a more sporty feeling ride - short ride- wrists can't handle a 200 miler. I don't want to mess to much with the suspension because it handles beautifully right now. At some point I hope to have a new seat made to eliminate the passenger hump and maybe lower it a touch. I guess for shorter rear shocks i just don't know exactly what to look for.

[almarconi]

I had a KZ550 that leaked some oil from the head gasket, turned out one the cam journals had a crack in it. It pays to do a thorough inspection before deciding what needs to be replaced.

[Steve]

Greg B. Thank you. That was quick, are they real bad? I am a novice and don't Know if I should tackle a head gasket, but it is starting to get pretty chilly in these parts maybe a good winter project. Does the motor need to be pulled to do a head gasket?

Head gaskets are not usually that bad, if you have a few hours to spare. Engine does not have to be pulled to change the head gasket, but, like others have said, make sure that's what your problem is, first.


Define "chilly". It's 35 degrees out right now, As soon as I turn off the computer, I am headed on my 77-mile commute to work.

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