Can you smell that smell ?

[valtalma]

Hi all,

For the last few days, I am noticing the distinctive and unpleasant smell of burnt oil coming from the belly of my 18K 1200 GS. It did not happen before.

I have checked for oil leaks in the usual places : cylindre joints, belly pan and around the engine on the ground, but I haven't seen anything special.

I haven't ridden enough mile to notice higher oil consumption. The bike is due for 20K service soon, but I'd be interested if anyone has experienced - and sorted- similar problems.

Cheers

Val

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Could it be the clutch

When the clutch gets very hot it's prone to getting smelly. The best way to describe the smell is a cross between burnt oil and bad fish!

Andres

PS Welcome to the site

 

[minkyhead]

sounds pretty much like a leaking seal onto the plate
thats how i first noticed the problem
usually after slipping the clutch on u turns car parks ect

 

[bmconvert]

i too get that 'nasty smell', and boy does it pong. After a quick blast and a few hairpins on the A686 it stinks like a fishwife but just back from 2000 miles in France and all fine and dandy!

 

[deaninkl]

I too occasionally get a very bad smell from my bike... but I know exactly what it is... the local cats are spraying it at night, and often on the exhaust pipe. When I ride the next morning the stink is incredibly bad, and the caustic effect is so bad it actually has marked my exhaust... thinking of buying a dog.....

 

[Wapping]

Had something similar. A heavy duty plasic bag had become caught on the left hand pot. It had burnt off, but large deposits of plastic had melted between the cooling fins. Stunk to high heaven.

Other than that, the clutch stinks if you slip it hard enough.

 

[Matt splat]

On my test drive, the ADV stank, but there was alot of twisties and clutch work.

Mines stinks as well, i just figured it was a bmw clutch thing

 

[Bydand]

Had exactly the same thing, then after a while noticed oil leaking from between the engine and gearbox, resulted in the bike being split in two to have the balance shaft and crank oil seals replaced (under warranty at the time). Its likely that your leak, like mine, has started as a very small leak which gets burnt off as the engine heats up, thus the smell. It won't get any better but you might get quite a while before the leak becomes a problem. A mate never got this warning, his balance shaft seal failed, resulted in oil on the back tyre but thankfully only a few wobbly corners and not a get off!

keep an eye out underneath the rear of the engine at the gearbox joint and around the engine/gearbox interface, if you see any oil then its a fair bet that you'll need the seals replaced.

Hope this helps.

 

[valtalma]

Sound consensually like an oil like at the gear box. I'll check that and let you know.

I hope it's no more serious than a joint...

 

[valtalma]

I have spent a good part of my week end underneeth my bike, but there seems to be no obvious leak around in the neighbourhood of the engine / gear box connection.

I'll stop worrying about the smell for now ...

 

[valtalma]

update

Hi all,

Following your unanimous accusation of a leaky gear seal causing the smell, I visited my friendly Motorrad dealer today who confirmed the greasy smear aroung the GB was not normal and probably the culprit, and not acceptable at 18K km.

I mentionned having read on this forum that it could be taken on warranty.

He gave me as much reassurance as possible that this could be taken under warranty, although mine expired 4 month ago.

I ll keep you posted