Engine oil leak after fall

[robc]

Afternoon all,
I did some greenlaning on my 2002 1150GS yesterday. I fell off when riding a rut at about 10 mph. Bike fell on the right side. No visible damage to anything. Just a scuff of mud on the valve cover. The crash bar sank in about an inch. No thing else other than the bars touched the ground.
After the fall I laid on the ground to let the pain subside (I fell heavily on my right hip) for maybe 10-20 seconds. Then I hit the kill switch so the engine was running whilst laid down for 20-30 seconds.

When I picked up the bike I saw some oil on the right pot. I couldn't see clearly where it was coming from but there appears to be more of it on the frame under the fuel tank and black plastic cover below the tank. As the engine and oil were hot the oil quickly spread so I can't see the source of the leak. Like I said there isn't even a scuff on the valve cover so I don't think I've cracked that.

I won't get a chance until tomorrow to lift up the tank and take a look before cleaning everything up with engine cleaner. There is no oil dripping on the floor and the bike ran perfectly for the 20 miles ride home. No warning lights on the dash or increased oil temperature to indicate a problem.

I'm hoping I've just knocked off the oil breather from the airbox or something like that that has allowed a tiny dribble of waste oil to drop onto the engine.

Can anyone point me to potential sources of the leak?

I'll be washing off all the oil then going for a run to see if any more leaks out if I get time afterwork this week.

By the way, it's definately engine oil. It's not gearbox oil or brake fluid.

I do have some photo's but I can't upload them from work. I'll do that tomorrow.

Regards

Rob C

 

[Johnwhit]

the airbox has a drain plug and when I took it out about 1/2 a cup of oil came out. not sure if its outside the air fliter side of the airbox and if the bike lays down like yours did if it will leak out ?? maybe someone who knows will have a better idea. I think if it was a oil line you damaged you would have had it pump out all over the bike when you started the engine,
My guess is its leaked out the airbox and it will be fine (but its only a guess)
let us know how you get on so we know what to do when we drop our bikes LOL!
cheers
JOhn

 

[robc]

Got some time last night to look at this problem.

I removed the fuel tank so I could get a better look. It pretty clear the oil came from the air box somewhere. The air box section under air filter is wet with oil so the overflow must be full. The air tubes feeding the throttle bodies are also wet with oil so the overflow definately must be full.

Now, could I find the air box oil overflow pipe? Could I heck!

Can anyone tell me, or does anyone have a picture of where it is?

The only breather/overflow pipes I could find are the two from the fuel tank.

I don't want to have to remove the air box. That's a bloody big job (exhaust can off, rear shock off, fuse box out, etc...).

Whilst I had the bike in bits I sprayed the affected area with engine cleaner. Put the bike back together and went for a 5 minute ride. No oil from anywhere. I'll go for a longer ride to double check but the 20 miles home from the fall saw no additional oil dripping onto/from the engine.

Regards

Rob C

 

[MikeP]

Stand on the left of the bike, look at the rear of the airbox, now put your hand under the rear corner and you will find a plug.

Put a rag under it and turn it. Any oil in the under-airbox overflow will piss-out.

The crankcase breather pipe runs from just above the right-hand cylinder, in front of the head-stock sub-frame to rear sub-frame brace bar. It then runs along and behind the rear sub-frame and enters the front of the airbox beneath the positive battery terminal.

It has spring-clip type hose-clamps and they are a bugger to get at to replace, loosen or tighten with everything in place.

Edit:

You may find that the breather hose is split (mine did).....

The clips require these pliers to undo and replace.

 

[robc]

Cheers MikeP,
If it's not raining tonight I'll pull the bike out of the garage and, if your right about the crankcase breather, I'll swear loudly at it.

Regards

Rob C

 

[robc]

Hi MikeP,
Just saw your edit.

I've seen that pipe. It's not connected to anything at the moment. Source of oil leak identified me thinks. I did wonder what it was but I thought it was too big to be a breather pipe so I ignored it.

Is there supposed to be clip on it?

I'll have to take the tank off again and see if I can see where the pipe is supposed to fit.

The power of a photo has saved a lot of time again.

Regards

Rob C

 

[MikeP]

Rob,

The front should be on a pipe that's directly above the tele-lever pivot.

Both ends should have hose-clips on.

It's an awkward bugger to get at without removing a lot of stuff.

Parts 1 and 2 here:

 

[robc]

'Twas the crankcase breather pipe that was the problem. There is no clip on it and looking at the state of the engine and frame in that area it looks as though the pipe popped off quite some time ago.

The air box having a cup full of oil in it didn't help matters either. I've never drained it and maybe the previous owners didn't so it's been 45-70k miles since it was last done

When I had the tank off the first time I had a good look around the air box to see what the problem was. I must have been in a daze because the drain plug and crankcase breather pipe were bloody obvious

Anyway, I fixed it, took it for a quick spin around the block then sat back and had a and generally felt pleased with myself.

So MikeP, your posts got me sorted. Thanks.

Regards

Rob C