Oil Leak - where?

[robc]

Morning everyone,
When I got home last night I noticed my 2002 1150GS single spark had puked oil over my left boot. It was dark so I couldn't see where it is coming from but it looks like there is oil on the exhaust under the left foot peg, on the engine cooling fins at the back of the engine next to the oil filter, on the TPS and on bits and pieces between where my left knee would be when riding and the bottom edge of the fuel tank.

So, it's spread about a bit. I'm going to take a look at lunch time (working at home today) but other than checking the oil filter where else should I direct my attention? The oil all seems to be on the left side.

A similar thing happened on my ER-5 when the head gasket blew but in this case I didn't notice any oil on the cylinder heads and there is no loss of power.

Any idea's will be appreciated. If I cannot see anything obvious is getting taken to my local spanner man in the next day or two.

Regards

Rob C

 

[MattW]

Morning everyone,
When I got home last night I noticed my 2002 1150GS single spark had puked oil over my left boot. It was dark so I couldn't see where it is coming from but it looks like there is oil on the exhaust under the left foot peg, on the engine cooling fins at the back of the engine next to the oil filter, on the TPS and on bits and pieces between where my left knee would be when riding and the bottom edge of the fuel tank.

So, it's spread about a bit. I'm going to take a look at lunch time (working at home today) but other than checking the oil filter where else should I direct my attention? The oil all seems to be on the left side.

A similar thing happened on my ER-5 when the head gasket blew but in this case I didn't notice any oil on the cylinder heads and there is no loss of power.

Any idea's will be appreciated. If I cannot see anything obvious is getting taken to my local spanner man in the next day or two.

Regards

Rob C

A couple of left hand side potential leak sources to check are the oil sight glass window and the oil pressure switch - both are known to leak on occasion.

Edit: I had similar left hand oil leak on my 1100 but in that case it was the cylinder head gasket (a known weak point on early 1100's - fixed with an updated gasket). Id bet yours is one of the above.

 

[dancata]

IF you are going to pressure wash the bike to see where it's leaking oil from, be carefull where you get water to - I destroyed my coil by doing so :|

 

[robc]

Cheers Matt,
The sight glass appeared to be leak free. I quickly checked to see how much oil had leaked but the level appeared to be the same as it was in the morning. I did 320 miles yesterday but there was no oil on my boots when I got to work so something went amiss on the way home. All motorway riding. I'll take a look at the oil pressure switch.

Dancata, I don't wash bikes so no danger of me knackering the coils today

Regards

Rob C

 

[MattW]

Cheers Matt,
The sight glass appeared to be leak free. I quickly checked to see how much oil had leaked but the level appeared to be the same as it was in the morning. I did 320 miles yesterday but there was no oil on my boots when I got to work so something went amiss on the way home. All motorway riding. I'll take a look at the oil pressure switch.

Dancata, I don't wash bikes so no danger of me knackering the coils today

Regards

Rob C

When looking for my head gasket leak, I washed the oil off the left hand side and dusted it with talc before going for a ride (stopping at fairly frequent intervals so I could spot the source before it got blown all over the place).

Just been thinking about it - I guess another possible is the oil cooler, its hoses and the oil thermostat but I'm not sure about the layout on an 1150 and I'm guessing now. I'm sure I've seen Steptoe post about leaks from the oil cooler system - he'll undoubtedly be able to give you some ideas.

 

[ahutcheon]

Oil filler cap? I seem to recall reading that it has a couple of o-ring seals that can leak.

I know that when I failed to screw the oil cap/dipstick back into a Guzzi many years ago that a relatively small amount of oil convincingly coated my leg, boot and the bike as I rode through the Scottish borders...

 

[Timolgra]

If you've had the rocker cover off, the rubber seal around the spark plug hole may not be seated.

 

[Steptoe]

Oil filler cap? I seem to recall reading that it has a couple of o-ring seals that can leak.

...

That would be my first check.

 

[robc]

Hi Chaps,
Cylinder heads appear clear of oil. The oil filler cap was the first thing I checked but I will check again.

I've not had the engine in bits either. The last oil change was done 2-3000 miles ago and it all went back together as normal.

Regards

Rob C

 

[robc]

So, I took a look earlier. The oil appears to be coming from the top of the engine and running down both sides. More specifically it looks like it's coming from what I think is the oil temperature sensor. It's on the top right side of the engine next to the oil cooler hose. It looks a bit like a spark plug.

Hopefully replacing the washer (fibre I think) will do the trick.

Does that sound reasonable?

Regards

RobC

 

[Hong Kong Nick]

Hi Chaps,
Cylinder heads appear clear of oil. The oil filler cap was the first thing I checked but I will check again.

I've not had the engine in bits either. The last oil change was done 2-3000 miles ago and it all went back together as normal.

Regards

Rob C

Another one for that check ... if you give it a casual check then it will seem fine ... remove it and if the oil is on the inside of the cap then it has likely leaked past the o rings and is coming through there ... happens quite a bit from my experience, even within a couple of thousand miles / Kilometres of an oil change and replacement o-rings (there are 2 ... one on the filler cap and one on the inside of the 'thread' of the cylinder head).

Sigh ...

 

[MattW]

So, I took a look earlier. The oil appears to be coming from the top of the engine and running down both sides. More specifically it looks like it's coming from what I think is the oil temperature sensor. It's on the top right side of the engine next to the oil cooler hose. It looks a bit like a spark plug.

Hopefully replacing the washer (fibre I think) will do the trick.

Does that sound reasonable?

Regards

RobC

I've read about leaks from this area on here (although not experienced it myself) - if you try a search you'll probably dig something up or I'm sure one of the guru's will advise.

 

[Steptoe]

So, I took a look earlier. The oil appears to be coming from the top of the engine and running down both sides. More specifically it looks like it's coming from what I think is the oil temperature sensor. It's on the top right side of the engine next to the oil cooler hose. It looks a bit like a spark plug.

Hopefully replacing the washer (fibre I think) will do the trick.

Does that sound reasonable?

Regards

RobC

Might be the actual sensor body that's leaking.
Also take a look at the oil thermostat pipe, next to the switch, that can leak as well due to the gasket failing.

 

[Hay Ewe]

I had a mysterious oil leak as well.
tracked it down to the cam chain tensioner.
I put the updated on in ages ago and over time it had worked loose, jsut enought to leak a bit, and of course, a bit goes everywhere!

It was also a bit more than loose as well

its a bit fiddaly to get to but there are a few thread about here and on ADV so a pictures are out there

Hay Ewe

 

[MattW]

I had a mysterious oil leak as well.
tracked it down to the cam chain tensioner.
I put the updated on in ages ago and over time it had worked loose, jsut enought to leak a bit, and of course, a bit goes everywhere!

It was also a bit more than loose as well

its a bit fiddaly to get to...

You're not kidding!
I'm now the proud owner of a specially customised 17mm combination spanner (clamped in the vice and leathered with a lump hammer to bend it - tough stuff this CrMol spanner steel ).

 

[shready]

I had a mysterious leak on my 1150RT. It was coming out of the seal around the gear change lever. It was gearbox oil not engine oil, obviously,

 

[robc]

Evening all,
Just thought I'd update you all.

I fixed the oil leak. There was a small amount of corrosion/crap build up between the engine and the oil temperature sensor. Obviously this created a very small gap between the two parts through which some oil escaped. I removed the sensor, cleaned the surfaces, refitted the sensor then took the bike out for a thrash. Problem solved. I've since down a couple of thousand miles with no further leak.

I like simple fixes.

Regards

Rob C