oil leak

[jchmiel]

I don't know if I picked the worried smilie?

Checked under the bike last week and noticed there was some small oil droplets collecting under the engine, roughly in line with the gear lever and where there is a joint in the engine. There was also a brown crusty stain on the exhaust directly below. Wiped it off. Looked again today and it was the same, at least three/four droplets of oil in different places. Having done only 2,700 miles I haven't filled up the oil nor have I measure consumption.

Is this normal? Is there some kind of oil breather if the oil is overfilled (when retruned from BMW at 600 mile service it was at the top of the window now about 2/3 down). Any ideas what it could be.

PS..Shame there are continuous small niggles at just 2,500 miles(gear change sensor was changed as some "harness" was missing and water got into it screwing up gear indicator in rain + panniers had to be taken back as lock was bust) as otherwise the bike is close to perfect!

 

[Clive]

Can you post a photo? I'm not sure where you mean by the "joint in the engine"

 

[Emoto]

Go show it to your dealer and let us know what he says.

FWIW, I had a few drops around where the engine cases and transmission meet that fell onto the zorst too. I used brake/contact cleaner and a rag ro clean it all off and it has not come back. My dealer said he thought it might have been assembly lube, which is a reasonable thought. There have been others that have leaked there and required a little warranty work, though, so I'd have it looked at if you clean it again and it comes back...

 

[HMR]

Checked under the bike last week and noticed there was some small oil droplets collecting under the engine, roughly in line with the gear lever and where there is a joint in the engine.

Known oil leakage problems on the R12 are:

Leakage from the clutch slave cylinder. Check the level in the container! If not fixed immediately it may contaminate the clutch.

Leakage from the balance shaft sealing. Requires total dismount of the bike to fix. If only small amounts of engine oil comes out you will not be able to see any change in engine oil level.

 

[jchmiel]

Appreciate replies. Vines Guilford will get another call from me on Monday morning!

The engine oil has been wiped clean on the attached photo but it accumulates where the smaller arrows point. The larger arrow points to the brown crust on the exhaust - not sure if the two things are related as can't imagine engine oil leaving such a deposit.

 

[ampthill]

Hmm... looks just like the leak I had on my gs1200. Noticed it whilst checking the sidestand (as in making sure it was not in danger of imminently falling off - see Tobers posts). No oil was dripping onto the floor, but there seemed to be a fine film of oil underneath the gerbox casing. Took it along to the the dealer who decided that there was a problem. Said something about it looked like a leak between where the gearbox and engine joined underneath and that the only way to solve it was to change the entire gearbox. Must say I was a little suprised but the rationale seemed to be that once you have a leak the only thing it does is get worse. Any way it was replaced last month and now the leak has gone.


Now just waiting for the call to say they've got the parts in for the final drive to be changed, as the rear wheel is rather loose. Have yet to tell them about the problem with the main beam switch - it keeps switching off when riding along. Thought I'd wait until they told me they can do the final drive and then I'll get it all done at the same time!

As I said before at this rate it wont be long till I have a new bike by stealth. Thank goodness the dealer has been fanatastic all along - anything need doing they'll sort it. Will seriously need to consider the extended warranty when the time comes though. By the way anyone know how much they cost?

Peter


GS1200 in York

 

[LA_GS12]

I had to join when I saw this post!

Been lurking for a while from a long way off.

I had the exact same issue with my GS12. It appeared around 4500 miles. Turns out the tranny oil had been overfilled by 4.5 ounces at the factory.

I pulled the side plug (on the case where the drive shaft exits the tranny) and filled a small paper cup with oil before the level went down to the bottom of the plug hole. Note that this is with the bike on the center stand.

I had the dealer check everything out at my 6K service. He told me the breather on top of the case had gotten soaked and that's where it had been leaking.

With oil level normal and the breather cleaned up I have had no more leaks. Hope this saves someone a bunch of trouble!

Regards!

 

[DockingPilot]

YES, my dealer has said the same, the breather is blowing exces oil out. Also if the bike has ever beeen laid over oil will collect there and slowly blow out. At least thats his opinion.

 

[DonHo]

I have the same leak. I felt better after reading this thread knowing that I was not the only one with this problem.

Noticed the leak after I had a slave cylinder and trans seals installed. That was 5000 miles ago. I took it to the dealer and they said it was coming from the breather. The breather probably got trans fluid in it when they had the trans out.

I don't think the leak is slowing down. About every 300-350 miles I notice it. I cleaned the area off and rode approximately 350 miles yesterday and have some seeping in that same area. I agree that it seems it has to be coming from the breather but why? I changed trans fluid and ensured it was not overfilled.

I have cleaned the area 4 or 5 times and the leak still comes back (after 300+ miles). How long should it take for the leak to quit? I would be willing to replace the breather in the trans, but that looks like it could be a complicated job.

If my dealer was closer to me, it wouldn't be a big deal to take it there and leave it with them, but they are quite a ways from me.

Any comments or advice is appeciated.

DonHo

 

[Pukmeister]

Mine had the same problem, dealers (SPC) took it in and replaced the gearbox oil seals under warranty. The gearbox had been overfilled either during manufacture or by a previous dealer (no names mentioned).

 

[joebaxi]

My bike has 6400 miles on it and whilst cleaning it ,i have noticed that the slave cylinder seal is leaking(i think thats what you call it-where the clutch cable terminates at rear of gearbox?!)
Had my bike serviced at 6 thou-surely this should have been noticed?
Any one else had this leakage?

 

[kdude]

Been lurking for a while from a long way off.

I had the exact same issue with my GS12. It appeared around 4500 miles. Turns out the tranny oil had been overfilled by 4.5 ounces at the factory.

I pulled the side plug (on the case where the drive shaft exits the tranny) and filled a small paper cup with oil before the level went down to the bottom of the plug hole. Note that this is with the bike on the center stand.

I had the dealer check everything out at my 6K service. He told me the breather on top of the case had gotten soaked and that's where it had been leaking.

With oil level normal and the breather cleaned up I have had no more leaks. Hope this saves someone a bunch of trouble!

Regards!

How the heck could the factory fill it up with 4.5 oz. extra ? It's almost phyically impossible to add more than the fill limit as it will pour out immediately after filling ... unless i'm missing something.... ??

 

[Starman]

Hi all,
glad to see I am not alone here either. Have 6500 miles on my 11 month old 1200GS. Havehad the complete new rear diff (the rear wheel issue with what appeared to be knackered wheel bearings with 2 mm of play - see other threads) at 3000 miles, the taxi-sounding brake solution, and now at the 6000 mile service, the oil leak between engine and gearbox. To be honest, dealer has been great at getting things sorted, but should all this really be happening to a £10000 bike ? And it's a pain in the backside keep having to take the bike in to get things sorted...... Needless to say, had to make a separate appointment for the oil leak (7 hour job to take bike apart) so hopefully by October all will be sorted. Dealer reckons an oil seal was incorrectly installed at manufacture.....

Still on the bright side had the end can replaced with a Remus Titanium. My new pastime? Finding tunnels.........

Martin

 

[BRRT]

My r1200gs (05-2004) had same oil leak as shown in picture above.

Went to dealer and showed him the problem.
After I told him about this thread he checked my tranny-oil.

And to my surprise....there was to much oil in it!!
How's this possible!?

Anyway, thanks for advice in this thread.
Hopefully everything is solved now.
I'll let you know.

regards Bart

 

[DockingPilot]

well, mine has 8 thousand miles on her now and still weeps oil in the same spot as shown above. So if it's coming from the breather it's sure taking it's sweet ass time clearing. Something tells me it goes deeper than that. This winter its going in to my dealer and I dont want it back till it's fixed for good.

 

[Howard Millichap]

As I said before at this rate it wont be long till I have a new bike by stealth. Thank goodness the dealer has been fanatastic all along - anything need doing they'll sort it. Will seriously need to consider the extended warranty when the time comes though. By the way anyone know how much they cost?

It's great isn't it. They sell you a bike built by monkeys and then offer an (EXPENSIVE)extended warranty. I'd change the make of my bike.

 

[Fanum]

It's great isn't it. They sell you a bike built by monkeys and then offer an (EXPENSIVE)extended warranty. I'd change the make of my bike.

 

[BRRT]

GRRRR!!

Oil leak is still there,

Changed the tranny oil to the right level 1000km ago, this has clearly not solved it for me.
Probably this week it's going back to dealer, I want it to be fixed!

It's a very expensive bike and I want it to work properly, only 9k on it...


Bart