R1200gs Oil leak

[dippy]

hi folks, need your assistance, guidance, knowledge, prayers etc.....

r1200gs, 99,000 miles has decided to start an oil leak. I've had a look and the source seems to be from the upper part of the engine, well that's where the leaked oil is pooling anyway but the leaked oil is getting splashed all over the place and ends up dribbling off the bash plate. seems the leak is in its infancy, perhaps in the past 5,000 miles.

Here's the pic, you can see the oil pooled on top of the engine, would appreciate any advice here folks, I can't quite see where the leak would be but I'd loath to remove the engine and then find out i didnt need too!

 

[trainman]

hi folks, need your assistance, guidance, knowledge, prayers etc.....

r1200gs, 99,000 miles has decided to start an oil leak. I've had a look and the source seems to be from the upper part of the engine, well that's where the leaked oil is pooling anyway but the leaked oil is getting splashed all over the place and ends up dribbling off the bash plate. seems the leak is in its infancy, perhaps in the past 5,000 miles.

Here's the pic, you can see the oil pooled on top of the engine, would appreciate any advice here folks, I can't quite see where the leak would be but I'd loath to remove the engine and then find out i didnt need too!

View attachment 200572

as you say, start with the easy bits first - given the age might be a hose or seal that leads round the beak to the oil cooler

 

[socket086]

are youy sure it's oil, it might also be brake fluid as the servo is on top of it?

 

[dippy]

I cant see if it's a hose or seal, i've checked the two pipes that go up to the radiator and they seem ok, do you know of any other hoses or pipes that are up top?

The idea that it could be brake fluid made me clinche a bit but I think there's been too much of a leak to be that but I'll check the brake resevoirs to confirm.

Here's some other pics if anyone thinks it helps

Really appreciate your help on this folks!

 

[trainman]

I cant see if it's a hose or seal, i've checked the two pipes that go up to the radiator and they seem ok, do you know of any other hoses or pipes that are up top?

The idea that it could be brake fluid made me clinche a bit but I think there's been too much of a leak to be that but I'll check the brake resevoirs to confirm.

Here's some other pics if anyone thinks it helps

Really appreciate your help on this folks!

is there a crankcase breather that runs to the air filter box? if so might be split or blocked?

 

[dippy]

is there a crankcase breather that runs to the air filter box? if so might be split or blocked?

Good point, like your thinking, not sure about a breather pipe, just been googling and i've seen mention of a 4" oil breather tube at the top rear of the engine on the left but cant place it. I'm still using the bike but next weekend I'll take the tank off and have another butchers. i've also seen mention of a crankshaft breather but not sure if that's the same thing

 

[spikidave]

I noticed my 1200GS had what looked like oil running down the left hand centre stand leg and dripping from somewhere above last night when I finished riding the bike, first time for about a month. First thing to do, panic and swear a lot, second thing, trace the source and found the liquid, bright golden in colour with the texture of brake fluid was coming from the crank case breather. Panic over.

Have you noticed your oil level reducing?

 

[richtel]

The crankcase breather is the wide pipe coming from the base of the left hand pot- it's surely too low to be causing that mess at the top of the engine..

Your second pic does show a lot of gunk around the oil cooler pipe and Oil temp sensor- can you clean that area off with engine cleaner and see where the mess comes back?

 

[dippy]

I noticed my 1200GS had what looked like oil running down the left hand centre stand leg and dripping from somewhere above last night when I finished riding the bike, first time for about a month. First thing to do, panic and swear a lot, second thing, trace the source and found the liquid, bright golden in colour with the texture of brake fluid was coming from the crank case breather. Panic over.

Have you noticed your oil level reducing?

Another good point, i assumed that because the whole area was sao gunky that it was an engine oil leak. i did a oil change 2,000 miles ago and assumed that the light coloured oil was the new oil but will check the brake fluid as well

 

[dippy]

Your second pic does show a lot of gunk around the oil cooler pipe and Oil temp sensor- can you clean that area off with engine cleaner and see where the mess comes back?

Thanks for the heads up about the breather tube, i agree, seems too low and also agree that i cant see the oil for the oil and need to do some serious cleaning to see where the leak is, i'll have a go this coming weekend.

thanks again folks for all the advice!

 

[Pukmeister]

A mates GSA did the same. On the upper right hand side of the engine is an oil temp sender with a soft alloy sealing washer beneath it. Due to the alloy bubbling beneath the paint around the hole this sensor screws into, the sealing washer was weeping oil.

Solution: remove fuel tank to gain access, remove oil temp sender, clean off corrosion, refit temp sender with new sealing washer, clean top of engine and check when running.

Edit: middle picture in post 4 shows the oil temp sender.

 

[dippy]

A mates GSA did the same. On the upper right hand side of the engine is an oil temp sender with a soft alloy sealing washer beneath it. Due to the alloy bubbling beneath the paint around the hole this sensor screws into, the sealing washer was weeping oil.

Solution: remove fuel tank to gain access, remove oil temp sender, clean off corrosion, refit temp sender with new sealing washer, clean top of engine and check when running.

Thanks Pukmeister, I spoke with the garage this morning, aparently its the same washer as either the engine oil drain plug washer or the gear box drain plug washer, anyway I'm picking them up and will change this weekend. i'll let you know if it works!

Thanks again

 

[pikeydave]

The alloy washers BMW love to fit do corrode round the edges and cause the odd oil leak. Replace with a copper one if possible for a long term cure. (Mind you, at 99k I doubt you're worried about it lasting for another 99k)

Good to see a 1200 with some miles on. I'll start keeping an eye on mine now (56 plate GSA) as it approaches 80k.

 

[dippy]

eventually got round to checking the oil temp sensor washer and Pukmeister, you're quite right as you can see below, before and after.

So anyway I've replaced the worn one and will see if that's the cause, looks possible. if not that washer then what ever washer is under the oil cooling pipe connection to the rear of the oil temp sensor, have to wait and see but I'll let you know the outcome!!

 

[dippy]

Still leaked and still oil pooling on top of the engine so changed the oil cooling pipe washer, area was quite gunked up but washer seemed ok, changed it anyway just in case







Cleaned it all up and rode rode to work, seems ok not bad for 100 +K!



So hopefully sorted this time although i did see that around the oil pressure switch there was quite a lot of gunk as well so i may have another issue

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

FWIW my oil pressure sensor has started leaking oil a bit so that sounds worth checking.

Andres

 

[dippy]

Oil leak no more , not sure if it was the oil pressure sensor washer or the oil cooling pipe o ring as when i changed the o ring i checked the oil pressure sensor torque and maybe it wasnt tight enought but anyway it was one of those so happy days.

thanks for all the suggestions and help

 

[David Lee]

So, apart from the oil leak, how has the bike been over 100k ?

 

[dippy]

Pretty good, no major work

right hand multifunctional swith replaced around 30,000 (under extended waranty)
Gearbox position sensor replaced around 30,000 (under extended waranty)
Three rear shocks! last one replaced at 92,000 (2 done under extended waranty, 3rd one was a 2nd hand one off ebay
Instrument cluster changed as the back light had gone on one side around 60,000 (under extended waranty)
Gear select linkage had corroded so much it stuck in gear but not a problem to clean up.

not bad really as it's been dropped 5 times getting it out of tight positions as I'm a clumsy lump, ussually the garage, once on a slow turn out on the road and 5 times off road. seems to bounce well

 

[Rusty Bolts]

My gearbox position sensor is playing up at the moment. How long ago was the gear position sensor replaced. I have the BMW extended warranty and I have been told that this is a switch and switches are not covered under this warranty.
Is there a mileage limit on the shocks under the warranty?