Comolene from shipping, or oil leak - how to tell...?

[ArizonaKev]

Hello all. I have been noticing some brown leakage (alright, no smart comments now! Lol) happening around the left side exhaust pipe, where it goes into the cylinder head. I was thinking it was an oil leak, like maybe the cylinder head (cam) cover. But then I have seen on here where some folks mention this 'comolene' residue that is leftover from shipping.

My question is - how long after having a bike (how many miles) can one safely assume that it's most likely not that stuff, but indeed an oil leak? Is there some easy way to tell the difference between the 2?

If I hadn't read about that stuff, I would simply figure it's a cylinder head cover leak. But before I go to working on that, I would like rule out the comolene thing first.

Thanks all, and happy riding :2tup:


AZ Kev

[Sarris]

Cosmolene is generally found on the top few cylinder fins and migrates down in the first few thousand miles from behind the chrome head covers and is normally not sticky and generally doesn't smell or smoke. It's sprayed on shipping protectant.

The exhaust port is a unusual place to find it as it's normally washed off at dealer prep from that location.

:)

[Easy Rider]

But before I go to working on that, I would like rule out the comolene thing first.

The comolene will be thick and extremely hard to remove. On a 9 year old bike, I'd think it would be cooked on hard as a rock. Once you do get it off, it will not come back in the same place.

So wipe it off, if you can, and if it comes back, it's oil or gas and carbon.

It could just be a leaky exhaust gasket too......as there will be a little "stuff" coming out of the engine that gets burnt off in the hot pipes.......that might stay semi-liquid if it leaks out on the cooling fins instead.

[ArizonaKev]

Thanks guys. I am fairly certain, esp after reading your responses, it is an oil leak of some kind, probably coming from the cylinder head cover, or maybe the exhaust gasket like Easy suggested. I'll see if I can get a good pic of it here in the next day or 2 and post it here for a "virtual inspection." I know that in situations like this, a picture truly is worth at least a thousand words! :)


AZ Kev

[jonathan180iq]

Did you resolve this problem?