Engine head oil leak.

spldart · 05-10-2015, 03:57 PM

I noticed some dried on oil on some of the cooling fins of the jug when I bought
this bike.
Then I got it running and I noticed that it makes burning oil smells coming
straight up off the motor when I came to stops.

However... I haven't had to add any oil and there was no excess oil or soot at the
exhaust pipe.

I have finally found the oil leak. It's at the seam between the upper and lower
cylinder head.
Question:

Does this take a gasket or can I just put some brand name blue silicone on the
junction and reassemble?

gz250dude · 05-10-2015, 04:23 PM

I can't find it now but I remember someone saying there was something that resembled an oil leak on the fins on one side of the motor but wasn't. Mine has it but I know its normal now - hopefully someone else will chime in soon, but I don't know that you have a leak. If its what I am thinking of on the left side of the engine it might be nothing to worry about.

alantf · 05-10-2015, 04:46 PM

I've had brown (oil?) on the left fins, twice now. Each time, the mechanic has tightened the head bolts, and it's been good for a further few thousand miles. Seems like there's a problem with head bolts gradually loosening over time. Don't know if it's just mine, or a general GZ problem.

spldart · 05-10-2015, 04:50 PM

Well... I hope mine isn't normal as it's bad enough to give me a headache every time I sit in traffic

It's wet around the spark plug and down the fins on the left side.
Meh...
8~]
Oh well... I need to check valve lash sometime soon and that may be my excuse to pull the
top off the head.
Can you do that motor in bike?

raul10141964 · 05-10-2015, 05:28 PM

it is normal come from the valves cover, you can fix it but all wise come back

**jonathan180iq** · 05-15-2015, 04:25 PM

Make sure you head bolts are properly torqued.
Also, check torque on your exhaust header bolts and the spark plug itself.

Those head bolts can loosen up over time. Torquing them is part of the initial 600 miles service that most people never get...

wickedp34 · 09-26-2017, 03:43 PM

I, too have experienced oil and burning smells while sitting idle in traffic. I traced it back to the inspection cap. When the bike would heat up, the oil would drip from that onto the fins. I have not yet fixed the issue but at least now I know where it is coming from.

05-10-2015, 03:57 PM	#1
spldart Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Stafford, Texas Posts: 604	Engine head oil leak. I noticed some dried on oil on some of the cooling fins of the jug when I bought this bike. Then I got it running and I noticed that it makes burning oil smells coming straight up off the motor when I came to stops. However... I haven't had to add any oil and there was no excess oil or soot at the exhaust pipe. I have finally found the oil leak. It's at the seam between the upper and lower cylinder head. Question: Does this take a gasket or can I just put some brand name blue silicone on the junction and reassemble? Login or Register to Remove Ads
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05-10-2015, 04:46 PM	#3
alantf Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tenerife (Spain) Posts: 3,719	I've had brown (oil?) on the left fins, twice now. Each time, the mechanic has tightened the head bolts, and it's been good for a further few thousand miles. Seems like there's a problem with head bolts gradually loosening over time. Don't know if it's just mine, or a general GZ problem. __________________ By birth an Englishman, by the grace of God a Yorkshireman. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

05-10-2015, 05:28 PM	#5
raul10141964 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Elkhart, Indiana Posts: 369	it is normal come from the valves cover, you can fix it but all wise come back Login or Register to Remove Ads
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05-10-2015, 04:23 PM	#2
gz250dude Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 74	I can't find it now but I remember someone saying there was something that resembled an oil leak on the fins on one side of the motor but wasn't. Mine has it but I know its normal now - hopefully someone else will chime in soon, but I don't know that you have a leak. If its what I am thinking of on the left side of the engine it might be nothing to worry about.
	0

05-10-2015, 04:50 PM	#4
spldart Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Stafford, Texas Posts: 604	Well... I hope mine isn't normal as it's bad enough to give me a headache every time I sit in traffic It's wet around the spark plug and down the fins on the left side. Meh... 8~] Oh well... I need to check valve lash sometime soon and that may be my excuse to pull the top off the head. Can you do that motor in bike?
	0

05-15-2015, 04:25 PM	#6
jonathan180iq Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dalton, GA Posts: 3,996	Make sure you head bolts are properly torqued. Also, check torque on your exhaust header bolts and the spark plug itself. Those head bolts can loosen up over time. Torquing them is part of the initial 600 miles service that most people never get...
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09-26-2017, 03:43 PM	#7
wickedp34 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Posts: 2	I, too have experienced oil and burning smells while sitting idle in traffic. I traced it back to the inspection cap. When the bike would heat up, the oil would drip from that onto the fins. I have not yet fixed the issue but at least now I know where it is coming from.
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