Oil Leak

[arsuzukied]

Noticing a small oil leak on my '06 GZ. After riding for about 20 minutes, a small drop of oil runs out along the 3-4 cooling fin on the left side (the bike leans that way on the kickstand). The bike has 6900 miles on it and has had regular maintenance. I've tightened the spark plug. Any ideas about head gaskets failing that early, or perhaps the gasket for the cam adjustment? i know it is not normal. Any info would be appreciated.

[Sarris]

You might check the head bolt torque. I'm fairly sure that will also tighten down the cylinder studs as well. Check the service manual (on site) for the specfied torque values.

[El Diablo]

Double check that someone didn't swap your bike out for a old Harley. If so, might as well go to the auto parts store and by a little oil pan to sit underneath the bike when you park it.

[Water Warrior 2]

Had a valve adjust lately ? Was everything buttoned up properly ? Just throwing out a guess to muddy the waters.

[arsuzukied]

Thanks, all. I'll check the head bolt torque - good place to start. I'm going to buy a new plug - I've heard that sometimes they leak around the ceramic. Bought the bike used from a high school kid - I'm not sure the valves have been adjusted, but I can check it. I don't think it is an old Harley - runs too well :-)

Guess I need to post a photo of me and my new toy. I'm getting a kick out of getting back on one after a 20 year hiatus. ~70 mpg doesn't hurt, either - my wife definately likes that part.

[Quimrider]

I have a 2000 with 9,000 miles.

I believe mine is leaking from the same place. The "cover" (upper part of the cylinder head what the valve adjustment caps screw into) and the lower half of the cylinder head (where the valves are and what the spark plug screws into). A liquid gasket is used to seal these two pieces so don't waste your time looking for a new gasket. Once you've disassembled and removed the gasket material. You should check to make sure it has not warped with a feeler gauge.

Also the gasket for the crank case cover (oil filter side) decided to let go on my way to work this morning. thankfully I didn't crash, catch fire, or run completely out of oil. I didn't notice anything until I got to work and saw smoke from the oil on the exhaust pipe.

I'll be fixing these leaks this weekend. Either these seals are just falling apart from being old or I ride too hard

[Canuck]

Another hand up for the same problem...

Seems to be oil coming from the bolt closest to the Spark..

It seemed to happen shortly after the Valve Adjustment i had done close by the dealership.
My bike also has 33000 kms on it from 2003 so i can imagine that time, heat and other factors have cause the gasket to degrade or shift? Either way i think the next valve adjustment I'll mention it and take it from there...

Best O' Luck!

[Water Warrior 2]

Canuck, fill out your profile. That way we will know where you are in the GWN. You could be next door or 3000 kms away.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by Canuck

Seems to be oil coming from the bolt closest to the Spark..

On a related subject......the brown stains on the engine fins that look like an oil leak but aren't....can be removed by CAREFULLY applying some oven cleaner with a Q-tip to a warm (not hot) engine. Should be wiped with a wet rag after.

Be very careful with the oven cleaner. It is NASTY stuff; it removes paint and fogs plastic and burns your skin if left on it very long. :skull:

[Quimrider]

Originally Posted by Easy Rider

On a related subject......the brown stains on the engine fins that look like an oil leak but aren't....can be removed by CAREFULLY applying some oven cleaner with a Q-tip to a warm (not hot) engine. Should be wiped with a wet rag after.

Be very careful with the oven cleaner. It is NASTY stuff; it removes paint and fogs plastic and burns your skin if left on it very long. :skull:

WOAH EASY RIDER!!!

Sodium Hydroxide aka NaOH (the active ingredient in most oven cleaners) is not something you want to put on the aluminum engine fins. The engine fins are aluminum, right? It may clean it, but that's because it's dissolving the underlying metal. Sodium hydroxide is highly reactive to aluminum. For an example see this video: [youtube:2odv6gbv]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gihAT6eXaoc[/youtube:2odv6gbv]
You can also search youtube for "sodium hydroxide aluminum" for many other examples.

Edit: 9-8-08

Originally Posted by Easy Rider

Don't panic. A little bit of common sense is required; thus my cautions about rinsing afterwards
BUT.....
I just looked at the can and it is only 4% NaOH; hardly a concentration that will "eat away" even soft aluminum......if you put it on, rub a bit and then rinse it OFF. If you are really paranoid, rinse with white vinegar.

I completely agree with you, but I put the warning up because common sense isn't all that common I could imagine someone unknowingly getting a higher concentration cleaner and leave it on over nite and coming back to a heavily corroded engine. I have used some oven cleaner in the past where I accidentally got some on aluminum and it was surprisingly heavily pitted in the time it too me to wipe it off.