Cam cover, head gasket leak?

[jdcross]

On my lady's 250 we have an oil leak that is and pooling around the front left head bolt.
From there it runs along the cooling fins to the exhaust pipes and causes smoking.

There is no clear evidence that there is an oil leak from the cam cover although it seems to be the obvious place.

Is it possible that oil is being pumped up around the front left head bolt shaft and being forced out the top of the head bolt
due to a faulty head gasket?

We've removed the cam cover and pending advice from the Forum we would next re-seal the cam cover
to see if that stops the leak

However if there is a chance of head gasket issues we're better off to remove the head before re-applying cam cover sealant

Any advice is appreciated

Jim

[blaine]

welcome to the forum.I would put a new gasket on cam cover first ,my guess is that the cylinder head cover is leaking.I don't think it is a head gasket as there are usually other signs of failure.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by blaine

welcome to the forum.I would put a new gasket on cam cover first ,my guess is that the cylinder head cover is leaking.I don't think it is a head gasket as there are usually other signs of failure.

:plus1:

Just playing the odds .....and considering the time and cost of doing the head gasket if it doesn't need to be.

I would, however, suggest re-torque-ing the head bolts while you have it mostly apart already.

[Sarris]

Are you sure it's not comolene from shipping? Dark, dark, brown?

:??:

[jdcross]

Originally Posted by Sarris

Are you sure it's not comolene from shipping? Dark, dark, brown?

Our bike is a 2005 so perhaps the cosmolene would be long gone by now?

We'll re-torque the head bolts, then re-seal he cam cover today.

Thanks for the advice

Jim

[patrick_777]

Does it look like this?

[jdcross]

Originally Posted by patrick_777

Does it look like this?

Yes That's the area of the leak

Jim

[patrick_777]

It's a good bet that it's not a leak and that it's shipping residue. That pic is my 2006 GZ.

This is a VERY common thing with these bikes, and freaks everyone out at first.

[jdcross]

Originally Posted by patrick_777

It's a good bet that it's not a leak and that it's shipping residue. That pic is my 2006 GZ.
This is a VERY common thing with these bikes, and freaks everyone out at first.

The troubling thing is the constant smoke coming off the exhaust.
The bike hasn't done this in three years so we think it's something recent

I'm scraping the old sealant off the cam cover and head now, will try a re-seal
then do up the 57 or so bolts on the cover

[alantf]

Originally Posted by jdcross

I'm scraping the old sealant off the cam cover

Shouldn't it have a rubber (?) gasket? :??: Not 100% sure, but I THINK so.