GS850GLT Oil on TOP of bottom fin.

[Guest]

Just been for a run and found that I have some oil sitting on TOP of the bottom engine fin at the front of engine. So cannot be the base gasket and seems too low for head gasket. Could it be a perforated head or something else?
Regards
Pete

[cowboyup3371]

It could be the valve cover gasket, cam cover rubber caps, tach drive, or cam chain tensioner. To be certain, clean it up real good and spray the area with athlete's foot powder or similar. You'll see where the leak is coming from

[peterd123]

Picture of bottom fin at front of engine, just behind exhaust headers.

20180610_183930.jpgPicture of bottom fin at front of engine, just behind exhaust headers.

[peterd123]

All this that you mention apart from cam cover and rubbers are at the back of the engine, not the front?

It could be the valve cover gasket, cam cover rubber caps, tach drive, or cam chain tensioner. To be certain, clean it up real good and spray the area with athlete's foot powder or similar. You'll see where the leak is coming from

[2BRacing]

All this that you mention apart from cam cover and rubbers are at the back of the engine, not the front?

There are openings through the head from the rear to the front, so oil from a leak at the back can make its way to the front.

[peterd123]

Wow, what are they for and where abouts? Never heard about them before.

There are openings through the head from the rear to the front, so oil from a leak at the back can make its way to the front.

[cowboyup3371]

Airflow and turbulence around the engine will cause oil to go more places than just straight down and the areas I suggested looking are the more common areas where oil will leak from. Your tach gear is on the front of the engine either in the valve cover or the head, cam chain tensioner in the middle of the rear part of the engine, cam covers are on the sides (take each cover off and you'll see the rubber plug underneath).

The openings are between each cylinder through the fins to provide air flow that will help cool the engine down.

Your best bet to figure out why is to do the cleaning and foot spray so you'll see the general path of the oil.

[peterd123]

OK, I now think that it is the chain tensioner, as it is leaking slightly. Did not know that there were airways running front to back. That would explain it as its on the same level as the tensioner.

Airflow and turbulence around the engine will cause oil to go more places than just straight down and the areas I suggested looking are the more common areas where oil will leak from. Your tach gear is on the front of the engine either in the valve cover or the head, cam chain tensioner in the middle of the rear part of the engine, cam covers are on the sides (take each cover off and you'll see the rubber plug underneath).

The openings are between each cylinder through the fins to provide air flow that will help cool the engine down.

Your best bet to figure out why is to do the cleaning and foot spray so you'll see the general path of the oil.

[cowboyup3371]

If you believe it is, take a read through this page that you can find from Basscliff's site (http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff) by clicking on BWringer's instructions link towards the bottom. His link will detail all the parts needed to repair the tensioner.

http://www.bwringer.com/gs/camchaintens.html

Pay careful attention to the instructions about putting it all back together.

[Brendan W]

Oil will help trap road grit in those airways and block them.

[peterd123]

So should i be able to poke something through to clean them, and is there a passageway between each barrel?

Oil will help trap road grit in those airways and block them.

[Brendan W]

So should i be able to poke something through to clean them, and is there a passageway between each barrel?

Only ever done it with the barrel off and a pressure washer. Poking will get most of it I suppose with degreaser and hose to finish.

[cowboyup3371]

Get some cleaning wire brushes mainly used for cleaning rifle or handgun bores and some Q-tips (you'll go through an entire box)