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Oil leak

glib

glib

Forum Mentor
Past Site Supporter
If oil is leaking from the front of the valve cover gasket, is there enough pressure in there to shoot a mist of oil on to the back of the front fender? 1983 GS1100E
 
Shouldn't be any pressure in there at all, but hot oil will fly everywhere. I got some on my front fender today.
 
tkent02 said:
Shouldn't be any pressure in there at all, but hot oil will fly everywhere. I got some on my front fender today.
Click to expand...

Got a closer look today. It's the head gasket leaking right in front of the timing chain.
 
Are you sure it's not the tach drive? They're notorious for leaking and the oil will migrate down.
 
JTGS850GL said:
Are you sure it's not the tach drive? They're notorious for leaking and the oil will migrate down.
Click to expand...

I cleaned it up and started it and I could see bubbles coming through the gasket. It also makes sense because the pressure was pushing oil out of the case gasket near the right side. I'm hoping that with a good head gasket, the rest of the motor will stay dry and clean.
 
Partzilla has the Suzuki OEM head gasket for $75 and the valve cover gasket for $24. Is that the best choice?
 
If you're blowing gaskets, you blowby isn't getting vented out, that is not oil pressure in those places. Clutch cover has no oil pressure in it, and neither does the head gasket in that place by the cam chain. Should be vented to atmosphere, so no pressure at all there.
.
 
Add to your list of things to buy a new OEM base gasket. Removing the head almost certainly unseats the base gasket and that will be the place of your next leak.

Agreed with tkent02 that you need to verify that your valve cover vent is open and clear. Improper venting can cause numerous leaks.
 
tkent02 said:
If you're blowing gaskets, you blowby isn't getting vented out, that is not oil pressure in those places. Clutch cover has no oil pressure in it, and neither does the head gasket in that place by the cam chain. Should be vented to atmosphere, so no pressure at all there.
.
Click to expand...

If the head gasket is bad, couldn't the pressure from the cylinder be pushing into the crankcase creating the pressure that is making the oil spray on to the back of the fender? But yes I do see your point and will look for that now.



JTGS850GL said:
Add to your list of things to buy a new OEM base gasket. Removing the head almost certainly unseats the base gasket and that will be the place of your next leak.
Click to expand...

Great (sarcasm). How much more work to do the case gasket. It is leaking and I might as well do it too.
 
No sarcasm, he's trying to help you. And no, if the crankcase is ventilated properly there won't be any pressure to build up. Did you buy an aftermarket gasket for the breather cover?
 
tkent02 said:
No sarcasm, he's trying to help you. And no, if the crankcase is ventilated properly there won't be any pressure to build up. Did you buy an aftermarket gasket for the breather cover?
Click to expand...

No, I meant my sarcasm. I know he was trying help. You know how you say "great" with a big sigh and don't really mean great, you mean "crap this just keeps getting deeper." That's why I put (sarcasm) so it would be clear that I understood that what he was saying, while helpful, was not actually going to feel great in either time or money.

And thank you for your help. (Genuinely)
 
Dont be fooled by the two head nuts (under the valve cover) that have orings on them. This notoriously resembles head gasket leaks.

100_1901.jpg
 
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bonanzadave said:
Dont be fooled by the two head bolts (under the valve cover) that have orings on them. This notoriously resembles head gasket leaks.

100_1901.jpg
Click to expand...

I've seen those Dave but I'm not sure what you mean. (Edit: Oh, I see. If the seals are leaking the oil will come out the front exactly where my problem is!)


tkent02 said:
...if the crankcase is ventilated properly there won't be any pressure to build up. Did you buy an aftermarket gasket for the breather cover?
Click to expand...

Breather cover was in place when I got it--and, oddly, the vent is not only not blocked but I had forgotten to check it and it was open--no airbox and no alternate plan for lack of tube to airbox. So now I really have no idea were the pressure is coming from to push the oil out.
 
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Bonanzadave, that suggestion prompted me to go ahead and do a compression check which I should have thought of before and my pressures are all pushing 180. So I think you are most likely correct with those O-rings. Do they have to be a specific material? And can I replace them and re-torque just those bolts or do I have to re-torque the entire head?
 
Order the OEM o-rings -- don't install o-rings from the hardware store.
 
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bwringer said:
Order the OEM o-rings -- don't install o-rings from the hardware store.
Click to expand...

Thank you. I will. Just so inconvenient when you discover a simple inexpensive item and on a rainy day anyway!

bonanzadave said:
I did with no noticeable ill effects and it did stop my leak. But I would run it by a guy like Ray who knows the inside of these engines like the back of his hand.

We talked about it here a couple years ago....

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?175380-Head-bolt-orings
Click to expand...

Great idea--thanks for the link...
 
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ok, this is just the thread I've been looking for...I think. I have an oil leak that recently started at the front of the head at the 6mm bolt at center of cam chain tunnel. Or that's where it looks like it's coming from. I tried an epoxy putty patch, but no go...these nuts are inside the valve cover but will leak to the exterior of the engine??? What am I missing here???. My 1100e has a recurrence of a crankcase leak at the front, right where the #4 crank throw would run. Patched that with epoxy and it held for 5k or so, no seeping again. Is that what original poster was referring to with his case leak??? I'd love to get these leaks sealed, they're the only flaw in an awesomely running daily driver '83 GS1100e...

edit to say...just went out and looked at my bike, it has external studs at the front, so I see what I was missing...good to know...
 
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Crankcase vents through the snout on the valve cover. There is a screen affair under and it is possible that it is clogged up; that is the ONLY way for pressure to build up that I can see which would cause various gaskets to spring a leak. You might want to pick up a new gasket for that cover up on top and remove it and see if everything is clean under the cover.
 
fast eddie 52 said:
ok, this is just the thread I've been looking for...I think. I have an oil leak that recently started at the front of the head at the 6mm bolt at center of cam chain tunnel. Or that's where it looks like it's coming from. I tried an epoxy putty patch, but no go...these nuts are inside the valve cover but will leak to the exterior of the engine??? What am I missing here???. My 1100e has a recurrence of a crankcase leak at the front, right where the #4 crank throw would run. Patched that with epoxy and it held for 5k or so, no seeping again. Is that what original poster was referring to with his case leak??? I'd love to get these leaks sealed, they're the only flaw in an awesomely running daily driver '83 GS1100e...

edit to say...just went out and looked at my bike, it has external studs at the front, so I see what I was missing...good to know...
Click to expand...

FYI, I did get OEM O-rings for the two head bolts as mentioned earlier in this thread and it did seem to take care of the oil leak at the front of the cam chain tunnel. However, I have only test ridden this bike so I don't have time on the bike to confirm. The lower leak from the cases won't be fixed without removing the engine.
 
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