Topic: Right side mystery oil leak

[CBNJ74]

Walked out to the parking lot during my lunch hour and noticed some spots on the right side. I inspected the center stand and it’s covered in oil and a tiny  drip was forming on the right side center stand foot (bike is on its side stand).  I’m thinking it might be an oil pan gasket leak.

Has anyone ever experienced this before?

[crazypj]

Oil tank isn't over filled and blowing out breather?

[CBNJ74]

Interesting! that might be it. I changed the oil recently and used all 4 qrts. When I open the cap and look it's definitely not filled to the brim but I can visually see the oil down int there. How far up the dipstick should the oil line be?

[Round Dice]

I suspect the oil overflow as well.  A oil pan gasket leak doesn't usually happen that fast.  You should have noticed a seep before you noticed dripping.  Unless of course you ride it really hard for awhile, then that might happen.

[MCRider]

Interesting! that might be it. I changed the oil recently and used all 4 qrts. When I open the cap and look it's definitely not filled to the brim but I can visually see the oil down int there. How far up the dipstick should the oil line be?

Dip stick should be marked. FULL is about halfway up. For sure the tank should not be filled to the brim.

[CBNJ74]

So if it's marked more than halfway up I need to drain a little oil?

[MCRider]

So if it's marked more than halfway up I need to drain a little oil?

everybody's different and according to HondaMan different CB750s hold slightly more or less oil than the other.

I let it idle a bit on the centerstand, turn it off. Drop it to the floor and as vertical as possible check it. Your dip stick should be marked with crosshatches in the OK area and has a kink bent into it at the full point. Does yours.

As to draining, sure. Sounds like its doing it for you.   

[killersoundz]

I've got my oil tank filled up almost to the top. Didn't mean to but once I got er' runnin' it came up that high. Whatever it hasn't overflowed yet! More oil can't hurt

[CBNJ74]

Now that I further think about it. I have had to clean very light oil seepage from the side cover and rear brake switch areas. I will investigate further when I get home using all of your input.

[MCRider]

I've got my oil tank filled up almost to the top. Didn't mean to but once I got er' runnin' it came up that high. Whatever it hasn't overflowed yet! More oil can't hurt

The CB750 is a fickle bird when it comes to checking the oil. If you know you have 3.5qts in it, you can be confident you're OK. I'll bet many will check their oil (as I do) after having it sit for a while and it will be surprisingly low. But there's no oil on the floor. So what's up? It drains past the pump into the sump.

That's why i say check your ol at the end of each ride, not the begining. If you check at the beginning,do my routine of runing it a little first. Each is a little quirky.

[MCRider]

Now that I further think about it. I have had to clean very light oil seepage from the side cover and rear brake switch areas. I will investigate further when I get home using all of your input.

I had that and it was the drain plug. I hate to overtighten them. I used a torque wrench and brought it up to 10lbs, which is still way below recommended of 20+. No more leak.

[CBNJ74]

So if it's marked more than halfway up I need to drain a little oil?

everybody's different and according to HondaMan different CB750s hold slightly more or less oil than the other.

I let it idle a bit on the centerstand, turn it off. Drop it to the floor and as vertical as possible check it. Your dip stick should be marked with crosshatches in the OK area and has a kink bent into it at the full point. Does yours.

As to draining, sure. Sounds like its doing it for you.   

I just got home from work (35 min ride) I put it on the centerstand and the oil line goes 1.5" past the kink. On it's side stand it measures at 1" is that a good indicator that I have too much oil in there?

[MCRider]

So if it's marked more than halfway up I need to drain a little oil?

everybody's different and according to HondaMan different CB750s hold slightly more or less oil than the other.

I let it idle a bit on the centerstand, turn it off. Drop it to the floor and as vertical as possible check it. Your dip stick should be marked with crosshatches in the OK area and has a kink bent into it at the full point. Does yours.

As to draining, sure. Sounds like its doing it for you.   

I just got home from work (35 min ride) I put it on the centerstand and the oil line goes 1.5" past the kink. On it's side stand it measures at 1" is that a good indicator that I have too much oil in there?

Yup. I like to take it both wheels on floor, near vertical. But any way, you've overfilled it. IF the effusing has stopped, I'd leave it to next oil change. Draining a little bit from the tank would be hard to control.

You could just remove the filter and dump that out, once or twice. You could keep that pretty clean.

[stickman]

Best to take a minute and drain out your excess oil.  Use a turkey baster to remove some oil.  Empty into a clean container so if you happen to remove too much you can re-use it safely.  Simple, clean and quick.  If you don't have a turkey baster, invest in one as they are very cheap and useful in a mechanics tool box.  Ride safe.  Stickman

[CBNJ74]

Best to take a minute and drain out your excess oil.  Use a turkey baster to remove some oil.  Empty into a clean container so if you happen to remove too much you can re-use it safely.  Simple, clean and quick.  If you don't have a turkey baster, invest in one as they are very cheap and useful in a mechanics tool box.  Ride safe.  Stickman

Diabolical! even better!

[crazypj]

It's common to overfill when you check on sidestand.
At least it's not as bad as a Harley, when they get overfilled they blow the (push in) filler plug out along with excess oil

[bollingball]

Use a turkey baster to remove some oil.

+1 about $3.00 at the food store I use it for a lot of things.

Ken

[CBNJ74]

That did the trick!

Thanks fellas!

[MCRider]

That did the trick!

Thanks fellas!

Turkey baster was a much better idea than my dumping the filter a couple of times. It pays to participate in these threads some times.

I hadn't thought of that.

[Tugboat]

^+1