Topic: What do you think about putting stop-leak in motorbike motors?

[Tugboat]

Kind of a general question I know....

Without getting into "why don't you just fix it properly?" (seriously!) what is your opinion of using some kind of oil stop-leak in motorcycle engines?

Mine: 50/50 shot that it'll work, and if it doesn't, you're not any worse off than before you added it.

Others have suggested that considering the smaller oil passages in motorcycle engines, it might restrict oil flow and cause additional damage.

FWIW, I'm planning on riding the bike in question for 24 hours straight in a few weeks, which is why I'm asking.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

I'd be concerned with the clutch!

[ekpent]

Clutch and those oil ports in the heads are very tiny, at least on a 750. I would not do it personally. Be interesting to see if someone has though.

[Garage_guy_chris]

it depends....

If its that stuff that is the consistency of molasses i would not use it period end of story. Im convinced that stuff is meant to make a dying car last a few more months.

If its a high mileage engine oil type of thing that has normal viscosity that has additives to swell seals and o-rings it could potentially work with minimal side effects. but it depends how the engine is leaking. these additives and special oils can only do so much.



 

[grasscutter]

NO!!

Not for wet clutch.

[70CB750]

No.  With oil leak the motor can still run, with clogged oil nozzles it will die.

[iron_worker]

I, personally, hate stop leak products. You're intentionally throwing a bottle of "goo" into your oil system. Very bad idea IMO.

IW

[Jayelwin]

Do fresh gaskets leak a bit until they have a good run to heat up and seal? I've got some new covers that have a bit of weep. They're good and tight but I've not run the bike yet more than a few seconds. I'm thinking  good hot run will seal them up more. Or live with the weep.

[iron_worker]

A new gasket shouldn't weep ...

[Bootlegger56]

An old used car trick was to put a container of brake fluid in the crankcase to seal main and timing leaks.  It was also used in transmissions and diffs.  The interpretation was that the brake fluid would cause swelling of the seal and stop the leak.  I have personally seen this work on a number of occasions.  The downside is that the seal sometimes suffers catastrophic failure as a result and then you have no choice but to correct the problem.  I do not know the effect on wet clutch's but would not try it on anything I own unless it was an emergency situation.  It might provide a temporary patch for a dire straits circumstance!  Sort of like sawdust or banana's in the trans or diff.

[Geeto67]

what kind of leak are you trying to stop?

actually scratch that I don't want to know, it is 100% a bad idea all the time.

[Dan50]

  Sort of like sawdust or banana's in the trans or diff.

Sorry I couldn't resist.  Might be my favorite Andy Griffith episode.

The Andy Griffith Show FULL EPSOIDE 3x27 Barney's First Car

[Dunk]

No. Thicker/heavier oil to slow a leak maybe... But magic additives? No thanks. My main concerns would be adversely affecting the clutch since it shares the engine oil and catastrophic top end failure with those tiny oil jet restrictors to the top end.

[PeWe]

So what if it leaks a little?
If you have a leak thru the rubber pucks under the cam towers no anti-leak stuff can help without destroying the engine.
The bearings need right viscosity of the oil. Too thick oil will not provide the bearings with oil when cold as needed.

[Djfob]

Seems like verdict is in. Probably better off checking oil levels at gas stations topping up as needed

[InTheStreet]

Do fresh gaskets leak a bit until they have a good run to heat up and seal? I've got some new covers that have a bit of weep. They're good and tight

When you say good and tight, do you mean tight, or do you mean properly torqued to the correct spec?

[Lostboy Steve]

That #$%* should be illegal for use in ALL engines.

[lucky]

You gotta be kidd'n!!!!!

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Is there such a thing as HIGH MILEAGE motorcycle oil?

[Vinhead1957]

It is called synthetic!  Twice the mileage of Dino oil

[grasscutter]

It is called synthetic!  Twice the mileage of Dino oil

Love that answer. 
Totally going to steal that line. 
Synthetic all the way!

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Understand that. High mileage oils often have seal conditioners too.

[Don R]

 I wouldn't be afraid to try a little high mileage oil, I thought of using a quart with my next oil change. Obviously motorcycle oil for a wet clutch is best but some guys are running about every type of oil with no major issues. Maybe change your oil a little sooner with it in there.
 NO brake fluid in a motor ever.

[PeWe]

CB750 should not leak oil. They were famous of small leaks under the head. Small amount of leaks that could be washed away. Also a few drops from where the tachometer cable is attached into the valve cover.

I have never seen a CB750 dripping oil except the automatic chain lube system at front sprocket. Tighten the screw in the outgoing axis and it will not drip oil here. Old English bikes however, had a small lake of oil under the engine after a coffee break.

If leaking more it's time for restoration taking it apart completely.
It's an old engine with old rubber sealings, tensioner wheels that need to be replaced