Topic: sprung new oil leak K0 836

[nteek754]

hey all  yesterday I was out in my chily garage kinda puttering  and decided to fire up my baby 1973  750 K with 70 836 engine and  when  I got it running (battery  was dead) anyway I noticed  just behind the dyno and of coarse in front of the shift mechanisam cover  kinda in the middle  oil was seeping out pretty bad wonder if I just blew the gasket cause of the thick oil (20 50 and it was probably 25 degrees up here in Maine I mean Im gonna dig into it  sometime soon but was really caught off guard the way it came about any prognoses very helpfull  Craig in Maine

[eldar]

20-50 is very think at 25 degrees, too thick for bike use. At that temp, you would want to run a 10-40. At that temp, oil break down is not that big a problem from heat!

[Bob Wessner]

I run 10w40 year-round (lower Michigan) and even in the summer, if it's an early morning start, the oil pressure is initially 80 lbs on starting. Can't guess what it would be with 20w50 at such low temps, but can assume pretty darn high, then there's the possibility of starvation if the oil can circulate quickly enough.

[mwohlenhaus]

to answer your question, I highly doubt that high oil pressure is gonna blow a gasket.  gaskets get old, or the bolts work lose or other anomolies.

[eldar]

Tell that to those that blow new head gaskets! Reagrdless if oil pressure did it, 20-50 is too thick for that temp really. takes too long to get oil moving. Really unless your average temp that you ride in gets above 90 or you sit in a lot of traffic idling, 10-40 works very well. Bob uses it, I have used it and I think it is the oil honda recommends in their manuals for normal driving.  Now I am not saying to never use 20-50, just not in cold weather. I use rotella in my bike and that is higher than 10-40, I just dont use it in cold weather

[nteek754]

Hey Guys thanx for the input  now I wasnt planning on going for a ride just wanted to hear it after a couple of months and  now let me think for 30 years now I been running 20 50 just when its cold I do let it warm up longer  even heading down the road I wont rev it over  3 till it is warmed up   but for every day rideing  I will always use 20 50  lie someone said and I agree I think the gasket just gave out got plenty in stock so a wrenching I shall go  thanx again seven fifty four ever  Craig in chilly Maine

[eldar]

It is possible just an old gasket. very possible really. I just say that when it is under 40 degrees, 20 weight takes a bit to flow well. At least our engines are not that tight on their clearances!  however it happened, it still sucks to have to replace a head gasket!