Topic: No More Oil Leak - what the!!!? - SOLVED

[nancy]

OK - on a previous topic,...I  have been into my 750 (K1/2/3 with F1 carbs) to get the carbs into good shape and get some nice colour back into my plugs cheeks (were dark and sooty). Got it all going well. Tan plugs, improved speed and better MPG. All I replaced were mains jets, one throttle slide, 4 x spark plugs and 2 x plug caps and changed the clips to posi 2 on the needle, from 3).
Now,since getting the carb rack back on...for 4 days, 3 rides and about 200km,.. I have no more oil leaks from the head area! Now, my head has leaked for 16 months or so - with absolute regularity - during and after every ride. I'd get a streak down my LH side cover, airbox and surrounds. Now - not a drop. How come? Oil pressure light is normal, oil level spot on. It's good..but why? I'm assuming coincidence. Any thoughts.
Regards
Mark

[gnarlycharlie4u]

weird. maybe you used adhesive instead of oil and it sealed itself?

...i'm still leaking oil.

[Legin]

Engine running cooler so oil viscosity staying higher ?

[Hush]

The stuff running from your head was excess petrol from badly adjusted carbs???

[nancy]

Well - it was running rich and now it's leaner..so I expect the engine temp may have even increased?
Well - I know my oil from my petrol Hush.  Strange. Went out and had another look - hell, even the gooey oily muck on the whole frontage top and below exhaust outlets is bone dry!
I'm happy in my bewilderment.

[KingCustomCycles.com]

Change in temperature and therefore clearances, gasket finally got soaked with oil and swelled up to seal, chemical change in oil caused gasket to swell, and possibly fine debris in the oil migrated to the gap and sealed it.  All possible causes.  Lastly, have you had a recent spiritual experience :-)

[Blueridgerunner]

nancy-
Same thing happened to my 650. The only thing I did was switch to a motorcycle-specific oil. Not sure if that did it or not. I just accepted it.

[nancy]

Karma (suits yah)

[zanorak]

Did you have gas in your oil?

[nancy]

Did you have gas in your oil?
Maybe.. I did have a foamy/creamy sludge build-up around the oil filler cap - seemed more like what I've seen in car's with head gasket problem - ie water pollution. I had cleaned my fuel tank a few months prior and used some water followed by ATF and figured some residue of that was polluting the oil. Did an oil/filter change without improvement. What I recently did when working on the carbs, was clean out the fuel cock - was oK and checked inside the tank with a stick with a cloth on the end - and wiped the bottom - it was clean. Now, since the carb rebuild etc, the sludge on the dipstick cap has gone too. So,...YEP! I guess I may have had gas in the oil.

[zanorak]

I had a carb that would overfill and leak out the intake tract. Probably got some gas spilling out the other side too. Plugged overflow probably. When I check my oil I hold a lighter up on the stick. If it burns you got gas in your oil! Make sure you wipe it off really well after you do this..

[nancy]

I'll have a look, thanks Zanorak. If you hear a "poof" - you know I had oil in my fuel.

[scunny]

bugger, I just spilt my coffee.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Did you have gas in your oil?
Maybe.. I did have a foamy/creamy sludge build-up around the oil filler cap - seemed more like what I've seen in car's with head gasket problem - ie water pollution. I had cleaned my fuel tank a few months prior and used some water followed by ATF and figured some residue of that was polluting the oil. Did an oil/filter change without improvement. What I recently did when working on the carbs, was clean out the fuel cock - was oK and checked inside the tank with a stick with a cloth on the end - and wiped the bottom - it was clean. Now, since the carb rebuild etc, the sludge on the dipstick cap has gone too. So,...YEP! I guess I may have had gas in the oil.

When that happens you are not burning off the water vapor in your oil, stop making short trips or at least run the bike for longer than 30 minutes at least once a week for a good highway run especially in the winter months.

[nancy]

I've regargled this topic of mine again - as I have another episode of oil intrigue. After several weeks of nil oil leaks from my head (motor) - I now have it back again. Why? I did an oil change with filter and decided to go from 10w40 to 20w50. Same brand of 4-stroke motorcycle formulation from ELF. As it's summer here now - thought it might be of some benefit. Within 5 mins of motor running - oil seepage from head appeared in same spots. SO,...does the increased viscosity of the oil bring about a temp reduction again thereby negating the points gained from leaning the carbs out 2 months ago? Any thoughts guys? Anyway - I will go back to 10w40 but not for another 2,000km...unless it sprays out 1st.

[nancy]

Bumping myself...

[Hush]

I think you just have to accept some minor oil leaks on our bikes, 30 year old machines are like 80 year old humans...they leak...em baressingly!
As long as you are not experiencing loss of compression and the oil level in your sump stays at an acceptable level I'd ride on blissfully and wait for something catastrophic to happen before opening the motor up.

[nancy]

Agreed Hushie...I'm not looking to cure the leak - although, that'd be good! I'm just putting some data up for mastication...why can I cure it by changing carb settings and 3 months later f..k it again by altering oil? I'm suggesting we may be able to control oil leak if we look at some variables.
In pondering this - I took a 100km ride to Marton and back with the missus up back. Seemed I was also getting spray out of the oil filler cap...never seen this before....also found some moisture in there. So, figured I have a venting issue. So parked it back in the shed and started tracing inputs and outputs. BINGO...my A and B vent pipes are connected all up the #$%*e! I have connected my rocker cover vent back to the top vent feed on the oil tank! Should vent to air and likewise - the outlet at top of the oil tank. Might contribute to some pressure issues? Dunno. I'll refeed the vent tubes back to atmosphere and see how it blows.
regards
Mark

[nancy]

Wishing to put this topic to sleep - a final update to my oil leak solved/back dilemma. The incorrect routing of the vent pipes between oil tank and rocker box seems to have been the culprit all along. After proper routing of the A & B vent pipes from rocker box and bottom of oil tank: out to the ground, I have returned to an oil splatter free ride. Did a 2-up 160km ride at highway speed yesterday - back in the shed and parked it overnight and not ONE speckle of oil next day.
So - I caused the oil leak 18 months ago after 1st getting the bike. I found 2 halves of unconnected vent pipes and joined them togther without thinking. Later I notice the head starts leaking oil...oh well.
Six months back after working on the carb rack to lower the needles and fit new mains, I must have dislodged the pipe from the rockerbox a little. Oil leak gone.
A few months later I do an oil/filter change, fit 20w50 instead of 10w40 - and the head leaks again. Because... - I found the vent pipe had a shaggy end and was not plugged on much, so I trimmed it up and pushed it on real firm. Oil leak back. What!!  Must have been a real pressure dilemma in the head. Not now. Phew..
So - might not be many others so dumb - but this is another possible cause of head oil leaks.
Regards
Mark

 

[wardenerd]

my 550 seems to ooze more oil if I use synthetic than if I use a motorcycle specific oil or rotella

[fasturd]

I had a similar problem, my bike's P/O had routed all the vents wrong as well. In town there was no problem but out on the highway the bike coated the rear wheel with oil spray. I have since properly routed the vents but sadly the oil vapor is still an issue. Hondaman thinks the valve guides are bad, letting blow by pressurize the whole system to much causing the vapor issue. A bit bummed because the bike is DRY with no leaks and I didn't want to dig into it as it runs strong as well. So later this winter I am going to try just replacing the guides and see if that solves my issue.
Hopefully yours was just the routing and you have it solved.
Good luck.

[MCRider]

I had a similar problem, my bike's P/O had routed all the vents wrong as well. In town there was no problem but out on the highway the bike coated the rear wheel with oil spray. I have since properly routed the vents but sadly the oil vapor is still an issue. Hondaman thinks the valve guides are bad, letting blow by pressurize the whole system to much causing the vapor issue. A bit bummed because the bike is DRY with no leaks and I didn't want to dig into it as it runs strong as well. So later this winter I am going to try just replacing the guides and see if that solves my issue.
Hopefully yours was just the routing and you have it solved.
Good luck.

Did he say guides or guide seals? (maybe both granted)

But if its running strong, try some SeaFoam in gas and oil per instructions on can and website. That'll soften up the guide seals (maybe).

[fasturd]

Interesting, I never thought of that... So what else does it soften up? LOL just waht I need more soft parts...

[MCRider]

Interesting, I never thought of that... So what else does it soften up? LOL just waht I need more soft parts...

Actually no where could i find that SeaFoam claims to soften or restore rubber seals. That's why I said (maybe). Other additives do make that claim, I just prefer SeaFoam and think most additives are basically the same stuff. Couldn't hurt to try and sea if it stops smoking.

And no don't put it there!