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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Oil leak! But is it serious and how to fix it???
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Message started by dogbot on 07/08/11 at 15:22:31

Title: Oil leak! But is it serious and how to fix it???
Post by dogbot on 07/08/11 at 15:22:31

Hi Guys,

Would appreciate some help identifying where this oil leak is coming from and what needs to be done to fix it.

I've posted a picture but unfortunately it's so dark I'm not sure it's much help at all. The oil leak appears to be coming from the bolt that is in the recess of the crank case located next to where the carb joins the engine on the left side of the bike. In the picture it's the shadowy spot behind fuel hose :)

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu80/bonersaurus/IMAG0403-1.jpg

I only noticed the leak after spotting oil on the cooling fins on the left-hand side of the engine. It doesn't appear to be coming from the head because the oil is only in the lower fins just above where the engine case tapers down (and in line with the recess mentioned above, which is very oily).

For info - I've only recently bought the bike which is a 1986 model. The previous owner has done a lot of work on it which included new piston and rings and a full gasket set. So I'm hoping it's not the head gasket and just something that hasn't been torqued down properly.

What do you think?? Any advice gratefully appreciated.

Title: Re: Oil leak! But is it serious and how to fix it?
Post by jdeluca on 07/08/11 at 15:30:14

Looks like a cap leak for sure. $15 part and about 4 hours for someone good with their hands I believe. Here's a link to the tech section with a how to.
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1099227295
I picked up the cap last year when I got my bike, just the wife never gives me the time I'd like to spend on mech stuff...lol

Title: Re: Oil leak! But is it serious and how to fix it?
Post by dogbot on 07/08/11 at 15:44:50

Hey jdeluca,

Thanks for the reply and link.
So is this something that can be left until winter? I don't really want to have the bike in bits when the weather is nice. (Although it's been bucketing down with rain today - typical British summer weather! :P)

Title: Re: Oil leak! But is it serious and how to fix it?
Post by photojoe on 07/08/11 at 16:20:25

If it is indeed the plug leak, you can leave it until winter. Carry rags with you. It's more of an annoyance than anything else, and you won't lose a lot of oil. Ask me how I know.

Title: Re: Oil leak! But is it serious and how to fix it?
Post by drulg on 07/08/11 at 17:21:24

Yup, it is cap leak, just fixed mine not too long ago, it wasn't that bad of a fix until one of the head cover bolts seize an it took hours to get it out!!

Title: Re: Oil leak! But is it serious and how to fix it?
Post by RadRacer on 07/08/11 at 18:43:52

everyone is sooo fast on the cap leak but its on opposite corner of engine id say its the head gasket didn't get re-torqued

Title: Re: Oil leak! But is it serious and how to fix it?
Post by photojoe on 07/08/11 at 19:07:58

4A595C4A595B5D4A380 wrote:

everyone is sooo fast on the cap leak but its on opposite corner of engine id say its the head gasket didn't get re-torqued

It's possible that the head gasket may be the issue, but also remember that when the bike is on the stand, it leans left and gravity takes over. The oil rides the fins to the other side when on the stand. Ask me how I know.

Title: Re: Oil leak! But is it serious and how to fix it?
Post by photojoe on 07/08/11 at 19:10:35

Actually, a good way to do an outside visual is take a strong flashlight with a narrow beam and shine it up into the area just about where the exhaust head mounts. If there's oil/residue up there it may just be the plug/cap.

Title: Re: Oil leak! But is it serious and how to fix it?
Post by verslagen1 on 07/08/11 at 19:19:19

Most likely is the head plug leak, but...
take the tank off and the chrome covers and check the valve inspection covers and all the head cover bolts.

Title: Re: Oil leak! But is it serious and how to fix it?
Post by WD on 07/09/11 at 02:27:52

And if they are all tight it is the cap. Mine has been leaking for over 10 years. Not enough to cause any harm, carb cleaner will remove the residue if it bothers you. Savage is a knock-off of a Matchless or AJS, they leaked too.

Mine leaks oil from: head cap, speedometer cable mount, shifter and the wiring from the stator. Also has standard Lucas style electrical gremlins. Other than the battery is good for 3 days if I forget to unhook it, they just aren't that annoying.