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Message started by NCSUindy09 on 11/21/13 at 09:50:29

Title: Is my head gasket leaking?
Post by NCSUindy09 on 11/21/13 at 09:50:29

Where is all this oil coming from? It seems like it's clean above the head gasket but oily under. My bike leaves oil marks wherever it's parked. Also when it gets hot enough this crud smokes. Head gasket replace seems like a lot of work so I want to be sure.

http://s24.postimg.org/nnixn6lad/image.jpg

Thanks

Title: Re: Is my head gasket leaking?
Post by Serowbot on 11/21/13 at 10:05:24

It does look like head gasket... but, I doubt if it's blown...
You might try just removing the front and rear nuts (in those little cubby holes)... put a dab of RTV on the threads, and tighten them back up...
Then see what happens...
If it still leaks,.. you may need to pull the head cover and torque all the head nuts...

JMHO... :-?...

Title: Re: Is my head gasket leaking?
Post by NCSUindy09 on 11/21/13 at 10:06:32

Oh, just some info.
1986 Right at 14k Miles, this is a daily commute bike (5mi>). Totally stock. I don't know what a cam chain tensioner is but I hear I better find out soon. ;)
Some mechanical experience but not a whole lot.

Title: Re: Is my head gasket leaking?
Post by old_rider on 11/21/13 at 15:07:18

I had a similar looking leak...look at the studs in the square space in the front and back, there is a nut that might be a little loose, you can take it off and clean everything really good (including the threads on the stud) with alcohol or a degreaser and put some sealant (rtv or other) on the threads and put the nut back on and snug it down.
Here is where mine was leaking

http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b471/Orphistle/Suzuki%20Savage/svgleak2.jpg

Title: Re: Is my head gasket leaking?
Post by DavidOfMA on 11/21/13 at 20:01:53

Mine had the same leak. Has been fine for a couple thousand miles, after tightening. Don't know why this nut comes loose and the corresponding one on the other side doesn't (or at least mine didn't). Anyone know?

Title: Re: Is my head gasket leaking?
Post by wambr on 11/22/13 at 00:58:03

think the cause of the oil leakage - the bad sealant under the cover of the valves. :(
it's a positive sign that amount of oil suggests that the oil pump in the engine works very well and oil passages in the cylinder clean. :)

Title: Re: Is my head gasket leaking?
Post by wambr on 11/22/13 at 01:06:21

Oh forgot...
you need to open the cylinder head cover and clean the old sealant. then apply a fresh sealer and replace the cover and secure the nuts with the correct torque.

Title: Re: Is my head gasket leaking?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/23/13 at 09:55:58

6F79757A6A180 wrote:

Now that right there is what we call
POsitive Spin!

Title: Re: Is my head gasket leaking?
Post by Oldfeller on 11/24/13 at 05:48:25

When are you guys going to tell him about the rubber plug?

Or suggest he clean all the crap off his engine with engine cleaner then look at the clean parts on first crank up to see where the ooze starts from?

NCSU ...... does that mean North Carolina State University?

And that is not an insult, I graduated from State and live nearby in Fayetteville.

Title: Re: Is my head gasket leaking?
Post by NCSUindy09 on 11/25/13 at 09:52:30

Yep. Wolfpack!!
What rubber plug? Haha

Title: Re: Is my head gasket leaking?
Post by Dave on 11/25/13 at 10:23:19

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1099227295

Title: Re: Is my head gasket leaking?
Post by old_rider on 11/25/13 at 14:34:25

Wouldn't the plug leak start higher? not sure cause I've not seen pics of that..... or is it along the same split line?

Have you sprayed it off and located where the oil is coming from yet?

Title: Re: Is my head gasket leaking?
Post by Serowbot on 11/25/13 at 14:45:14

+1.. plug leak's I've seen started higher...

Title: Re: Is my head gasket leaking?
Post by DavidOfMA on 11/26/13 at 10:30:39

Easy enough to shine a flashlight in the opening near the head plug to see if oil is pooling or seeping from there, isn't it?

Title: Re: Is my head gasket leaking?
Post by Oldfeller on 11/27/13 at 03:07:54

Clean it up good so the surfaces are all dry, then crank it up and start looking immediately with your flashlight.

We've had several people report they can actually see the plug moving as the engine huffs (sucks and blows internally with the piston movement).

Between the two underside nuts and the rubber plug, it covers 90+ percent of all the oil leaks like you have shown us.