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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Please look at this Head - usual oil plug leak?
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Message started by DANT on 02/24/18 at 20:42:18

Title: Please look at this Head - usual oil plug leak?
Post by DANT on 02/24/18 at 20:42:18

2014 Suzuki S40
Purchased new, now 9,600 miles

After most rides, light smell of oil burning would be present. Lately, the smell is worse and oil is visible on (left side) fins. So, decided to replace oil plug in head. But I see oil in other places than expected.

Can the experienced folks here take a look at the pics and tell me if I should be addressing another possible leak source while it's opened up?

Title: Re: Please look at this Head - usual oil plug leak
Post by DANT on 02/24/18 at 20:42:54

another pic

Title: Re: Please look at this Head - usual oil plug leak
Post by DANT on 02/24/18 at 20:43:22

and last pic.

Title: Re: Please look at this Head - usual oil plug leak
Post by LANCER on 02/24/18 at 23:28:18

When you removed the head cover, did it seem like it was stuck down well with the adhesive that should have been used to seal it ? And especially on the side with the gunk ?
Also, on the side where the o-ring was kinked, did you have oil coming over the side and down on to the fins ?

Title: Re: Please look at this Head - usual oil plug leak
Post by Dave on 02/25/18 at 03:46:49

It looks like the sealant failed on the spark plug side.....that does happen occasionally. (The good news is that your cam and rockers look great).

You should install the Verslagen head plug while you are in there......that should help to prevent the leak in that are happening a few years from now.

Title: Re: Please look at this Head - usual oil plug leak
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 02/25/18 at 07:51:48

Buy the proper sealant for the head cover. Be patient with tightening the thing down. It's okay to run the pattern five times. It's easier to repair a leak than stripped threads.

Title: Re: Please look at this Head - usual oil plug leak
Post by DANT on 02/25/18 at 10:15:43

Thanks everyone.
Yeah, the cover came off easily, it did not seem adhered.
I will clean it up well, install the Verslagen plug, and hopefully do a better job at installing the cover than the first personal did

Title: Re: Please look at this Head - usual oil plug leak
Post by norm92de on 02/26/18 at 14:42:33

Dan't
Did you have the Suzuki dealer do the 600 mile service?

Title: Re: Please look at this Head - usual oil plug leak
Post by DANT on 02/26/18 at 16:08:11

Yes, unfortunately! And after that, I will never return to the dealer for service. They over-filled the oil so much at that service, the bike started blowing smoke on the ride home, and the oil thru the viewer window was frothed up completely, whipped be the crank. The dealer's response convinced me that they are dishonest or incompetent, which is what prompted me to learn how to do all of my own servicing ;)

What part of that service were you thinking could be related to my oil leak? I doubt the dealer did the full service..

Title: Re: Please look at this Head - usual oil plug leak
Post by norm92de on 02/27/18 at 07:49:57

DANT,
The 600 mile service calls for re-torqueing the cylinder head bolts which of course requires removing the head cover. I would bet that your leak was caused by incompetent resealing of the cover.

I also have a 2014 but I didn't open up the engine because I think it is just looking for trouble. I believe the recommendation here is to leave the engine alone. Some of the guys claim many thousand miles and have never torqued the head.

My bike has only 7000 on it but no leaks so far. :)

Title: Re: Please look at this Head - usual oil plug leak
Post by Dave on 02/27/18 at 09:19:51

30312C33676C3A3B5E0 wrote:

The 600 mile service calls for re-torqueing the cylinder head bolts which of course requires removing the head cover. I would bet that your leak was caused by incompetent resealing of the cover.

I hadn't considered that......it is very likely a reason that such a low mileage bike is leaking oil in this manner.

Title: Re: Please look at this Head - usual oil plug leak
Post by norm92de on 02/27/18 at 11:17:30

DANT,
Another thought. Be sure that the cam lobes are down before you install the head cover.

Title: Re: Please look at this Head - usual oil plug leak
Post by norm92de on 02/27/18 at 11:47:51

I seem to be stuttering,

I noticed he wire mesh anti "foaming" is up in the cover not down in the head. All the other pictures I've seen have it down in the cylinder head. Perhaps some of the more knowledgeable folks will chime in on this.

Title: Re: Please look at this Head - usual oil plug leak
Post by Dave on 02/27/18 at 14:38:51

3839243B6F643233560 wrote:

I noticed he wire mesh anti "foaming" is up in the cover not down in the head. All the other pictures I've seen have it down in the cylinder head. Perhaps some of the more knowledgeable folks will chime in on this.

It belongs in the head cover......but it usually falls out as the engine is taken apart.

Title: Re: Please look at this Head - usual oil plug leak
Post by verslagen1 on 02/27/18 at 14:40:30

7F7E637C28237574110 wrote:

I got a fix for that, take a shot of tequila. Repeat until you stop or you don't care.

The answer to number to is to stop drinking. :-?

Title: Re: Please look at this Head - usual oil plug leak
Post by norm92de on 02/27/18 at 14:45:20

Stopping drinking is not on the cards, especially mararitas. ;D