SuzukiSavage.com - oil leak, help !!!

fayddy Ex Member	oil leak, help !!! 09/26/07 at 01:08:52 I notice an oil leak on my cylinder. Any idea what it might be?
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T Mack 1 - FSO

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Re: oil leak, help !!!
Reply #1 - 09/26/07 at 03:03:51

Two things could cause that, but one is very common.

Not commom- Head loose, but If bike is running ok it not a loose head.

Very common - Most likely it's the rubber plug that covers the access hole for one of the head bolt nuts. It's in the opening behind the exhaust pipe (top side). When the bike is on the kickstand, the oil works it's way to the low side as in your picture.

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youzguyz

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Re: oil leak, help !!!
Reply #2 - 09/26/07 at 03:10:39

T Mack 1 - FSO wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:09:

Very common - Most likely it's the rubber plug that covers the access hole for one of the head bolt nuts. It's in the opening behind the exhaust pipe (top side). When the bike is on the kickstand, the oil works it's way to the low side as in your picture.

Here is a detailed look at the problem From the Technical Documents

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Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut between the seat and the handlebars. Make sure yours isn't too tight or too loose.

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Savage_Rob Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Mechanically Inclined Amateur Posts: 6972 Texas (Dallas area) Gender:	Re: oil leak, help !!! Reply #3 - 09/26/07 at 04:52:00 It's actually a metal plug/cap with a rubber coating.
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Re: oil leak, help !!!
Reply #4 - 09/26/07 at 07:23:50

I have always assumed that my leak was the oil plug being discussed - but looking at his photo I'm not so sure. My cylinder gets oil at the same place as his but also gets oil on the upper fins as well (actually more from up there). So my question becomes - As I have oils collecting on my upper fins am I dealing w/ some other source or is it still likely the plug cap????

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rokrover Full Member 2005 No Login Offline torkenstein Posts: 147 SoCal	Re: oil leak, help !!! Reply #5 - 09/26/07 at 07:44:26 I had a similar oil leak, though not as severe http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=RubberSideDown;action=display;n... After I re-torqued the 12mm nut on the head stud several times the leak finally stopped. Check it out.
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Online Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28884 L.A. California Gender:	Re: oil leak, help !!! Reply #6 - 09/26/07 at 08:58:31 I too have a leak from up on top, not the dreaded plug leak. I'll have to check and see if any of the screws are loose, especially the ones with seals.
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T Mack 1 - FSO Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline sold 2001 LS650 for a 1986 XLH1100 Posts: 2919 Emmaus,Pa Gender:	Re: oil leak, help !!! Reply #7 - 09/26/07 at 10:17:44 Some of the head cover screws (bolts) get little rubber seals. I don't have the Factory service manual handy to tell you which ones, but I know it's there. Also, the rocker arm / valve adj opening plate has o-rings on them.
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fayddy Ex Member	Re: oil leak, help !!! Reply #8 - 09/26/07 at 11:31:29 Thank you so much for all your input. I will work on it. It runs good and no problem other than a few drop oil when even it's on a kickstand.
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Polar_Pilot Junior Member Offline I love YaBB 1G - SP1! Posts: 64	Re: oil leak, help !!! Reply #9 - 09/26/07 at 19:16:32 The part is called a "head cap seal" - The part was redesigned in the early 2000's to solve this problem - It looks like a leaking head gasket because of where the oil appears but it is the cap seal every time in my experience Part is about 15 bucks and about 3 hours to change it in a shop.
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Savage_Rob Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Mechanically Inclined Amateur Posts: 6972 Texas (Dallas area) Gender:	Re: oil leak, help !!! Reply #10 - 09/27/07 at 06:06:47 Polar_Pilot wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:09: The part was redesigned in the early 2000's to solve this problem - I think it was in 2002.
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Re: oil leak, help !!!
Reply #11 - 09/27/07 at 07:48:46

I am buying a truck for a second vehicle (the bike has been my sole transportation since about April) this weekend. Then I will have time to check all of the head bolts. I would not be suprised to find them loose as I have had three body parts darn near fall off before I discovered that the fastners had vibrated loose (just yesterday I had to tighten the two remaining bolts holding the tag braket to the fender - one is gone already). The engine being the source of all of this vibration - - Well it makes sence that it could vibrate its way to looseness. I will let you guys know what I find when I can get into the tightning.

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It feels so good when the ground shakes.

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