SuzukiSavage.com - pre-purchase - noticed oil on engine

fcluck

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pre-purchase - noticed oil on engine
04/15/08 at 13:03:26

hey all,

great forum!

i looked at a used '05 s40 this weekend with 10k miles. beautiful machine, loved the ride.

the only prob is that i noticed grimy oil on the engine fins, next to the exhaust pipe (see pic). is this the infamous head gasket oil leak? if so, does anyone know how much it should cost to have a mechanic fix the issue?

thanks for the great resource!
-j.

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fcluck YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 4	Re: pre-purchase - noticed oil on engine Reply #1 - 04/15/08 at 13:03:41 here's the pic:
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rigidchop Serious Thumper Offline don't feed the drama llama Posts: 1105 ravenswood wv Gender:	Re: pre-purchase - noticed oil on engine Reply #2 - 04/15/08 at 13:17:04 not head gasket, head plug. don't know what a mechanic would charge, did it myself.
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PerrydaSavage

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Re: pre-purchase - noticed oil on engine
Reply #3 - 04/15/08 at 13:32:46

Hmmm?? Am suprized to see the infamous LS650 head plug leak on such a recent model S40 with only 10K on the clock? Wasn't Suzuki supposed to have replaced the original rubber plug with a better, redesigned plug starting with the 2002 model year? From what I understand, incidents of oil leakage at the head plug are much rarer in LS650 since 2002 ... is this actually the case?
Peculiar ...

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Reelthing Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Fish or ride that is the question Posts: 5397 Houston,Tx Gender:	Re: pre-purchase - noticed oil on engine Reply #4 - 04/15/08 at 13:36:54 naw the betterhalf's '02 has started a little at 2k miles - the new plug is a better plug - solid more or less vs. a hollow cup - but the service manual still doesn't say to seal it and likely most shop do not do so at the 600 mile headbolt retorque
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: pre-purchase - noticed oil on engine Reply #5 - 04/15/08 at 14:06:35 I wouldnt let that put me off the deal, but I would want the price lowered commensurate with the cost of the repair.
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Demin Serious Thumper Offline We need more chlorine in the gene pool Posts: 2435 Warren,Ohio Gender:	Re: pre-purchase - noticed oil on engine Reply #6 - 04/15/08 at 14:12:26 I think when I bought my plugs they were 6-7 bucks each.You can do it yourself in about 4 hours + or -.use that as a bargaining chip to get the price down.
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28886 L.A. California Gender:	Re: pre-purchase - noticed oil on engine Reply #7 - 04/15/08 at 14:15:04 A low cost shop gave me a price of $250 for a tune up when I 1st got the bike, they didn't see the bike and not sure if that would include head retorque. But that would be about 5/6 hours work, and that would be about right.
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fcluck

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Re: pre-purchase - noticed oil on engine
Reply #8 - 04/15/08 at 14:26:36

wow, you guys really rock. almost instant and helpful replies, thank you very much.

i made a call to the local suzuki dealership and they said it would be about $250 ($180 labor & the rest "parts"). i know to you do-it-yourselfers that must seem totally ridiculous, especially the parts price. unfortunately i don't feel comfortable tinkering in that area of the bike myself.

thanks again!
-j.

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superior Junior Member Alliance Member Offline Savage 4 Life Posts: 56 Los Angeles Area, CA Gender:	Re: pre-purchase - noticed oil on engine Reply #9 - 04/15/08 at 14:36:18 Labor is so expensive these days. I did my head plug fix myself, and it came out flawless. It's not really that hard to do, but if you decide (it sound like you already have) to get the dealership to do it, then at least your playing it 'safe'. Good luck and Congrats on the new bike!
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Demin Serious Thumper Offline We need more chlorine in the gene pool Posts: 2435 Warren,Ohio Gender:	Re: pre-purchase - noticed oil on engine Reply #10 - 04/15/08 at 14:38:42 Depending on where you are there are a few wrenches on the site.The only problem with the stealership is they will put a new plug in probably without any sealer on it.And that's where you are now.
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superior

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Re: pre-purchase - noticed oil on engine
Reply #11 - 04/15/08 at 14:43:28

Demin wrote on 04/15/08 at 14:38:42:

Depending on where you are there are a few wrenches on the site.The only problem with the stealership is they will put a new plug in probably without any sealer on it.And that's where you are now.

VERY GOOD POINT !!! ..... maybe it would be best to take it to an independent motorcycle repair shop and explain them to replace the plug with sealer on it. I would print out the posts and give it to the m-cycle tech.

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fcluck YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 4	Re: pre-purchase - noticed oil on engine Reply #12 - 04/15/08 at 14:58:52 (yes, good point indeed.) even though i don't think i would be brave enough to tinker with it, i was just wondering: is the part that needs to be replaced #43 on this diagram?: http://fiche.ronayers.com/Index.cfm/Module/Main/TypeID/26/Type/Motorcycle/Mak...
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Demin Serious Thumper Offline We need more chlorine in the gene pool Posts: 2435 Warren,Ohio Gender:	Re: pre-purchase - noticed oil on engine Reply #13 - 04/15/08 at 15:14:30 No,it's #12.
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justin_o_guy2

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Re: pre-purchase - noticed oil on engine
Reply #14 - 04/15/08 at 15:28:23

The current owner May offer to have it done & then sell it. I wouldnt do that. He may have it done by some totally half a55ed kinda guy & you get the shaft. On top of that, IF you take it to a shop, it allows you the chance to start building a relationship with them. Also, maybe you can arrange to watch, by telling them you promise not to try to help or criticize, just want to learn, maybe offer to buy the mechanic a 6 pack. Once you see how it goes, then yoiu wont be so jumpy about grabbing a wrenchg. The 650 needs some TLC & if that means going to the shop, you will be missing lots of good riding time and spending more than the bike is worth in a few years of regular maintenance.

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