Donate!
Welcome, Guest. Please Login or Register :: View Members
Pages: 1 2 
Send Topic Print
Help! Oil leak on engine top? Going on long ride?! (Read 271 times)
mikemoses
YaBB Newbies
*
Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 11

Help! Oil leak on engine top? Going on long ride?!
04/28/08 at 19:07:43
 
Thanks for all the previous responses to my questions.
NOW I REALLY NEED HELP!
Today, on a shakedown ride, I found fresh oil dripping from the top of the engine at the chrome looking cover. It wasn't just a stain, it was an active drip! I have to get this fixed ASAP! I am leaving on a trip to Helen, Georgia from Tennessee tomorrow. Any suggestions? Am I doomed?
Please help!
Back to top
 
 
  IP Logged
verslagen1
YaBB Moderator
ModSquad
*****
Offline

Where there's a
will, I want to be
in it.

Posts: 28884
L.A. California
Gender: male
Re: Help! Oil leak on engine top? Going on long ri
Reply #1 - 04/28/08 at 19:10:36
 
Take the tank off, take off the chrome covers (toss over shoulder) and search down that leak.  It could be a loose bolt.

BTW, when you go tomorrow... take lots of oil.   Smiley
Back to top
 
 
WWW   IP Logged
mikemoses
YaBB Newbies
*
Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 11

Re: Help! Oil leak on engine top? Going on long ri
Reply #2 - 04/28/08 at 19:13:35
 
Oh man, I am worried now...
How hard is it to pull the tank??? Undecided
Back to top
 
 
  IP Logged
Oldfeller--FSO
Serious Thumper
ModSquad
*****
Offline

Hobby is now
"concentrated
neuropany"

Posts: 12671
Fayetteville, NC
Gender: male
Re: Help! Oil leak on engine top? Going on long ri
Reply #3 - 04/28/08 at 19:14:20
 
Spray the warm engine down with engine cleaner and hose it off good.  Now spot were the oil leak starts.  Is it by the exhaust pipe bolt up where you can see the acorn nut hidden "inside things" a bit?   Look directly above the acorn nut for a rubber seal -- does the rubber seal move a bit if pushed very lightly?

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1099227295/0#0

This is the very nicely done fix-it thread .....  (MANY thanks to Savage Greg for all his good fix-it contributions, he is very good at this sort of stuff.  He's saved my bacon more'n once with his good advice and tips)

Back to top
 
 

Former Savage Owner
  IP Logged
mikemoses
YaBB Newbies
*
Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 11

Re: Help! Oil leak on engine top? Going on long ri
Reply #4 - 04/28/08 at 19:23:28
 
Good grief...
This bike has less than 7000 miles on it.
I have to make this trip! Undecided
Back to top
 
 
  IP Logged
mikemoses
YaBB Newbies
*
Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 11

Re: Help! Oil leak on engine top? Going on long ri
Reply #5 - 04/28/08 at 20:16:01
 
I think the leak is on top of the engine, not at that location. The drip is seeping from the area between the chrome cover and engine when the bike is on the kickstand after the engine is warm.
Back to top
 
 
  IP Logged
verslagen1
YaBB Moderator
ModSquad
*****
Offline

Where there's a
will, I want to be
in it.

Posts: 28884
L.A. California
Gender: male
Re: Help! Oil leak on engine top? Going on long ri
Reply #6 - 04/28/08 at 21:53:51
 
mikemoses wrote on 04/28/08 at 19:13:35:
Oh man, I am worried now...
How hard is it to pull the tank??? Undecided

Remove riders seat, 1 bolt on each side.
To remove tank, 2 bolts at rear of tank, right side, pull vac hose on carb, unscrew speedo cable ( don't lose the washer in the bottom of the cable, you can't get a replacement without buying a new bike ).  Left side, pull main feed to carb.  Push tank forward while lifting rear ( keep fingers crossed ) and shift the rear of the tank to the left ( if you can get the petcock over the frame uncross fingers, if you can't remove petcock, drain tank 1st )  There's a cable you have to pull and california models have a vent line.  Lift tank off, and don't drop it.
Back to top
 
 
WWW   IP Logged
Reelthing
Serious Thumper
Alliance Member
*****
Offline

Fish or ride that is
the question

Posts: 5397
Houston,Tx
Gender: male
Re: Help! Oil leak on engine top? Going on long ri
Reply #7 - 04/29/08 at 07:03:38
 
If you didn't get it fixed take a rag and a couple quarts of oil - it may make a bit of a mess but unlikely to be leaking enough to cause any real harm - check the oil sight glass every time you fill up with fuel before you restart the bike and wipe it down - could be one on the head cover bolt seals.
Back to top
 
 
  IP Logged
T Mack 1 - FSO
Serious Thumper
Alliance Member
*****
Offline

sold 2001 LS650 for
a 1986 XLH1100

Posts: 2919
Emmaus,Pa
Gender: male
Re: Help! Oil leak on engine top? Going on long ri
Reply #8 - 04/29/08 at 10:06:39
 
Wonder how he did.........   Huh

w/7000 miles on the bike, it could be something as simple as the dealer didn't tighted the valve cover after they did the vlave check/adjustment....
Back to top
 
 

Engineers design things, Technicians make them work.
---
30% of being mechanical is confidence/30% is knowing to go slow when needed/30% is looking repeatedly at what you have/10% is dumb luck Wink
  IP Logged
Reelthing
Serious Thumper
Alliance Member
*****
Offline

Fish or ride that is
the question

Posts: 5397
Houston,Tx
Gender: male
Re: Help! Oil leak on engine top? Going on long ri
Reply #9 - 04/29/08 at 13:57:44
 
maybe just not tight the rear bolt has a bit of oil pressure on it - not much as the these engines don't make much - that is the oil passage to the head cover - if that little seal on the bolt wasn't you could get a pretty messy leak I'd think - not enough to hurt anything if you kept up with the oil level
Back to top
 
 
  IP Logged
Savage_Rob
Serious Thumper
Alliance Member
*****
Offline

Mechanically
Inclined Amateur

Posts: 6972
Texas (Dallas area)
Gender: male
Re: Help! Oil leak on engine top? Going on long ri
Reply #10 - 05/01/08 at 17:24:28
 
Also, if the crankcase has been overfilled with oil, it can blow up through the speedo cable and make a mess.  Just a thought.
Back to top
 
 

1998|MAC muffler|ceramic coated header|K&N air filter|Amal Mk2 carb|Odyssey battery|iridium plug|NC windshield|Dunlop 491s|Superbrace|EBC brake rotor|12.5" Progressive shocks|Kuryakyn ISO grips
Savage_Rob RidingTX   IP Logged
mikemoses
YaBB Newbies
*
Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 11

Re: Help! Oil leak on engine top? Going on long ri
Reply #11 - 05/01/08 at 18:18:44
 
RIDE REPORT

I made the trip to Helen, Georgia from Stevenson, Alabama as planned. I took plenty of rags and 2 quarts of oil in case I had issues. At every fuel stop I had to wipe down the left side of the engine, from the chrome head cover, extending to the drive belt cover. I kept checking the oil, and the level stayed constant. It was more of an annoyance more than anything, and when it sat for extended amounts of time, none was on the ground.

The comment about the overfilled oil and the valve cover make sense to me now. The bike had recent service. Maybe I should change the oil tomorrow? I do have 2 qts. of Honda 10w40 saved from the trip. If I do it, how much will it hold? Any suggestions?

Now, for those of you interested in the Helen trip. It was awesome!
Our route took us thorugh Ellijay, through mountains and curves, and there was no traffic or congestion. The ride is challenging, but fun. I haven't ridden alot in 15 years, and I made it fine. (The forgiveness of the Savage played a huge role) My brother has a Can-Am Spyder (Look it up, if you don't know) and I kept up with him on the Savage. He got tons of questions on that bike. We made a trip to Brasstown Bald before we left, too, and had a massage at the Mandala spa. (Awesome)The town of Helen is very nice. We stayed at The Castle Inn, and it was nice and clean, and convenient to all of the shops. This time of year is "dead" for this area, so if you go, many taverns and restaurants won't be open, but there are NO crowds. I really enjoyed it, and I spoke with a veteran rider today, and he told me that he would put the North Georgia mountains up against any location for bike riders. It really is beautiful, and all of the people are friendly. I'll be back, but I 'll make it in a car with the family. Cool
Back to top
 
 
  IP Logged
T Mack 1 - FSO
Serious Thumper
Alliance Member
*****
Offline

sold 2001 LS650 for
a 1986 XLH1100

Posts: 2919
Emmaus,Pa
Gender: male
Re: Help! Oil leak on engine top? Going on long ri
Reply #12 - 05/01/08 at 19:27:04
 
Mike,
   You made it ... Cool  Cool

Cam-Am Spyder....  the local Suzuki dealer is also Cam-AM dealer and they have a picture on their home page.  

Since you just had service done,  I suggest you call the shop and see if they will correct the problem that they might have created.

As for oil level, it is suppose to be checked with the bike level.   Take a look.
Back to top
 
 

Engineers design things, Technicians make them work.
---
30% of being mechanical is confidence/30% is knowing to go slow when needed/30% is looking repeatedly at what you have/10% is dumb luck Wink
  IP Logged
steely
Senior Member
****
Offline



Posts: 325
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Gender: male
Re: Help! Oil leak on engine top? Going on long ri
Reply #13 - 05/02/08 at 20:03:20
 
Those two quarts you have will just about fill it up.  The bike is supposed to take 4.1 quarts, if I recall correctly.  Glad to hear you had a great trip!
Back to top
 
 

1999 Suzuki Savage
  IP Logged
Sandy Koocanusa
Serious Thumper
*****
Offline

Don't blame me.
 I didn't vote
for him.

Posts: 1878
Bigfork, MT
Gender: male
Re: Help! Oil leak on engine top? Going on long ri
Reply #14 - 05/03/08 at 08:05:05
 
Steely, I'm still on my first cup of the morning, so maybe I missed something in this thread.   Quote:
Those two quarts you have will just about fill it up.  The bike is supposed to take 4.1 quarts, if I recall correctly.  Glad to hear you had a great trip!


Shouldn't that be 2.1 qt?  Sorry to butt in.  Don't want him to overfill again.

Jason
Back to top
 
 

Savage: (adj)1. Wild 2. Uncivilized : Primitive 3. Ferocious 4. Cruel or merciless : Brutal --- Webster's. (n.) 1. A motorcycle named for its seat.--- Sandy's unabridged
jlmorton@centurytel.net jlmorton@centurytel.net   IP Logged
Pages: 1 2 
Send Topic Print


« Home

 
« Home
SuzukiSavage.com
09/25/24 at 04:19:07



General CategoryRubber Side Down! › Help! Oil leak on engine top? Going on long ride?!


SuzukiSavage.com » Powered by YaBB 2.2!
YaBB © 2000-2007. All Rights Reserved.