SuzukiSavage.com - How do you know whenits the oil plug leak

rodeoclown Junior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 66 Glenview,Il	How do you know whenits the oil plug leak 05/26/13 at 06:48:42 I have a oil leak by the spark plug that puddles in that area. I searched the forum but couldnt find the"this is how you know its the oil plug leak". Its a 1997 with 3500 miles on it with k&N filter jardine muffler and re jetted.
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Digger Serious Thumper 2005 No Login Offline Ya gotta be tough to ride singles! Posts: 1604 Colorado Springs, CO Gender:	Re: How do you know whenits the oil plug leak Reply #1 - 05/26/13 at 20:01:27 Well, you're gonna need to take the decorative chrome covers off it anyway, to investigate whatever leak it is that you have. So, the tank will have to come off. With that removed, you can get a better look at the situation. I'd recommend that you do that and tell us what you see.....
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DavidOfMA

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Re: How do you know whenits the oil plug leak
Reply #2 - 05/27/13 at 07:20:46

If you shine a flashlight into the hole on the front of the engine near the exhaust header, you can see the head plug and you may be able to see if oil is leaking from it. While you are there, you can also check the cylinder nut to see if it is leaking oil. I'd start by looking there for leaks, and if these areas are dry, do as Digger says and remove the tank and report what you see.

My bike had oil leaks in both of the above places. The cylinder bolt leak was easy -- remove the bolt, clean it, retorque. The head plug leak was more than I could handle myself and was not cheap to fix.

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rodeoclown Junior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 66 Glenview,Il	Re: How do you know whenits the oil plug leak Reply #3 - 05/27/13 at 08:00:04 Thanks! I just checked by the header it is bone dry in there. The oil is on the other side by the spark plug. I guess Ill have to tear it down a bit and see if i can see anything.
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renegade1 Full Member Offline SAVAGE Posts: 212 Abbotsford B.C. Gender:	Re: How do you know whenits the oil plug leak Reply #4 - 05/27/13 at 08:16:42 If it if it looks like this pic at all its probably not the plug cap. I had the same leak and It ended up being the head seal. Most people said this was rather rare, but its still worth considering.
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rodeoclown Junior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 66 Glenview,Il	Re: How do you know whenits the oil plug leak Reply #5 - 05/27/13 at 11:53:22 Looks nothing like that just has a puddle of oil by the spark plug. If you look in the fins on the top, front, right(if your looking at the engine) where the spark plugs sits there is a little puddle in there.So it would be above the head gasket.
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Dave

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Re: How do you know whenits the oil plug leak
Reply #6 - 05/28/13 at 04:03:10

A puddle by the spark plug could either be the valve inspections caps leaking, or one of the cylinder cover bolts that have rubber sealing washers, or maybe the O-ring seal on the rocker arm shafts. You need to remove the chrome covers and have a look. If you clean the area up and ride it with the covers off you might be able to find the leak easier. Put a stack of washers and a nut on the long stud on the left front that held the chrome cover on - as this bolt does hold the cylinder head cover at the left front corner.

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Digger

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Re: How do you know whenits the oil plug leak
Reply #7 - 05/28/13 at 18:47:20

Dave wrote on 05/28/13 at 04:03:10:

A puddle by the spark plug could either be the valve inspections caps leaking, or one of the cylinder cover bolts that have rubber sealing washers, or maybe the O-ring seal on the rocker arm shafts. You need to remove the chrome covers and have a look. If you clean the area up and ride it with the covers off you might be able to find the leak easier. Put a stack of washers and a nut on the long stud on the left front that held the chrome cover on - as this bolt does hold the cylinder head cover at the left front corner.

Dave's got a good plan. To make it easier, after cleaning the area up spray some foot powder aerosol spray (I'm partial to Desenex) on any suspect areas. Any of the white powder that's turned brown after a ride is pointing you to the leak.

Good luck!

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Digger
2001, Metallic Glacial Blue, Raptor Petcock, Verslavy (first hole) (otherwise, mechanically, the bike is stock), 13,xxx miles
I don't own a cage.
www.astronautbiker.com

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rodeoclown Junior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 66 Glenview,Il	Re: How do you know whenits the oil plug leak Reply #8 - 05/29/13 at 03:50:58 Awesome advice guys many Thanks!
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