Oil Leak

riders · Post by **riders** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 1:18 pm

There is oil on the muffler (catalytic converter) under the engine and it has been oily for some time but today I noticed a drip on the garage floor and it is wet on the sides of the engine. What could it be and how much will it cost to fix? (04 R1150R, 45,000 miles) Is it going to be worth fixing or is it time to trade it?

Post by **yjleesvrr** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 1:39 pm

Can you pinpoint where the oil is leaking from? Also, how much of the sides of the engine and what part of the sides are moist with oil?

Capt. Blackadder · Post by **Capt. Blackadder** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 2:34 pm

Find the leak and fix that thing, it should be just about broken in by now. Besides, you'd get royally hosed on a trade-in.

Post by **Boxer** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:47 pm

There are several places it could be leaking from. The oil filler cap, the cam chain hole covers, oil pressure switch, around the valve cover gaskets (big outside one and/or the small rubber inside one). There probably are other places for it to leak but these are the most common, when a leak occurs. Mine has 47K+ and I have had several of those leaks. Usually due to my ham fisted wrenching techniques.

Check the obvious first. Have you had the valve covers off recently? It's easy to twist up that inner rubber seal around the spark plug hole. Did the previous owner do his/her own maintenance? If they used the cam chain hole to find TDC then the covers are prone to leak after they become warped from repeated removal/installs. Mine doesn't leak now except the occasional tiny bit coming out around the oil filler cap.

Clean the crap off good and go for a ride. When it's hot, get off and swipe your hand under some of those areas...without burning yourself of course...and see where that liquid gold is coming from.