Oil Leak

[karospirit]

I agree with Mac Mac. Had the same thing. Mechanic dropped the engine a little and fixed leaks from the outside. Works well. No more leaks. Kawa dealer wanted 1500 bucks.

[macmac]

Errr I with all due respect the chems that 'swell seals eat the seal to do it. This works for a while and then there is a massive seals failure..

And then a valve cover gasket and the cam plugs are not seals. The gasket is rubber so far as I know, and the plugs are a phenlolic rubber like plastic.

The valve cover is ever so slightly loose and it vibrates just enough to pass a little oil for no more reason that to be a pain.

I haven't had the problem and so don't know if I am sneaky enough to snugg the fasteners or not yet. But that is all that is needed in the first place.

Ivory soap will displace the oil, and smearing that in the cracks will work for a good time before it gets gone, and the leak comes back. So you pull the Ivory Soap trick again..

Sooner or later something will come up where the engine needs to be dropped anyway.

And meet and greet is always good with me, to you and anyone...

[blowndodge]

ERRRRRR.... I used the stuff in a 69 pickup with a leaking main and it stopped for 100K. To Errr is good...

[dogdoc]

I'm all in favor of leak stoppers instead of dropping motors, tearing down motors, and generally tearing apart engines. if it works for some it works for me. :-)

[macmac]

ERRR Ok..... but not me.. Been paid to much for these type fixes and you don't just replace the offending seal, you replace ALL the seals.. The seals become a thick paste... something like soaked in WD-40 leather, then pounded with a hammer 1,001 hits..

[karospirit]

Well, my mechanic didn't use the chemical stuff. I asked him. I forgot what he used but it's good. I have no problems.

[damark115]

Personally, I look forward to taking it apart at season end and fixing it the right way. I will do the soap trick for now. Peace of mind goes a long way. I figure something that swells what I want may affect something I don't want. Besides, it gives me a chance to learn more and check bolts and nuts I may not have otherwise.
Just my opinion.

[macmac]

The soap will not harm anything, or swell anything it simply displaces oil. The thing is you need to get there.

I know the job can't be done with out the tank off for sure... And then I know most people have to lower the engine at a minimum. I am a sneaky character to say the least and will get into tight places where others won't. so thars no telling what I might do, but my bike has no leaks....... yet.... of course I say that now and broke the magic ....

You don't need new parts as much as you need to clean the old ones which are rather re-useable and get them snugged down enough. Of course new gaskets and plugs are always best, but the rubber gaskets compressed and still can be.

I suspect in cold the gaskets swell up expanding, which deforms them, and when air temps go up they shrink back and allow a seep. The thing is I am no Rocket Scientist..