Coolant seepage from the cylinder

nomadwest · 07-06-2009, 12:45 AM

At the base of the front cylinder where it bolts to the crankcase, I noticed a dried yellowish film which looks like dried coolant vapor that is escaping. Have not seen steam yet or noticed overheating. Any one else had this problem? My warranty expires in about 30 days.

bundyrumandcoke · 07-06-2009, 07:19 AM

Yep, I have had it as well, a line of dried coolant that ran down from the left front corner of the front cylinder head. On closer inspection, I saw it actually ran forward along the gasket line from the back of the cylinder, and down from above that. It turned out to be a bad O ring in the coolant connection up the top of the front cylinder, up under the tank. Look up and behind the air cleaner. It was replaced under warranty during a service, but it made my heart skip a little, as we were about 3000km from home when discovered. Heres hoping yours is a similarly simple fix.

Cheers
Bundy

ponch · 07-06-2009, 04:17 PM

The extended warranty can be purchased for $355 from Fremont Motorsports in Colorado. It may be worth it...

waterman · 07-06-2009, 04:30 PM

Nomadwest,

I recently had this issue also. Tore into it and found the leak at a hose conection to the front cylinder. It is located behind the air cleaner. I was lucky in that all I did was loosen the conection and move it back and forth and re-tightened the fitting. No more leaks. Also checked all of the hose connections and found a couple of loose ones but no signs of leaking.

dogdoc · 07-06-2009, 04:35 PM

pays to raise the tank and check ALL the hose fittings for loose one. Most are loose and leaking and you can't even see a leak when all buttoned up and looking at the bike.

nomadwest · 07-06-2009, 10:56 PM

Thanks for the input. Sounds like a couple of you guys had the same problem. I will look under the tank and behind the air cleaner and hope that my fix is the same.

ells · 07-07-2009, 10:47 PM

Those damn O-rings in the water jackets are a 3- or 4-year service items, for which I'm due but just can't bring myself to pull the trigger with no leaks showing. It doesn't seem like it would be roadside breakdown if they start to go. Don't recall anyone one having any more than slight seeping problem with them. My wrench thinks one should smell the leak before you would see it.

bundyrumandcoke · 07-08-2009, 03:58 AM

I have to admit, I did smell the cooking coolant before seeing it. The occasional waft at 120kph.

Cheers
Bundy

madcow · 07-08-2009, 05:39 AM

why so slow bundy? must be stuck in 3rd.

bundyrumandcoke · 07-08-2009, 12:08 PM

2 up, with fully loaded trailer in tow, plus we were on holidays, the sooner we got there, the sooner the trip ended, and thats one thing we didnt want o happen. I got done by a camera in Adelaide, but luckily, the one in NSW was a front on shot.

djh · 07-09-2009, 10:07 PM

I just spotted the same situation on my bike today. A dry film at the base of the forward cylinder head. No overheating, resv. full etc. Under the Tank I go ! then to the dealer !!!
Warranty still in place for anther year or so. DJ

07-06-2009, 12:45 AM	#1
nomadwest Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Otis Orchards, Washington Posts: 161	Coolant seepage from the cylinder At the base of the front cylinder where it bolts to the crankcase, I noticed a dried yellowish film which looks like dried coolant vapor that is escaping. Have not seen steam yet or noticed overheating. Any one else had this problem? My warranty expires in about 30 days. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

07-06-2009, 07:19 AM	#2
bundyrumandcoke Jr. Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 41	Coolant seepage from the cylinder Yep, I have had it as well, a line of dried coolant that ran down from the left front corner of the front cylinder head. On closer inspection, I saw it actually ran forward along the gasket line from the back of the cylinder, and down from above that. It turned out to be a bad O ring in the coolant connection up the top of the front cylinder, up under the tank. Look up and behind the air cleaner. It was replaced under warranty during a service, but it made my heart skip a little, as we were about 3000km from home when discovered. Heres hoping yours is a similarly simple fix. Cheers Bundy
	0

07-06-2009, 04:17 PM	#3
ponch Sr. Contributor Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Way East Valley Posts: 12,015	Coolant seepage from the cylinder The extended warranty can be purchased for $355 from Fremont Motorsports in Colorado. It may be worth it... __________________ Ponch VBA 0019 VROC 8109-R BMWMOA 162849 BMWRA 41335 BMW: When you care enough to ride the very best. My Motorrad Blog My Motorrad YouTube 2009 BMW R1200RT Previous bikes:2007 Nomad \| 2001 Vulcan 800 Classic \| 1984 GPz750 \| 1978 KZ1000A2 Rallies: Custer '09\|Prairie Du Chien '10\|Crescent City '11
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07-06-2009, 04:30 PM	#4
waterman Top Contributor Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 6,530	Coolant seepage from the cylinder Nomadwest, I recently had this issue also. Tore into it and found the leak at a hose conection to the front cylinder. It is located behind the air cleaner. I was lucky in that all I did was loosen the conection and move it back and forth and re-tightened the fitting. No more leaks. Also checked all of the hose connections and found a couple of loose ones but no signs of leaking. __________________ Joel "Waterman" 2017 HD Road Glide Ultra 2006 Nomad - Sold VBA 213 VROC 16913 Custer 09: Cortez 10: Crescent City 11: Kanab 12: Estes Park 13: Tahoe 14: Red Lodge 16
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07-06-2009, 04:35 PM	#5
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	Coolant seepage from the cylinder pays to raise the tank and check ALL the hose fittings for loose one. Most are loose and leaking and you can't even see a leak when all buttoned up and looking at the bike. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

07-06-2009, 10:56 PM	#6
nomadwest Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Otis Orchards, Washington Posts: 161	Coolant seepage from the cylinder Thanks for the input. Sounds like a couple of you guys had the same problem. I will look under the tank and behind the air cleaner and hope that my fix is the same.
	0

07-07-2009, 10:47 PM	#7
ells Sr. Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Boulder County, Colorado Posts: 2,014	Coolant seepage from the cylinder Those damn O-rings in the water jackets are a 3- or 4-year service items, for which I'm due but just can't bring myself to pull the trigger with no leaks showing. It doesn't seem like it would be roadside breakdown if they start to go. Don't recall anyone one having any more than slight seeping problem with them. My wrench thinks one should smell the leak before you would see it.
	0

07-08-2009, 03:58 AM	#8
bundyrumandcoke Jr. Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 41	Coolant seepage from the cylinder I have to admit, I did smell the cooking coolant before seeing it. The occasional waft at 120kph. Cheers Bundy
	0

07-08-2009, 05:39 AM	#9
madcow Advanced Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: echuca/moama. australia Posts: 603	Coolant seepage from the cylinder why so slow bundy? must be stuck in 3rd.
	0

07-08-2009, 12:08 PM	#10
bundyrumandcoke Jr. Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 41	Coolant seepage from the cylinder 2 up, with fully loaded trailer in tow, plus we were on holidays, the sooner we got there, the sooner the trip ended, and thats one thing we didnt want o happen. I got done by a camera in Adelaide, but luckily, the one in NSW was a front on shot.
	0

07-09-2009, 10:07 PM	#11
djh Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Pioneer Ca. Posts: 130	Coolant seepage from the cylinder I just spotted the same situation on my bike today. A dry film at the base of the forward cylinder head. No overheating, resv. full etc. Under the Tank I go ! then to the dealer !!! Warranty still in place for anther year or so. DJ
	0

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