Oil Leak - photos - need a diagnosis...

[Berty3000]

I'm going to ring honda tmw but would be grateful for any thoughts from people who know better than I, to put me in better stead.

Bought the bike on Fri, luckily with a warranty. Did around 450 miles this weekend. The bike was serviced on Fri before I picked her up. Then rode around 130 miles. I noticed that evening, on the centre stand, there was oil near the left hand part of the centre stand. I assumed it might have been the Scott oiler being on too high and didn't think any more of it. Today, covered a lot of miles. Twice, when parked up on side stand, there was a row of three oil spots on the ground. I'd turned the scotoiler off, but in any case, had realised that thing releases a little clear oil near the back wheel. So I got on the floor and started looking properly. Seems to be some oil coming through a seem or bolt in the engine casing. You can see a downward facing bolt. This is on left hand side. But there is a lot of oil gunk around that area too, just back from it, all over where the top of the centre stand is. The bike was spotless when I took it away and I'm sure that stuff wasn't there. Plus it looks damp and it hasn't rained today on my journey. It doesn't seem to be coming from the top of the engine cashing or anywhere other than the region I have taken pictures off. I've also noticed some weird sealant looking stuff. My thoughts are:

- loose bolt(s)
- a rubber seal inside needs replacing
- maybe too much oil was put in during service? But wouldn't that come through the head gasket? Also, a Honda dealership so presumably they know how much oil to put in.
- something else. That sealant stuff makes me wonder if the casing has been removed before for some reason.

It doesn't seem to have leaked this evening whilst on centre stand. Not sure why. Maybe because it is on a bit of a slope.

[Gavia]

I’m definitely in the mechanical muppet zone, but it looks like it could be fling from the chain to me. Spray it with degreaser, clean it up properly and give the chain a wipe as it could be overloaded with oil from your description. Then have a look again, the odd drop of oil isn’t a disaster.

I know you were overly concerned about your last bike too, you need to relax a little, as bikes do have quite a few moving parts on the outside compared to cars and are more exposed engine wise.

[Rubin215]

Give it a good wash down with de-greaser (parafin) and then dust the area with talcum powder; any oil leak will be immediately obvious next time you ride it.

[Berty3000]

Thanks Gavia. Yes, chain definitely a suspect, especially as it is roughly above where the gunk is. However, it was freshly cleaned and oiled before I collected it. It has that winter type, non fling, white grease on the outsides of the chain. And along the inside tracks it is clearer, probably because of that scotoiler thing. It seems like an awful lot for it to have released if it is the oiler. Although, I have now turned it to the minimum from the maximum setting. The oil I'm seeing near that bolt and seem on the casing is engine-oil coloured. If it's normal for some oil to leak out, that's fine by me, but it never happened on last bike. This has left patches on the floor.

[Berty3000]

Rubin215 said:

Give it a good wash down with de-greaser (parafin) and then dust the area with talcum powder; any oil leak will be immediately obvious next time you ride it.

Good idea. I'll do that.

[Gavia]

Berty3000 said:

Thanks Gavia. Yes, chain definitely a suspect, especially as it is roughly above where the gunk is. However, it was freshly cleaned and oiled before I collected it. It has that winter type, non fling, white grease on the outsides of the chain. And along the inside tracks it is clearer, probably because of that scotoiler thing. It seems like an awful lot for it to have released if it is the oiler. Although, I have now turned it to the minimum from the maximum setting. The oil I'm seeing near that bolt and seem on the casing is engine-oil coloured. If it's normal for some oil to leak out, that's fine by me, but it never happened on last bike. This has left patches on the floor.

It’s very easy to overlube a chain and having a load of wax as well as a scottoiler set to max will do just that. The clump of oil could easily be chain related, the colour is irrelevant as it will have worked hard and been out in the elements. Also, there is likely to be a strong element of you convincing yourself that it’s an engine leak. Patches in the floor don’t mean anything, I get quite a bit when I lube my chain, it’s oil and if there’s too much on it, it will drip off.

You shouldn’t have any leaks from the engine, so that isn’t normal, but I think you should rule out the simple stuff before taking it apart and spending money on new gaskets.

[Berty3000]

Gavia said:

Berty3000 said:

Thanks Gavia. Yes, chain definitely a suspect, especially as it is roughly above where the gunk is. However, it was freshly cleaned and oiled before I collected it. It has that winter type, non fling, white grease on the outsides of the chain. And along the inside tracks it is clearer, probably because of that scotoiler thing. It seems like an awful lot for it to have released if it is the oiler. Although, I have now turned it to the minimum from the maximum setting. The oil I'm seeing near that bolt and seem on the casing is engine-oil coloured. If it's normal for some oil to leak out, that's fine by me, but it never happened on last bike. This has left patches on the floor.

It’s very easy to overlube a chain and having a load of wax as well as a scottoiler set to max will do just that. The clump of oil could easily be chain related, the colour is irrelevant as it will have worked hard and been out in the elements. Also, there is likely to be a strong element of you convincing yourself that it’s an engine leak. Patches in the floor don’t mean anything, I get quite a bit when I lube my chain, it’s oil and if there’s too much on it, it will drip off.

You shouldn’t have any leaks from the engine, so that isn’t normal, but I think you should rule out the simple stuff before taking it apart and spending money on new gaskets.

The confusion was that the patches seemed to be forward of the chain. But spose it would've been flinging oil forward. Hmm. Will give it a good clean and monitor. Thanks mate!

[Biker 1]

Its a Honda: how could it possibly leak?? My money's on the Scottoiler being turned up to 11....

[Krikkit]

From the grit and dirt embedded it's clearly been going on for a while.

As said above give it a good grease down and try and trace it with fresh oil rather than looking at old fling. Once it's out it tends to wick around anyway, making it very difficult to trace.

[TooLateForAName]

clean it up then let it idle for a bit - no chain moving so no throw.