Head Gasket

[Demonbane]

just a confirmation question
ok, exactly where is the oil coming from? the cylinder head or the rocker cover? (easy for someone to confuddle the name)

cause if rocker cover(easy job)
the goo means engine has not got to temperature a few times and condensation has mixed with the oil.(used to get it regular on my goldwing when using it for work (15 mile trip.)

 

[Jaws]

Bloody good point that DB

In simple terms, is the oil leaking from above of below the exhausts ?

 

[bmwdumptruck]

just a confirmation question
ok, exactly where is the oil coming from? the cylinder head or the rocker cover? (easy for someone to confuddle the name)

cause if rocker cover(easy job)
the goo means engine has not got to temperature a few times and condensation has mixed with the oil.(used to get it regular on my goldwing when using it for work (15 mile trip.)

+1 :bow:

Give Benn a call for a quote. 07986154132
If you can take the engine out, as it seems it's better too, maybe you can just take it over to him.
After proving where it's leaking from first.

 

[Gammo]

Thanks guys for all the advice.
I'm sure the leak is coming from under the exhausts but I suppose it could look like that if it was running down the rocker cover and then down the head. I will have to check tonight.
Not sure about condensation causing the white goo. I have never noticed it before.

 

[Jaws]

Oh yes.. 100 % on the condensation !!

It usually happens on bikes/cars where people think it is a good idea to start the engine once in a week or so during the winter months
The cold metal gets a warm/hot
It then cools again and pulls in all the moister from the air !!

Whatever the problem is, I would advise an oil change !

 

[e-ready]

look at oil pipes at front of bike as these some time leak

 

[Demonbane]

anyone want to take a bet it aint the head gasket? p0pc0rn41

as above.... known faults...

oil pipe
rocker cover

give it a damned good clean first then check where the leak is before you spend a penny on it!

 

[Demonbane]

Thanks guys for all the advice.
I'm sure the leak is coming from under the exhausts but I suppose it could look like that if it was running down the rocker cover and then down the head. I will have to check tonight.
Not sure about condensation causing the white goo. I have never noticed it before.

it was a known fault on a austin montego that, used to end up after a month or so of short journeys oil looking like mayonaise!


and my goldwing was BAD for it if it never got a decent run

 

[silverfox.xx]

it was a known fault on a austin montego that, used to end up after a month or so of short journeys oil looking like mayonaise!

x2, filled the oil breather..

 

[Demonbane]

DONT WE GET AN UPDATE GAMMO? p0pc0rn41

 

[Gammo]

Sorry guys haven't had much chance to look at the old girl until tonight. So i make sure it's clean and run it up to temperature and nothing, not a drop. So now I am confused. Stupid question i know but where else could the oil of come from. Is it a result somehow of me dropping it? I heven't ridden the bike since dropping it.:dunno:

 

[Demonbane]

probably the best thing to do is take a pic of where the oil was seen, (use paint or photoshop abd draw arrow on pic, and attach it here so people can actually see where your oil was coming from.
that oil pipe that rots seems the most obvious! ask jaws for its location

did you run it up to temperature to check for leak?

if.. still no leak, run it hot, and drain oil and change filter at same time then monitor for a few trips and see what happens. (oil and leak)

 

[villager]

Hopefully some help

Hi, I am not a bike mechanic but I do cars, vans, forklifts plant ect. The first thing I would do is

• Pressure test the cooling system hot and cold
• Check the compression on each cylinder hot and cold
• If nothing obviously a miss there, drain oil and change the filter.
• Clean engine area where the leak is and also any emulsification (creamy goo) properly and run the engine to normal working temp,
• Inspect all areas
• Hopefully not the head, either a leak or just like Demonbane says condensation in the oil.

Just my opinion not to say I am correct as I am married and I am never correct.

Good luck, Villager

 

[Jaws]

What you say is spot on of course Villager..

However............................

I really doubt our man has a way to check the water system for integrity and even a compression tester may not be to hand ( advantages of doing for a living agin someone who just fixes there own bike when it breaks down :-0) )

 

[andyBeaker]

Less sophisticated; take all the bodywork off, spray the motor with a good degreaser (Muc Off would do the job nicely) and pressure wash it. Use the thing and see what happens.

I have my Scotoiler turned up pretty high in view of the miles I do in all weathers - there is always a lot of oil around the bottom of the engine/stand area so if yiu have a Scotoiler.... My view is it stops everything rusting!!

 

[Gammo]

OK, an update. I started her up and ran her up to temperature on Thursday night and there was no sign of the oil. So I go have a look at her this morning and the leak is there again. In the better light I can see that the oil is coming out of the little hole just beneath the exhaust header, sorry guys don't know the technical term. I guess this is bad news?:cry:

 

[gusthemus]

In the better light I can see that the oil is coming out of the little hole just beneath the exhaust header, sorry guys don't know the technical term. I guess this is bad news?:cry:

w08th

Can you take a photo or 2?

 

[Jaws]

I seriously think you should double check that..
If you are right then the head has an internal crack !!
To be honest I always thought those wee holes were just casting holes.. I have just checked and as far as I can figure they are indeed just blind holes but truth is I do not know for sure
I have never ever heard of or seen this happening on any bike ever.. Yes, seen cracked heads but they always manifest on the outside too..

I have a sneaky feeling you have a leaky rocker box gasket and it is very slowly dribbling down to where the hole is.
Have you got all the plastics off so you can really see the head properly ?

 

[ray pinder]

These are drain holes from the plug recesses.The rocker gasket also seals around these areas. Seems like you may be in luck; could be just the rocker gasket.

 

[Gammo]

Thanks Ray. So it's not the head gasket because I checked the coolant level and that is fine. Radiator full to brim and expansion tank half full. How difficult is that to see the coolant level. Why don't they make them from clear plastic? I guess, like you guys say, that the white goo is caused by condensation.
I say the oil is coming from the little hole under the exhaust because there is still some oil in the recess but not enough to make it drip again. If it is the rocker cover gasket how easy is this to fix?