I've never had an oil leak before, but for some reason my '07 Vee started seeping a little oil on a recent 1000-mile trip.
Part of the return trip was 100+ miles of forest roads. I found some gravel inside my skid plate, and quite a lot of accumulated crud on the bottom of the engine. when I got home. As well as a small patch of (now-gritty) oil, on the inside surface of my Enduro Guardian skid plate, clearly indicating some kind of recent leakage.
Near as I can tell, the leak started some time during the return half of the trip.
Before departing home, while at my destination, and prior to heading back home, I was having a look at the engine daily, to be sure the stator cover seam wasn't leaking. That's because I'd had the cover off a few times recently due to some stator issues, but didn't have time to wait for a new gasket before my trip. Indeed, that seam did not leak any oil in the days leading up to my trip, verified as late as the morning of the day I headed back home. It's still possible that seam did start leaking on the way home, but I can't be sure yet.
Post-trip, the whole bottom of the engine was dirty enough that I couldn't be sure where the oil was coming from. Here's the area I mean, cleaned up:
It looked like maybe the oil was coming from the seam with "0706" on both sides. Or perhaps around the oil pan drain plug? There was so much general grime that it was impossible to tell. I suppose the oil could be coming from higher up, but it doesn't look that way so far.
I did an oil change not long before the trip. Torqued the drain plug to spec, so how could it leak?
I've had the aluminum EG skid plate mounted for a couple of months. As you would expect, there's not a mark anywhere on the bottom of the engine suggesting damage. Whatever this is, doesn't seem like it was caused by anything hitting the engine case.
So what's going on here?
For now, I cleaned up the entire area I think the leak was coming from. I am letting it sit overnight, skid plate off, with a clean shop towel on the floor to highlight any drips.
FWIW, mileage on the bike is about 37k.
Part of the return trip was 100+ miles of forest roads. I found some gravel inside my skid plate, and quite a lot of accumulated crud on the bottom of the engine. when I got home. As well as a small patch of (now-gritty) oil, on the inside surface of my Enduro Guardian skid plate, clearly indicating some kind of recent leakage.
Near as I can tell, the leak started some time during the return half of the trip.
Before departing home, while at my destination, and prior to heading back home, I was having a look at the engine daily, to be sure the stator cover seam wasn't leaking. That's because I'd had the cover off a few times recently due to some stator issues, but didn't have time to wait for a new gasket before my trip. Indeed, that seam did not leak any oil in the days leading up to my trip, verified as late as the morning of the day I headed back home. It's still possible that seam did start leaking on the way home, but I can't be sure yet.
Post-trip, the whole bottom of the engine was dirty enough that I couldn't be sure where the oil was coming from. Here's the area I mean, cleaned up:
It looked like maybe the oil was coming from the seam with "0706" on both sides. Or perhaps around the oil pan drain plug? There was so much general grime that it was impossible to tell. I suppose the oil could be coming from higher up, but it doesn't look that way so far.
I did an oil change not long before the trip. Torqued the drain plug to spec, so how could it leak?
I've had the aluminum EG skid plate mounted for a couple of months. As you would expect, there's not a mark anywhere on the bottom of the engine suggesting damage. Whatever this is, doesn't seem like it was caused by anything hitting the engine case.
So what's going on here?
For now, I cleaned up the entire area I think the leak was coming from. I am letting it sit overnight, skid plate off, with a clean shop towel on the floor to highlight any drips.
FWIW, mileage on the bike is about 37k.