Oil Leaking

[mitchd0903]

My 2008 GS500F started leaking oil from the left side of the engine compartment.  The oil leakage was so bad it was all over my shifter, boot and all the way to the back tire.  Has anyone else experienced this?  My bike only has 60 miles on it and when I took it out for it's first long ride it started to leak.  Of course I will be bring it back to the dealer for repairs, but it seems like maybe they really never even prep the bike correctly.  Any ideas are appreciated.

[bikejunkie223]

Take a look at the oil filter, and the drain plug, if either are loose it could cause that. you can see both without any disturbing of the fairings. other than that be happy for a warranty!

[nikitaa]

 am copying my reply to 08GSSteve below... it sounds like we all have something in common!  Good luck with it - I had to wait a week and a half on the dealership to service the bike, they ordered parts "rush" (in theory), and didn't get parts until the following week.  I was rather upset with them about it.

--------------------

At 175km (yes, that's less than two hundred kilometers), my bike's head gasket failed.
Dealer admitted it was manufacturing error - and that there was a problem with the head gasket that had been factory installed. 

I had oil all over my left boot, all over the shift lever, and oil was literally dripping off of the inside of the fairing.

The oil leak almost caused me to drop my bike at a light, when I stopped, put my foot down and my boot took off on me.

As for your question about driving it into the dealership - depends, how much oil is still in the bike?  Will the dealer tow it for you?  Do you feel safe driving the bike with oil spraying out?

That makes THREE of us with very low milage brand new '08GS bikes with what sounds like to me is a head gasket issue. (Anyone else out there?).

I'm located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada - where are you?

[mp183]

I had my valves done on my 2002 two years ago and they
put in a defective gasket.
Another guy had the same problem around that time.
The gsket just felt brittle.

[Pigeonroost]

Noticed oil dripping down my side stand last evening and puddeling on the floo.  It is a 2008 with only a couple of hundred miles on it or so.  Have not had time to inspect yet, but my initial impression from just glancing at it was that the seal on the shifter was the source.  Hey, at least the oil is clean 

prs

[sledge]

It would be interesting if you guys with dodgy shift lever seals on your 08`s compared VINs.

[bikejunkie223]

Nearing 2000 miles on my '07 with no problems, so I am hoping that remains the case...

[mitchd0903]

I am going to go ahead and have it towed.  I am a new rider and this being my first bike riding with an oil leak was quite an experience.  Maybe I'm no longer a newbie now.  I know what you mean by almost dropping your bike.  When I put my foot down at a light, it slipped and almost lost my footing.  I looked down and man what a mess.  I pulled the bike over to see what was going on and the whole left side had oil everywhere.  I checked my oil level and it was fine and the oil light never came back on.  I still have about 7 miles to go to get it home and made it there ok.  Just very scary for a newbie.

I am so disappointed, I thought these bikes were rates so high for quality.

[nikitaa]

Mitch, I know where you are coming from - I'm also a brand new rider, fresh from the course.  But the oil slick experience really goes to show the value of decent boots.  When I put my foot down on the oil slick I was wearing cowboy boots with leather soles.  While the bike was in the shop waiting for a new head gasket, I purchased a decent pair of bike boots - they suddenly became a priority.

I drove it up to the dealership (their recommendation) spraying oil, and it was a white-knuckle-drive with two feet firmly planted at each stop during heavy traffic on busy roads.  This is my first bike as well - and the oil slick was encountered on the first real ride I went on - a short highway run.  (Of course, on the highway you get the revs up a bit more than in the City, and when breaking in a new bike you're not likely to run the revs up on the lower speed roads... so it makes sense when it let loose).

I think that Suzuki just hit a bad batch of gaskets and we were the "lucky" ones.  Everyone seems to be telling me that the GS is 'bulletproof' and little goes wrong with them.  (I hope they're right!).

I'm having two other issues - one is cold starting with choke (I posted on this one, and from the feedback it sounds like it's a bike issue rather than a biker issue), and my Speedometer is significantly out of touch with reality - it reads 80k when I'm doing 60...  Just curious if you've hit either of these issues yourself.

Good luck with it!

[champkart3]

Mine started leaking with about 125 miles on it.  Was spraying out the right side at higher rpm's.  Dealer told me it was a pinched o-ring on the stud for the head.  Said it was a common problem.  Took 2 weeks to get the part and get it fixed, but stopped leaking.  Just take it in, its under warranty.

[DirtyHarry]

mate, my 07 built, 3.5 month brand new bike with 2500km started leaking from the output shaft oil seal. the stupid dealer at action motorcycles in parramatta (australia) has had the bike now for 7 weeks, and they still havent fixed it. they kept changing this seal and the another and then something else. they are truely pathetic.
i gave them 2 deadlines to have it fixed. both of which they have missed. i have asked for a refund, they refused..so now im taking it to our department of fair trading.
what a joke.

ALL you Australian, NSW, Sydney people, DONT GO TO ACTION MC AT PARRAMATTA.

I will also be staging a "PROTEST'" in front of the dealership this saturday if anyone is interested.

[Pigeonroost]

My leak turned out to not be the shifter seal.  It was seeping from the bottom of the case and I found the left hand side case bolts to be very loose.  I torqued thenm in a pattern to only 8#feet and the leak has either stopped or slowed to near nil.  Will still have it checked at first service.

prs

[bikejunkie223]

My front brake switch failure seems pretty minor to what you guys have experienced! I was adjusting rear brake pedal height and then the rear switch when I decided to check the front brake and the brake light wouldn't come on. Pulling the switch revealed no continuity when there should have been. Of course since I bought my bike used (a year old but only 92 miles) there was no warranty, but the switch was only $14 so not a big deal. I took apart the old switch out of curiosity and the contacts were scorched- I wonder if the previous owner rode the brake alot. It wasn't a big deal but a bit disconcerting since it's brand new and I'm hoping for the bike to be bulletproof from here on.

[The Buddha]

I am so disappointed, I thought these bikes were rates so high for quality.

Says who ... not anyone on here that actually knows these things ... we are all unanimous in the conclusion that "I've seen Ball point pens with better quality".
Ease of operation - Yes.
Ease of fixing - Yes.
Fun to use - Yes.
Economical to buy - Yes.
Cheap to insure - Yes.
Easy/Cheap to modify - Yes.
many many more ... but seriously quality ... nope. It was put together by monkeys on crack ... 89-95 was quality 1, 96-00 was 1 huge step inferior, and 01+ seems to be deteriorating by the day. Not that 89-95 was anything to write home about either ...
There is several parts on this bike that are pure and total junk, several others need going over and fixing before you take it off the showroom floor, and maybe 4-5 parts that can be used as is. Ignition system and charging system seem to be OK. Oiling was OK but seems to be failing in newer bikes.
Cool.
Buddha.

[simoniz]

Sounds like bad seals and gaskets in the latest batch of GS's. Definitely a warranty claim there!

My nasty old '89 was left outside for years and years in winter and summer before I got it, and is still totally oil tight. I think they are slacking off on the new ones, and letting the apprentices build them too fast.

[bikejunkie223]

There is several parts on this bike that are pure and total junk, several others need going over and fixing before you take it off the showroom floor, and maybe 4-5 parts that can be used as is.
Cool.
Buddha.

I guess I'm curious what you would say ought to be done to help reliability directly off the showroom floor? If the bike needs it I will do it, because I need a cheap reliable commuter bike and want to do it right with this one, and have never owned a motorcycle before.

[Pigeonroost]

I agree.

Buddha; you da' Man!  Can ya work-up another post that is even wiki worthy about what we owners of newer machines can do (other than trading up) to enhance reliable form and function?  Lots would appreciate that, me fer shur.

prs

[bikejunkie223]

I agree.

Buddha; you da' Man!  Can ya work-up another post that is even wiki worthy about what we owners of newer machines can do (other than trading up) to enhance reliable form and function?  Lots would appreciate that, me fer shur.

prs

+1 I would like that as well...

[The Buddha]

Oh yea, easy, take it all apart, deck and mill everything to the perfect dimensions and re fit it. Only some problems are fixable. I'll brace a frame when dropping a 20lb heavier and 15hp stronger motor in it, fit a better FE in it, fit better wheels ... those are all external IMHO ... you get to the motor itself ... yea design flaws are non fixable.
Yea swap for an 89-95 motor ... mine was an oil user, but it never had a real problem. Never leaked, never had pressure issues even when I ran out of oil once. Sheite should look good, and last through the warranty. That is the extent of their useable life. Its designed to die. Nothing we can do. Bandaid on cancer.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Pigeonroost]

Dang!  Life is cruel.  Honesty is too.  Thanks Buddha.

Well; back to leaks.  I now have egg on my face.   My first diagnosis (leaking shifter seal) was correct afterall.  The case bolts were goose loose and have gone over the whole shebang snugging things down; but the drip dripped again!  I removed the left side drive cog/ clutch cover and noticed the seal sticking out of its recess by about 9mm and just the least bit of an oil drip hanging off of it.  I looked all around in that area for a missing retainer clip or such, but none found.  I cleaned the whole area up, mostly chain thrown lube and grit and then I made a seal seating tool out of 1/2"CPVC water pipe.  I gently drifted the seal inward until it bottomed-out.  I had a small beveled recess now outward of the seal, BUT I could find no recess to accept an internal retaining ring.  Is that seal just supposed to stay put out of respect for decency or luck?  If it works outward again I will have to fashion some type of retainer, or glue its ars in there.

prs