Oil leak: should I fix it or let it get worse, then fix it?

[fred]

I noticed that my bike was leaking oil a couple of weeks ago, and I finally got around to tracking down the leak. It is coming from the clutch cover right next to one of the bolts. To be more specific, it is the clutch cover bolt closest to the number 28 in this diagram:


The leak isn't that bad, it leaks at something like a drop a minute when the engine is warm. After two weeks of leaking, there isn't even a noticeable drop on the dipstick. It seems like I'm going to eventually have to replace the gasket labeled 2 in the diagram, but should I bother doing it now? I know it isn't environmentally friendly and all to be leaking oil all over the place, and there are probably some parking lot owners that will be sad, but it doesn't seem to be a bad enough leak to actually cause harm to the bike. I'm about 2000 miles away from needing an oil change, so I'm very tempted to just monitor the leak and do nothing but top off the oil until then. Even 2000 miles from now, if it isn't worse, is it worth fixing?

[tussey]

get it fixed now. A drop a minute is a lot.

[Paulcet]

Yeah, a drop a minute seems like a lot.  However, a BMW rider at work says "All bikes mark their territory".  But mine sure doesn't.  His bike leaks about a drop every 3 seconds from the clutch actuator.  Slippery stuff.  Stepped right in it the other day 

[bikejunkie223]

Think about where that drop a minute is going...away. Do you want the motor to get covered in filth from dirt and crap sticking to that drop a minute? Do you want to be constantly checking your oil to see how many minutes you rode? I would fix it sooner rather than later. Also, oil on the tire is bad and it may get worse when you don't expect and then you may be effed.

[The Buddha]

#9 is the main oil galley plug. 10 is the crush washer for it. Lose oil from there and you can die cos all the oil will go out in ~4 seconds.
#28 is the oil pressure sensor. Same as #9
The rest as they said.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Roadstergal]

a BMW rider at work says "All bikes mark their territory"

  Tell him to fix his dizam bike.

[Chuck]

The clutch cover gasket is a 45-minute fix.  I did it last fall.  I say do it.

[fred]

Alright, looks like I should get ordering parts then. Anything else I should look at or do while I've got the clutch cover off?

[The Buddha]

Find where the leak is first.
Cool.
Buddha.

[fred]

Find where the leak is first.
Cool.
Buddha.

I'm pretty sure it is the clutch cover gasket. I cleaned the whole area off and just let it idle while I watched it. Oil is seeping our right where the clutch cover meets the crank case very near one of the bolts that holds the clutch cover on. I checked to see if the bolt was loose, but it didn't seem to be... I don't have a torque wrench, but this seems like a perfect excuse to get one. Anyhow, if it is leaking where the clutch cover meets the crank case, that indicates a bad gasket, right? I wiped it off and watched it leak again a few times, so I'm very confident that the oil is coming from where the cover and case meet...

[trumpetguy]

The clutch cover gasket is a 45-minute fix.  I did it last fall.  I say do it.

Maybe 45 minutes IF you can get the old gasket off without a lot of trouble.  It took me a couple of hours with a scraper and razor blade.  My old gasket was stuck to the cover like another layer of metal.

In any event you'll have to fix it sometime.  Might as well do it before the oil finds its way under the bike and onto the rear tire, as mine was beginning to do.  I noticed that, and parked it until I had the gasket and time to repair it.  Oil on tires is a Bad Thing.

[fred]

Yeah, I agree that oil on tires is not good. Right now most of the oil coming from this leak is either going on the ground or hitting the exhaust and just burning off... It doesn't smell super awesome...

[Chuck]

I use one of these:



VERY GENTLY with some gasket remover liquid, and it's quick.

[the mole]

I showed that picture to my bike and all the aluminium parts cried and crawled up under the fuel tank and wouldn't come out. Bad Boy!

[Chuck]

 

That's what I thought until I had a gasket molecularly bonded to my aluminum case.  There's no way I found to get the OEM gasket off with chemicals and manual scraping.

The one I use is actually this guy, now that I can find a picture of it, which is far less scary looking.

[tmckay]

Sigh, the GS seems all too consistent.

I'm at about 18000 miles now on my 00, just had to redo the tachometer cable connection with plumber's tape (again) and just found oil bubbling out of the clutch cover gasket yesterday.  Checked all the bolts, checked the dip stick, wiped it down and watched closely.  Seems like a familiar story.  I'll be ordering the gasket from bike bandit today.

Since my posts have become very sporadic.... In other news, I have yet another baby coming (hurray, love kids!), all my friends still think my wife is the coolest for letting me ride, and I have a friend who is picking up an 07 GS500 with 0.6 miles for $4500 out the door!  Psyched, new riding buddy.

As always, gstwin rules and is always here when I need it.

t

[The Buddha]

Hi man, Congrads on the baby.
Cool.
Buddha.

Yea I am now the buddha - I know lame ...

[Chuck]

In other news, I have yet another baby coming (hurray, love kids!), all my friends still think my wife is the coolest for letting me ride

I can't think of any other way to have children.