Engine oil leak....

[Anaconda]

So recently, I lowsided my bike and went down on the left side.  Perhaps due to the fall, the bike might have injured something underneath, near the oil pan.  I never checked down there before and i'm pretty sure I never had a leak or else i could tell from the floor, but there is also a chance that it just evaporated due to the heat when I'm riding it.  So I took some photos and wanted your opinion and see if I could do anything before taking it to the shop.


That's the leak and it runs from the front to the back on the left on the oil pan.....

 

[jeremy_nash]

that appears to be chain lube slinging off the chain, collecting and dripping off from there.  to be sure, you can remove the shifter and sprocket cover with just 8mm and 10mm sockets.  no gaskets or anything to worry about.  there is likely to be alot of gunk in there to clean out

[Anaconda]

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[Anaconda]

Ok, so it pools there in the morning and it burns off when i ride my bike, so it's really annoying in trying to spot where it's coming from exactly. I probably might just have to bring it into to the shop since I can't figure it out...

[the mole]

As jeremy said, start by cleaning thoroughly behind the sprocket cover, then degrease engine and go for a short ride, see if you can see where the leak starts. If you take it to a shop, that's all they can do and they'll take your money as well. If they aren't honest they'll tell you they fixed a seal and charge you to fit it!

[madjak30]

Mine was doing the same thing, only the leak was a little more substantial...I would get a few drips on the ground everytime I parked the bike, and the whole underside of the bike was wet...I had to take of the sproket cover and clean out the gunk, wiping it all down...put it back together and go for a ride...remove the cover again and found the leak...it turned out to be a leaking left side crank case cover gasket...$10 from Suzuki and probably about 3hr of my time, including the trouble shooting...not too bad, considering I have never worked on a bike before...lots of cars, but no bikes...

Good luck with it, leaks are pretty frustrating to find sometimes...especially if they are really slow leaks.  I actually had to take the cover off, start the bike and get in there with a trouble light to see where the leak was for sure...I had replaced a seal behind the cover thinking that was the problem...atleast the parts for the bike are cheap to buy...

Later.

[Anaconda]

ok, cool. thanks guys, i'll be doing this before some bbq and some beers! have a great labor day weekend everyone