i've been noticing weird stains on my engine.  at first i thought it was road dirt, but now i am not so sure.   do these look like leaks to anyone?

right side
left side
left side closeup

also, i didn't see any signs of dripage along the sides or underneath the engine

The right side especially looks like a leak - the left side isn't so easy.  IF they are leaks they're certainly not bad ones.  Maybe they only act up at high revs?

I don't have my bike at work today ( ) so I can't compare directly, but it seems like your valve cover is really cranked down tight.  (The gasket is "bulging out" a bit more than I would expect.)  Even with the obvious layer of gasket sealant, there's a chance that overtightening could result in some leakage.

:dunno:

They both look like leaks to me. Clean the areas really good and check them carefully after each ride. You will not see any drips since there is very little oil leaking and it is being mostly burned off.

The valve cover gasket cannot really be over tightened. The bolts have shoulders that will bottom out before the gasket is compressed too much.

Some sealant on the gasket should take care of any leaks. Since you will have the cover off, might as well check your valve clearances.

I wish my engine was so clean.  Leaks are part of the GS experience.  Ignore them unless they become major.  This ain't your mothers Lexus.

Quote from: dgyverThe valve cover gasket cannot really be over tightened. The bolts have shoulders that will bottom out before the gasket is compressed too much.

Yep, I spoke too soon.  My gasket protrudes beyond the cover by the same amount.  And now that you've described it, I know exactly what you're talking about with the bolt shoulders.