Ok, I've had the bike for a week and a half now, and it's got 260 miles on it. Yesterday when I got to work, I noticed there was oil on the top of my right boot. I looked at the bike and there was also oil on the engine casing and little drops on the exhaust. I put it on the center stand and checked the oil (it was still warm) and the oil level was ok. I though maybe the dipstick just hadn't been tightened enough, so I cleaned everything off and tightened down the dipstick. Well, I rode it home and sure enough when I got home, there was oil on my right boot again. Not a huge amount, but enough to make it shiny. Any ideas? I'm calling the dealership and telling them I'm bringing it in for them to fix, but I wondered if anyone else had this problem.

check your rear brake fluid just to be safe

does it have a fearing ?

Quote from: ets_gs500f2004 on July 07, 2006, 10:12:14 AM
does it have a fearing ?

Yes. It's a 2006 GS500F.

well if it's a 2006 take it to the dealer, but check that rear brake fluid first, I doubt you know for sure it's really oil.

Quote from: LimaXray on July 07, 2006, 10:24:29 AM
well if it's a 2006 take it to the dealer, but check that rear brake fluid first, I doubt you know for sure it's really oil.

I'll definitely do that. Thanks very much for the heads up.

if you hit the reve limiter or made it go top end for a lil wile might just be oil in the air box happened to me and the oil was just on the fairing

Quote from: ets_gs500f2004 on July 07, 2006, 10:34:27 AM
if you hit the reve limiter or made it go top end for a lil wile might just be oil in the air box happened to me and the oil was just on the fairing

I don't think that's it. I'm still in the break in period and I haven't taken it past 5k rpms. And there's nothing on the fairing, just on my boot and the engine casing and a little on the frame. Just enough that you notice it.

Probably one of the bolts securing the head cover got loose and passed some oil from the top of the engine on your boot, happened to me but on the left side

Hey, Could very well be break fluid... Please clean of these spills you see asap, that sh@t eats paint.

Quote from: ets_gs500f2004 on July 07, 2006, 10:34:27 AM
if you hit the reve limiter or made it go top end for a lil wile might just be oil in the air box happened to me and the oil was just on the fairing

The GS doesn't have a rev limiter. Unless you count valve float as a rev limiter. I guess it's close enough..

This is a good time to talk about the OTHER end of the airbox drain hose - the one you don't see in the hose routing diagrams.  This one has been removed from the retaining clip for photography's sake:



There is a slit somewhere near the end of that "cap".  Give it a pinch (with a paper towel or something) and see if you don't get some fluid out of it.  If it looks anything like what's on your boot ... you're looking at "blow-by" from the crankcase.  It's normal, especially when you're still in the break-in period and engine parts are still trying to fit together better.

If you get NOTHING from the hose, then carry on with your "take it to the dealer" plan.

Quote from: Kerry on July 07, 2006, 07:35:25 PM
This is a good time to talk about the OTHER end of the airbox drain hose - the one you don't see in the hose routing diagrams.  This one has been removed from the retaining clip for photography's sake:



There is a slit somewhere near the end of that "cap".  Give it a pinch (with a paper towel or something) and see if you don't get some fluid out of it.  If it looks anything like what's on your boot ... you're looking at "blow-by" from the crankcase.  It's normal, especially when you're still in the break-in period and engine parts are still trying to fit together better.

If you get NOTHING from the hose, then carry on with your "take it to the dealer" plan.

Thank you Kerry. I noticed that hose and thought that may be the cause, but would that also explain oil on the engine casing and on the frame, above and behind the engine? That's what is worrying me.

I appreciate that you took the time to post. I'll let you know what the dealer says. I'm supposed to take it in Tuesday morning. No riding for me this weekend, I guess.   

Another question, and this may seem dumb so I ask your forgiveness ahead of time, when you unscrew the dipstick to check the oil, should you be able to see oil? I mean in the hole where you pulled the dipstick out?

I don't know, never really looked, I was more concerned with how far it covered the dipstick.  If there's none on the dipstick, then I might look, but what would be the point, I still don't have enough on the dipstick.

Quote from: sharkfin25 on July 07, 2006, 08:23:58 PMI noticed that hose and thought that may be the cause, but would that also explain oil on the engine casing and on the frame, above and behind the engine? That's what is worrying me.

Oh, I didn't realize it was "above and behind the engine".  Hmmmm.  Maybe you have a bad camchain tensioner gasket (in rectangle) or release screw cap (see arrow)?

Quote from: sharkfin25 on July 07, 2006, 08:26:27 PMwhen you unscrew the dipstick to check the oil, should you be able to see oil? I mean in the hole where you pulled the dipstick out?

I'm like scratch ... even though I am used to seeing some gear teeth partway down the hole, I had never really taken a GOOD look.  So tonight I did:




That first shot doesn't give a good "feel" for how far down the OIL! really is.  The next shot should give you more context, even though I'm holding the dipstick at a not-quite-right angle:




When I took these pictures, my oil level came to just below the Full line on the dipstick.

Quote from: sharkfin25 on July 07, 2006, 08:26:27 PM
Another question, and this may seem dumb so I ask your forgiveness ahead of time, when you unscrew the dipstick to check the oil, should you be able to see oil? I mean in the hole where you pulled the dipstick out?

I actually had scratched my head, and had to think " do I see oil in the hole when I remove the dipstick"
That was a good question!!
Sorry to hear about your new ride though, I hope it does not discourage you from the GS its probably just an assembly goof. 

Quote from: Kerry on July 08, 2006, 12:40:08 AM

Quote from: sharkfin25 on July 07, 2006, 08:23:58 PMI noticed that hose and thought that may be the cause, but would that also explain oil on the engine casing and on the frame, above and behind the engine? That's what is worrying me.

Oh, I didn't realize it was "above and behind the engine".  Hmmmm.  Maybe you have a bad camchain tensioner gasket (in rectangle) or release screw cap (see arrow)?

ok this is starting to worry me........ i just got my bike back from it's 6,000km's service yesterday and last night i had the same problem... oily substance on top of BOTH boots.....

so i pulled off the tank this morning... seems that the weed who serviced my bike broke off the rubber support for the tank (not happy) and then i find out that he's stripped one of main rocker cover bolt seats.(??) tried calling the bike shop but surprise surprise service dept not open on weekends.... so will have to take the bike back on Monday..... ARGH!! supposed to be cruising this weekend too!!!

 That why a lot of us here do ALL the work on our own bike's, and if I can't fix it then I learn how!!