leaking head gasket

[speedlimit85]

I've got some oil seeping out of the left side. I am gun shy on tightening bolts since I broke a bolt this summer.

Can the oil leak be stopped by tightening the head bolts? Are those by the outer spark plugs? What is the correct torque?

[Schming]

Are you sure it's the head gasket and not the cam cover gasket ?

This thread has all the info :

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...er+bolt+torque

[skids]

I've got some oil seeping out of the left side. I am gun shy on tightening bolts since I broke a bolt this summer.

Can the oil leak be stopped by tightening the head bolts? Are those by the outer spark plugs? What is the correct torque?

I am not experienced with head gasket leaks, but if you have one I would expect decreased compression. I am pretty sure that if you do decide to retorque, you need to release torque and retorque using a particular pattern - at least technically.

[skids]

Thinking back, I did have a mysterious oil seep on the right side and it wasn’t coming from the valve cover gasket area. I poked some silicone against where it was coming from and it stopped it. I think it was where the second head bolt from the right rear is. If this sounds like the issue that you have, I will send you a picture.

[speedlimit85]

I believe it is the head gasket. It is the gasket between the cylinder and the head. There are two (probably four) 14 mm bolts/nuts near the plugs. Looks like the bolts are long and go through to the base. They feel tight but maybe applying the correct torque would stop the leak.

It isn't leaking much unless I'm going 100's of miles and the bike is hot.

My bike is running great. There is no feeling of any loss in compression.

Maybe I should leave it alone.

[Radioguylogs]

Easy Job

If you have a 1/2" torque wrench, and preferably 6 point socket(s), you can check the head bolt torques with little effort and no risk. The biggest effort is removing the gas tank to get to all the bolts.

The procedure is super fast and easy. You start with the bolts in the middle and work outward.

I would not loosen the bolts before tightening them. I think that is asking for trouble.

[bikerphil]

[speedlimit85]

Nice chart. Thank you. First the tank, I am comfortable removing it. The auto-parts store loans a 1/2 in dr ft lb torque wrench. I may do this. Are they all 14 mm?

[bikerphil]

They are either 12 or 14 MM, the early motors were 12 and the later 14 IIRC.

[speedlimit85]

Thanks. I won't get to it right away, but I'll let you know if it stops the oil leak.

[bikerphil]

Yep, I have the same problem, have to tighten mine up too, kinda on the back burner though.

[Ken Talbot]

I would be willing to place a small wager that the leak is in fact coming from the cam cover gasket. When this gasket leaks, it is often on the inside of the "H" where you can't see it. The oil will build over time, run forward through the small drainage holes deep within the fins. It seeps its way down until it collects somewhere much lower. There's a thread or two on this that suggest giving the front of the engine a very good blast cleaning with a strong degreaser, letting it dry, then a sprinkling a light shot of baby powder all over the front of the engine. Ride for a while and wait for the oil to show up again. Most often, you'll see the tracks show up and know exactly where the leak is. You could also pull the tank, get a good light, and have a good look at the top of the head. If there'a any seepage there, it will eventually find its way down the front, or even sometimes the rear, of the engine.

DAMHIKIJD... ;-)

[skids]

. (Snip)

I would not loosen the bolts before tightening them. I think that is asking for trouble.

Why say, Mike? Those bolts are torque-tensioned. There is likely some adhesion from long term contact. I wouldn’t say loosen them, but instead just break them free by turning counter clockwise a slight amount, then measure proper torque in the clockwise direction. I would do one at a time.

[speedlimit85]

Well, I got a torque wrench today. They were not loose- the wrench clicked right away. I did not loosen first. The last 2 are 12 mm instead of 14 mm socket won't fit so I tightened a little with a wrench.

It might be seeping down from the cam cover or the chain tensioner.

I learned some stuff and didn't break anything.

[Radioguylogs]

Why say, Mike? Those bolts are torque-tensioned. There is likely some adhesion from long term contact. I wouldn’t say loosen them, but instead just break them free by turning counter clockwise a slight amount, then measure proper torque in the clockwise direction. I would do one at a time.

Hey Sid:

I don't disagree your method is a good approach and has sound logic, but on the other hand, if the bolts must be broken loose, then they probably never moved in the first place. Loosening them has risk of opening up something that was closed, or worse yet, breaking a bolt. If it ain't broke, why fix it?

Neither approach is 'wrong'.