oil seepage -- need advice...

[swbell]

Should I be worried? With the ridding season just getting started I'm am enjoying myself SOOO much. I've noticed a problem with some oil seepage and I just can't remember if it was there at the end of last season or not. I've probably put on 700-800miles on so far. This past weekend I road 450+ miles on a day trip and during that time I added a bit of oil, which is pretty normal when ridding some distance. Should I keep ridding and not worry about it, but keep checking my oil level? Is this a problem that will get worse? I have about 2 1/2 - 3 weeks in July where I won't be able to ride b/c of some other commitments. I could schdule an appointment to get the work done then. I just don't know. thanks.
-steve

[roy]

Steve,
can't tell for sure from the picture but it looks like the leak is coming from either the timing chain cover or the oil/water pump assembly. In the picture it looks wet at the top of oil/water pump assembly and around the bottom of the timing chain cover.

Can you clean the area off and then try and determine exactly where it is coming from?

Roy

[deilenberger]

Offhand.. (and it's not my bike..) It isn't enough to panic over. If you're not seeing puddles under the bike when it's parked and the level isn't dropping, I wouldn't stress on it. Wait until the break you have coming and have it addressed then.

You might try checking the torque on the 10mm allens that hold the timing cover in place, and the ones that hold the oil sump to the bottom of the engine. These have been known to slightly loosen with time. Do not over-torque them. You want them "snug" - not tight. No more than a few foot-lbs.

And as Roy suggested - cleaning up the area to try to determine the actual leak point might be useful.

FWIW - the instances when oil leaks get better on their own can be counted on the fingers of a handless man..

[osbornk]

I do't think it's anything to be concerned with either. I switched one of myK bikes to synthetic and got a little oil seepage that stopped when I changed back to Dino oil. Very few drops of oil can make a terrible looking mess.