Oil Leak: Anyone know where it's coming from?

[breakaway]

Hello,

Just recently I discovered an oil leak on my 1998 Suzuki RG150. So I washed my bike (using kerosene + water) till all the excess oil / grime etc was removed, and then rode it around for a bit, and I have figured out where the leak is coming from:

<a href="http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/3109/l1am9.jpg"><img src="http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/3109/l1am9.th.jpg"/></a>
Note the hose the oil is leaking from. Anyone know what this hose carries?

<a href="http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/3465/l3nm0.jpg"><img src="http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/3465/l3nm0.th.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/5600/l2vz6.jpg"><img src="http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/5600/l2vz6.th.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/2310/l4kd1.jpg"><img src="http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/2310/l4kd1.th.jpg"/></a>
In the above photo, oil that has come from Leak 1 has flown around and is leaking from bottom of the gear changer shaft. The shaft itself is fine, it's not leaking any oil. Not that I can see anyway.

I was just wondering if anyone knew what that hose carried, and how easy would this be to fix? Could I do it myself at home?

Thanks :)

[Steam]

No idea...



but I'd like to complement you on those clear, large, labelled pictures.
SO many people post here saying "hey there's oil coming from my bike, what's hapening?" and don't give even a clear description, let alone a series of good pictures.
Good on ya!

[merv]

Is that the colour of your gearbox oil because otherwise it looks suspiciously like an engine coolant leak?

[The Pastor]

Yeah kinda looks like engine coolant?

But very good work on washing the bike and then taking pictures from where the leak came from. Note to anyone asking these type of questions, follow his example!

Hopefully the kb gurus will get this sorted for you in no time!

I have a small leak from my engine casing, but I know thats because I didnt use a gasket(used gasket goo) when I put it back together :P it leaks 1 small drop a day, but oil level has remained static over the last 3 months :)

[Jeaves]

Without seeing the bike in person , my pick is its your 2t oil pump and or hose leaking (are you using TTS?) .

[Jeaves]

infact the more i look at the pictures i am almost certain. bring it round if your near Pt Chev.

[breakaway]

Thanks for all the help so far guys.


Is that the colour of your gearbox oil because otherwise it looks suspiciously like an engine coolant leak?

It's not coolant, judging by the way it feels when I get some on my fingers and rub it around. I THINK its gearbox oil, because

1. It doesn't feel like coolant
2. My 2 Stroke Oil is Blue


Without seeing the bike in person , my pick is its your 2t oil pump and or hose leaking (are you using TTS?) .

I'm using Castrol TTS. It's definitely not that though. I just went and spilled some Castrol TTS 2 Stroke Oil next to the leak. Here are the results:

<a href="http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/8504/l5wg8.jpg"><img src="http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/8504/l5wg8.th.jpg"/></a>

It's leaking from 2 places (See the first photo I posted). I mean its REALLY pissing down. I'm worried about how much oil is actually left in there.

At this stage, I'm not even sure where its coming from. My money's on the transmission fluid though. I was just wondering if any of you knew what fluid that line carries, and if I would be capable of fixing it myself.

[Jeaves]

hmmm interesting , undo the inspection bolt on the side of the gearbox , stand the bike up and have a look at the oil .

[breakaway]

Yeah... thats another problem.

I tried to take off the level screw, but it wouldn't budge, I gave up because I was afraid I'd wear out the screw. Anything I can do to get this screw safely out?

[Jeaves]

the other way , is to undo the drain plug . At least this way you will have an accurate idea on how much oil is in the gearbox . Once thats done just fill it back up (with new stuff if you can be bothered) .

[breakaway]

***UPDATE***

It turns out it IS 2 stroke oil. Here's what the stain looks like after I let it sit for about an hour or so:

<a href="http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/5360/l6ch0.jpg"><img src="http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/5360/l6ch0.th.jpg"/></a>

[Madness]

Recently overfilled the 2T oil tank?. It might just be an overflow hose, follow it to either end, see if it goes to the oil tank.

[breakaway]

Recently overfilled the 2T oil tank?. It might just be an overflow hose, follow it to either end, see if it goes to the oil tank.

When my mentor came over, we filled up the 2 stroke oil as we were unsure of how much was left in there. I just kept pouring it into the back until it started backing up.

I can't really see where the hose leads without further dismantling.

I really doubt that it's an overflow hose, because if you look at the first pics I posted (Leak 2 Specifically), you can see that it's actually connected to the motor. I seriously doubt that it's an overflow.

[Jeaves]

If im not mistaken the only overflow item is the cup at the top of the filling spout which catches a small amount if you overfill it

go here http://zballantine.com/RG150/

download chapter 8 - shows all the hose's inc oil pump lines.

However you can look under the rear section and see if its the feed hose as there will be oil all along it ( or part way) , this is on the lefthand side of the oil pump.

again going the pictures it looks like the head feed at the oil pump end is leaking and dribling down from there in the areas you have shown.

[breakaway]

I've got the manual, and have been trying to figure out what that hose is for about 15 minutes now, nothing conclusive.

So how difficult will fixing this be?

More importantly can I do it myself and save some $$$$?

[vagrant]

The hose line with the leaks is part of the 2 stroke oil injection system. A pump in the engine case forces the oil along that hose.
From your pictures there doesn't appear to be any clamps holding that hose on.
Try pulling the hose off the fittings at each end and seeing how freely it comes off. As the line is under pressure, it may just be a tired rubber hose letting oil seep out.
You could try some small hose clamps on it, or else twisting some lockwire round it with pliers. Don't go nuts getting it tight or it will cut the hose.
While you have the hose off, have a look for cracks in the fittings as well.

[vagrant]

Just been downloading and perusing the manual. In the engine section on page 3-7 it has a picture pointing to the oil lines, and on 3-8 it shows the oil pump.
In your picture, leak 1 is at the outlet from the oil pump.
And on page 3-32 the bottom picture shows the fitting for your leak 2. It is just to the right of the figure 8. This is the oil feed to your crank bearing.
Another possiblilty occured to me, and this is is slim chance. If the fittings are not cracked and the hose is pretty tight on the fittings, then you may have a partial or full blockage in the port leading to the crank bearing. The pump is still pumping oil down the line, it just can't get out the other end. That would be a slim possibilty, but something to get checked if the leak doesn't stop.
Hope that helps some.

[Jeaves]

I've got the manual, and have been trying to figure out what that hose is for about 15 minutes now, nothing conclusive.

So how difficult will fixing this be?

More importantly can I do it myself and save some $$$$?

Well theres three in total .
1. hose coming from the oil tank to the oil pump (the feed)
2. one hose coming off the oil pump and too the cyl head
3. one hose coming off the oil pump and to the crankcase
{pic 3 shows #2 & 3 well)

First you need to find out which of the hose's is leaking (could be more than one) , then whats causing the leak/s - hole , loose , perished etc.

you may have to clean it all up again , give it some rev's whist on its stand and see if you can spot which hose it is (if its leaking fast enough) . otherwise get ye hands dirty and physically inspect each hose with the eyecromiter .

[Mr. Peanut]

My bike leaks a bit of oil, CBF fixing it really.

[breakaway]

My bike leaks a bit of oil, CBF fixing it really.

Same here, but it poses a safety issue. So it really is in my best interest to get it sorted. And it seems that it won't be too hard to do so.

[breakaway]

Fixed: I had R6_kid come down, and he took off the read seat and fairings etc, and found that the hose in question had a huge crack in it, almost fully split. For the moment, it's been patched up with cellotape, I just took it for a quick blat and parked it, and there doesn't appear to be any oil drops on the ground under it.

I need to get that hose (And the one next to it) replaced at my earliest convenience.

[Max Preload]

I presume you mean the hose from the 2-stroke oil reservoir?

Make sure you use hose of a material that is oil resistant and not easily kinked.

[xwhatsit]

Fixed: I had R6_kid come down, and he took off the read seat and fairings etc, and found that the hose in question had a huge crack in it, almost fully split. For the moment, it's been patched up with cellotape, I just took it for a quick blat and parked it, and there doesn't appear to be any oil drops on the ground under it.

I need to get that hose (And the one next to it) replaced at my earliest convenience.

Awesome! Now, you know why you need to get a naked for your next bike :D

If you can't find a hose as soon as possible, or while you're waiting for some to ship, and the sellotape just isn't cutting the mustard, try some Nitto tape. It's electrical tape, but it is remarkably oil resistant and remains sticky even when it gets damp. Marvellous stuff.

[breakaway]

Thanks for the help guys. It's been 2 days, and I've been riding it heaps each day, and no puddles are forming like they used to.

[xwhatsit]

I'd still replace the tube, though. I know from personal experience how temporary bodge-up fixes are highly likely to just be left until they inevitably fall apart, lol! Where can you get tubing like that, anyway? Not only for breakaway's benefit but I want to replace the breather tube on my crankcase and don't know where to buy that stuff.

[breakaway]

I'd still replace the tube, though. I know from personal experience how temporary bodge-up fixes are highly likely to just be left until they inevitably fall apart, lol! Where can you get tubing like that, anyway? Not only for breakaway's benefit but I want to replace the breather tube on my crankcase and don't know where to buy that stuff.

Yeah, I'll get around to replacing it, eventually.

And you could probably buy tubing like that from a motorcycle shop. When R6_Kid was over, I asked him about changing the hose myself, and he reckons it could be a problem if the hose is tapped into wherever it goes.

I guess I'll have to get a motorcycle shop to change the hose, given my lack of knowledge.

[Brian d marge]

How we find leaks is by using Baby powder ,,, just work up from the puddle puff the stuff everywhere ,,,a leak /split hose will sow up real quick ..just remember water/oil never falls up ..always down

Stephen