[Angus]

I have what looks like an oil leak on one of my engine blocks. It looks like engine oil, but I can't be sure, and it seems an unlikely place for engine oil to reach. I really don't have any idea where it could have come from. I had a gas leak several weeks ago which spilt all over the engine, but this doesn't look like gasoline residue. The first pic is from the left side, and the other, the right.

 

[Goliath616]

the best way to find a leak is to clean it all off, sprinkle some powder (like foot powder) on it and see where it starts leaking from...but to me it looks like the oil is coming out of the head.....

 

[Angus]

The head? No kidding? Can you be more specific? You see that lead to the spark plug on the left side with the "F-L" on it? That would be most likely path that I can think of. I pulled it out and checked it and it's clean.
Ok, I'll clean it off the block, and when I ride again, may it'll tell me its story.

 

[primalmu]

Looks like a leaky head gasket. It's not likely that its coming from the spark plug because there's no oil there (unless your cylinders were literally full of oil, but of course your bike wouldn't run if that were the case).

 

[Tdubb]

^It's deffinatly the head gasket. The oild above the head gasket is blown up there from wind while riding.

 

[mdhwoods]

^It's deffinatly the head gasket. The oild above the head gasket is blown up there from wind while riding.

Just out of curiosity why do you not think it could be the valve cover gasket?

 

[tylernt]

Just out of curiosity why do you not think it could be the valve cover gasket?

Yeah, I would have said valve cover gasket.

 

[Dan631]

Me three on the valve cover gasket. Try tightening the cover bolts. If they are pretty snug already it's time to replace it. Very easy "do it yourself" job.

 

[rexmitchell]

I smell a how-to coming out of this if you do the work yourself.

 

[Angus]

Me three on the valve cover gasket. Try tightening the cover bolts.

I'm looking in my maintenance manual for these exact bolts, but it's not clear. Are they visible in the pics I took?

If they are pretty snug already it's time to replace it. Very easy "do it yourself" job.

You are kidding, right? I had the idea that replacing a cylinder head gasket was one of the most involved single jobs you can perform on such a vehicle.

 

[tylernt]

You are kidding, right? I had the idea that replacing a cylinder head gasket was one of the most involved single jobs you can perform on such a vehicle.

I think we've got a wire crossed.

The valve cover gasket (green) seals the valve cover to the cylinder head. This area houses the valvetrain and is (relatively) easily accessed to do valve adjustments or to replace the gasket.

The head gasket (red) joins the cylinder head to the engine block. It is a (somewhat) major operation to replace.

Sometimes head gaskets do weep oil, but usually when they blow, they blow in a big way (loss of compression, loss of coolant if watercooled, etc). Looking at the spread of oil, I still think it's the valve cover.

 

[Angus]

Ah yes I see. Thank you for clearing that up.
But I'm still uncertain about which bolts I am to tighten. Is it those wide ones on the top of the cylinders, that have a bit of rust in the centre?

 

[tylernt]

I'm not sure, but it looks like it, yes. If you look at the "CYLINDER HEAD COVER" diagram from BikeBandit:

http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/honda-motorcycle-vt500c-shadow-1983/o/m9690

they seem to be the most likely candidate. If you're going to snug them up, you may want to loosen, then tighten them, just in case they're already too tight so you don't strip them.

 

[Tdubb]

Ya, I thought the top one was the head gasket.So I meant the Valve cover gasket.

Just do what Goliath said and you wsill know for shure. My old Kawi looked the same and after cleaning the oil off it was pretty clear it was the valve cover gasket.

 

[Angus]

Ok thanks for all your help guys. I'll let you know how it goes, for posterity.

 

[mdhwoods]

Ah yes I see. Thank you for clearing that up.
But I'm still uncertain about which bolts I am to tighten. Is it those wide ones on the top of the cylinders, that have a bit of rust in the centre?

the bolts are on the top and are allen heads. you can see it in the 1 picture with a small bit of rust in it.

 

[Dan631]

I'm looking in my maintenance manual for these exact bolts, but it's not clear. Are they visible in the pics I took?


You are kidding, right? I had the idea that replacing a cylinder head gasket was one of the most involved single jobs you can perform on such a vehicle.

I appologize for any confusion but there is a BIG difference between the head gasket and the valve cover gasket. Looks like these guys cleared that up for you and yes I was refering to the "hex" bolts on top of the cover with the rust in the center.

If you plan to tackle this job yourself it would be a great oppertunity to check your valve clearances also.