what's behind this leaking cover?

[wessie]

UK spec bike, 2011 model, 10,000 miles. The cover in the picture appears to be weeping oil.

Is this the "long dowel" fault reported previously

 

[ADVFireFighter]

Dunno but I fixed the pic for you....

 

[Don in Lodi]

I was thinking the long dowel thing was one of the side covers...

 

[~TABASCO~]

Are you running synthetic oil? Synthetic weeps all over the motor.

 

[GrahamD]

UK spec bike, 2011 model, 10,000 miles. The cover in the picture appears to be weeping oil.

Is this the "long dowel" fault reported previously

Yeah you forgot to clean the bike recently. It's tearing up from neglect.

The long dowel is one of the side covers.

 

[Ramseybella]

Are you running synthetic oil? Synthetic weeps all over the motor.

Why? :-\

 

[mcbrien]

Are you running synthetic oil? Synthetic weeps all over the motor.

Here we go, another oil debate ::017::

 

[wessie]

Well, to feed the anxiety of the oil pessimisti...

This leak only appeared after I topped up the oil with Hein Gericke 10W/40 semi-synthetic oil, apparently made by Motul. This was the first top-up in the 10,000 miles of ownership and was just after returning from an arduous trip around the lumpy bits in central & SW France.

I think my dealer put 10W/40 Yamalube in at the 6k service. Surely that is at least semi-synthetic? Should be at the price they charged

As for washing the bike. Isn't that something that is only done every 24k?

 

[~TABASCO~]

Why? :-\

Not sure. I run Syn and does it all the time. Not sure if this is the cause of this situation, but just throwing out an idea from my experiance.

 

[avc8130]

Are you running synthetic oil? Synthetic weeps all over the motor.

Must be "thinner" ::025::

On the parts breakdown it is shown on the "Oil Pump" page. Yamaha labels it "Plate, Adapter". Behind it appears to be another oil filter location. I'm not sure if Yamaha had/has plans to put the motor somewhere else or what.

I did more digging. The service manual calls this "Oil delivery passage cover".

What I do see on the parts diagram is an o-ring. No gasket is shown.

Next time you have the oil drained, pull the cover and inspect. Some 3 bond sealant might work around the lip of the plate to stop the weepage.

ac

 

[Ramseybella]

Must be "thinner" ::025::

On the parts breakdown it is shown on the "Oil Pump" page. Yamaha labels it "Plate, Adapter". Behind it appears to be another oil filter location. I'm not sure if Yamaha had/has plans to put the motor somewhere else or what.

What I do see on the parts diagram is an o-ring. No gasket is shown.

Next time you have the oil drained, pull the cover and inspect. Check the service manual, but some 3 bond sealant might work around the lip of the plate to stop the weepage.

ac

Dual Oil filters that would be something?

 

[Don in Lodi]

I've had good luck putting a light smear of silicone sealant on o-ring gaskets if I had no other choice. Both surfaces must be clean. Order a new o-ring before your next service.

 

[EricV]

Yamalube is not synthetic. Synthetic oils are engineered and have seal swelling agents. Some better than others

I have been using synthetic oil since about 5k and honestly, may have some seepage there, but it's not wet. Perhaps due to the dirt build up. ;D

 

[wessie]

Yamalube is not synthetic.

http://www.frasersmotorcycles.co.uk/oil-and-lubricants/yamalube-oil/_product/265/yamalube-4-fs-10w40-engine-oil-4-litre/ would seem to say otherwise

 

[wessie]

Thanks for the replies - I'm off to France again in a few days. The bike will be ready for another service after that trip so I'll investigate the seal when the oil has been dropped.

 

[Yamaguy55]

http://www.frasersmotorcycles.co.uk/oil-and-lubricants/yamalube-oil/_product/265/yamalube-4-fs-10w40-engine-oil-4-litre/ would seem to say otherwise

Yamaha's oil line sold here in the US has both conventional and synthetic versions. I have to specifically tell the dealer when I want synthetic, or it gets conventional. Synthetic oils flow easier when cold, so if there is a change in the way everything fits from cold to warm engine, it will weep some. Considering your engine is aluminum alloy castings held together with steel fasteners, I'd expect some weeping, especially with easier-flowing synthetics during warmup.

I've noticed that some engines will weep oil if you use synthetic,m some don't. I run it in everything I own, and while my Tenere is seemingly oil tight, the WRR is not, completely. It primarily runs crushed stone roads and woods trails. I think if you run more in dust and dry dirt, it shows up sooner.

 

[viewdvb]

Are you guys serious? Synthetic oil weeps but non synthetic doesn't? First, if an oil is graded 10-40, it is 10 weight when cold whether it is synthetic or not. That's what the grading system means. It is also 40 when hot when it also at its thinnest so hot oil, when the engine castings have stabilised, leaks more readily than cold so that disposes of the warming-up explanation. Why then would synthetic oil of the same grade weep/leak more readily. Has anyone done a sensible test? You know - synthetic oil; I can see a weep - change to mineral oil, degrease and use in same circumstances; look no weep. It aint gonna happen.

 

[Doug C]

Type of oil in use in the engine aside. It's a blank cover sealed by an o ring. For $3.50 change it. My 2 cents.
Doug

 

[EricV]

http://www.frasersmotorcycles.co.uk/oil-and-lubricants/yamalube-oil/_product/265/yamalube-4-fs-10w40-engine-oil-4-litre/ would seem to say otherwise

Allow me to be more specific now that I'm at an actual computer. Yamalube is NOT synthetic. That is Yamalube 4-FS (4=four stroke, FS=Fully synthetic). Confused yet? Standard Yamalube in the US sells for about $4-5+/quart in many dealerships, but is not the synthetic version that some dealers also carry, but many do not, at least in my limited experience with OR/WA and UT.


This Stuff

Yamaha actually has a full line of lubricants in various synthetic, semi-synth and distilled oil products. http://www.yamaha-motor.com/yamalube

I see more offerings in Marine stores than Motorcycle dealerships, but I'm sure that varies by location.

 

[snakebitten]

Mine has had nothing but Yamalube Dino from birth. (If that's what it came with in the box. Who knows?)

Never seeped a bit anywhere. And Mine is a slick shifting beast. Easiest bike to catch a downshift-neutral on I have ever had. And almost as good on upshift.

Now on the other hand, my shaftside of the swingarm always has a moist dirtyspot somewhere.
Never enough to imply problems. But has showed up in all 3 possible spots, at one time or another. Usually after off-road beatings, especially.