So the left side of my bike and my left shin are...

[Sparky]

...coated with oil.



It's the first time I've ridden it since November, when I rode it home from a major service at my dealer. Don't know if this may have been a problem on my ride home from the dealer, because I rode home at night, in the rain, covered it up after it had dried out (again at night), and haven't uncovered it since.

But as of now, the entire left side of the bike is coated with oil, my left shin is soaked, and there are droplets of oil hanging down from the cylinder head.

Wondering if maybe the head gasket was installed improperly. Otherwise, where else should I look for leaks? Again, the entire thing is coated with oil, so it's hard to see where it might be coming from....

Yeesh.

Pictures to come....

[Twempie]

Check your oil after your next ride to see if it looks good in the sight glass.

The oil may be topped up enough to be coming out of the filler cap. Look inside the cylinder, where the filler cap goes. You'll see a small rubber-ring gasket. Small dirt particles easily accumulates around this gasket and should be cleaned or replaced when the oil is changed. I use one of those hardware-store paint can openers to pop out this gasket for inspection and/or replacement.

I've noticed my bike's filler cap leaks from time to time, usually when the bike gets hot on a multi-day trip or after an oil change fill-up (I have a non-OEM filler cap with an allen keyhole). The leak eventually goes away, I guess after the oil gets to a level the bike likes.

Hope this helps.

[Sparky]

Check your oil after your next ride to see if it looks good in the sight glass.

The oil may be topped up enough to be coming out of the filler cap. Look inside the cylinder, where the filler cap goes. You'll see a small rubber-ring gasket. Small dirt particles easily accumulates around this gasket and should be cleaned or replaced when the oil is changed. I use one of those hardware-store paint can openers to pop out this gasket for inspection and/or replacement.

I've noticed my bike's filler cap leaks from time to time, usually when the bike gets hot on a multi-day trip or after an oil change fill-up (I have a non-OEM filler cap with an allen keyhole). The leak eventually goes away, I guess after the oil gets to a level the bike likes.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the suggestion, but I've checked the filler cap, and it really didn't appear to be the source. Also, this is a significant event, with oil coating the entire left side of the bike and NO oil showing in the sight glass -- and this is 130 miles after an oil change.

Here's some more info that I just typed up on another board, so apologies for redundancy:

First off, I have little to no practical mechanical knowledge, so apologies in advance if my questions are quite basic.

Here's the deal. Today I took my 2004 twin-spark R1150R out for the first time since November, when my ride consisted of taking the bike home, at night, in the rain, from a major service at my dealer (about a 60-mile ride). I haven't ridden it since, and it has been covered so I don't know if this problem may have occurred on that ride without me knowing it.

Took it out today for about a 70-mile ride, and got home to discover the entire left side of the bike (and my left shin) covered with oil. Poked and prodded a bit, and didn't see any obvious leaks (the fill cap was on securely with no excess oil around it; the tubes to the oil coolers looked secure. I was thinking perhaps the dealer had put a bad head gasket on.

I was beginning to wash the bike and had only given it a gentle spray with water (nozzle set on "mist") when on a whim I decided to pull the plastic spark plug cover off. Lo and behold, a nice amount of oil came dripping out. So I pulled the spark plug wire, and, yep, there's a good amount of oil all the way in the tube near the spark plug. And since I didn't have the hose on a strong enough stream to force oil and water back into there, I think that may be the source of the leak.

That brings me to a bunch of questions.

It appears the spark plug hadn't been torqued properly. Does this seem like a reasonable conclusion? But the bike ran fine -- wouldn't there have been some roughness or misfiring?

There's now water and oil in the valve cover tube leading to the sparkplug. Can I just put the spark plug wire back on, or is it bad to have water and oil inside the wire cap? Should I try to reseat the spark plug using the spark plug tool in the BMW tool kit (which is all I have)? If so, how much force should I apply, since I don't have a torque wrench that would fit properly?

The bike has been ridden a total of 130 miles since the major service. Does this look like something I can deal with myself (i.e. tighten down the spark plug and see if it happens again), or should the dealer look at it? If so, based on what I've told you, does this sound like something the dealer should cover?

TIA!

[RRANDY]

Hi Sparky,
I had the same thing happen one time after adjusting my valves.
If you had the valves set, the dealer would have had to take off the valve cover. When reinstalling the cover it's really easy to have the rubber seal (that goes around the spark plug hole) move out of position during reassembly.This happened to me and caused a leak just like you described. To fix this the valve cover must be removed. Your dealer should do this if you don't feel confident. But as with any oil leak there is a possibility of getting oil on the rear wheel, so keep that in mind if you ride back to the dealer.
To tell you the truth, it's a pretty simple fix that is posted on this board. Check out valve adjustment. Hope this helps.

[Sparky]

Hi Sparky,
I had the same thing happen one time after adjusting my valves.
If you had the valves set, the dealer would have had to take off the valve cover. When reinstalling the cover it's really easy to have the rubber seal (that goes around the spark plug hole) move out of position during reassembly.This happened to me and caused a leak just like you described. To fix this the valve cover must be removed. Your dealer should do this if you don't feel confident. But as with any oil leak there is a possibility of getting oil on the rear wheel, so keep that in mind if you ride back to the dealer.
To tell you the truth, it's a pretty simple fix that is posted on this board. Check out valve adjustment. Hope this helps.

You know what, this sounds like the culprit (and other people on another board suggested the same thing). Since it's a 60 mile ride to the dealer. I may ask them to send me the part and find the directions on how to replace it on this board.

Thanks for the help!

[towerworker]

It does indeed sound like the rubber grommet that fits around the spark plug hole was not seated properly. You said the dealer performed a major service. I assume this included a valve adjust? If so then it appears they made some mistakes. You can do this correction yourself and it's not difficult but it seems the dealer has some responsibility in this. Have you talked to them?

Wayne

[priapismic]

Hi Sparky,
I had the same thing happen one time after adjusting my valves.
If you had the valves set, the dealer would have had to take off the valve cover. When reinstalling the cover it's really easy to have the rubber seal (that goes around the spark plug hole) move out of position during reassembly.This happened to me and caused a leak just like you described. To fix this the valve cover must be removed. Your dealer should do this if you don't feel confident. But as with any oil leak there is a possibility of getting oil on the rear wheel, so keep that in mind if you ride back to the dealer.
To tell you the truth, it's a pretty simple fix that is posted on this board. Check out valve adjustment. Hope this helps.

Yeah, this happened to me, too. Probably to more than a few of us. There's an easy way to tell if this is the culprit: pull the spark plug wire from the leaky side. Then, get down on your hands & knees, and using a flashlight shining in the spark plug hole, check to see if there's is any sign of black rubber sticking up in the well. There should not be! There should be a clean, unobstructed path to the spark plug, you should see the tip clearly - in fact, you should be able to stick your finger up there and touch the spark plug tip. Any sign of squished rubber in that hole and you'll know that the rubber seal was put on dingle-eyed. It's real easy to do, and real easy to fix. This procedure has become part of my S.O.P. after doing a valve adjustment.

Really, you should go over to Advrider.com and do a search for "Ovad", a.k.a. "Overhead valve adjustment for Dummies". Download it and read it, it's a handy way to learn how to do easy fixes like this. Otherwise it'll be a long, oily, and possibly dangerous ride back to the dealer. Personally I wouldn't do that, I'd learn to fix it myself.

[Twempie]

I have this 1100/1150 maintenance DVD. It's a low-budget production but very helpful. I've done a couple of valve adjusts since getting it. I found it on a MOA thread, it shows you how to do quite a few tasks that'll save you a lot of money.
http://www.jimvonbaden.com/service2.aspx

[Boxer]

That's a "rookie" but all to common mistake when replacing the valve cover. As Towerworker stated it is the small rubber seal inside the valve cover which seals around the spark plug hole. Easy fix! I did it by the side of the road when mine got my left boot all oily. I would not have noticed it but my left boot began slipping off the peg. I stopped and sure enough, I had not put the rubber gasket back on properly.

Just pull off the valve cover and put it back on with a new gasket. Chances are you have torn the existing one and it is now useless. When you slide the cover back in place, run your finger up inside the whole like your giving it a prostate exam and feel if the gasket is protruding anywhere.

Good luck...and don't be too overjoyed at doing that prostate exam.

[boxermania]

If you had it at the dealer and they did a valve job, the issue is on them. A good Tech should never make that mistake. I would call the dealer and ask them to come, pick the bike up and return it to you after is fixed. If not call the area rep......sometimes we allow the dealers to get away with murder and eventually we pay the price. My 2 cents......

[Sparky]

Thanks for the help, all. Sounds like this is the culprit, but I'll shine a flashlight in there later today to see if I can see any gasket pinched in there.

I'll also call the dealer to see what they have to say -- this happened on Sunday and they don't open up again until tomorrow, so I've not had a chance to talk to them yet.

[Sparky]

Update:

Talked to the dealer today, and the service rep immediately agreed it sounded like they had made a mistake on their end.

They are stepping up to the plate to take care of it: the service rep said they have a bike that needs some miles put on it, so tomorrow they are sending a tech up to my house to fix it -- a 120-mile round trip ride for him! A house service call -- that's good customer relations in my book.

[lionlady]

Okay. And which dealer is stepping up to the plate? (We hear so infrequently of this).

I'd say they deserve mention since they owned up to the problem so readily, and have taken the initiative to fix it for you at home.

P

[boxermania]

Sparky

I'm happy for you, that's a dealer that is worthy of representing the brand, it's just a shame that there are few and far between. You should make mention of their service to the BMW area representative.

[Sparky]

Sparky

I'm happy for you, that's a dealer that is worthy of representing the brand, it's just a shame that there are few and far between. You should make mention of their service to the BMW area representative.

Good point -- I'll be sure to do that.

Since I'm very impressed by their response, I'll name the dealer: Morton's BMW in Fredricksburg, VA. I'm not going to hold the problem against them since mistakes DO happen -- Lord knows, I've made enough. How they respond is important, and they responded perfectly.

[digga]

I'm not going to hold the problem against them since mistakes DO happen -- Lord knows, I've made enough. How they respond is important, and they responded perfectly.

They who make NO mistakes do NOthing


Top marks to that dealer..

[RRANDY]

Glad things worked out, Sparky. That is a good dealer.
I wish I could go riding......stupid snow!

[Sparky]

Alls well that ends well. The Morton's tech rode up to my house yesterday and in 15 minutes had the valve cover off and the gaskets replaced. Sure enough, the gasket around the spark plug was folded over and was the source of the leak. Gave him a couple of beers to take back to the shop (turns out he's not a beer drinker) and would have tipped him better except I had forgotten to get any cash . Then again, it was in the upper 60s and sunny, so the tech got a nice 120-mile ride on a record-breaking warm February day.

Final question: what's the best way to clean an Aerostich that has been saturated with motor oil? I've been dunking the leg in hot water with lots of dish soap (excellent degreasers in there) and scrubbing it with a hand brush, but it still leaves an oily residue on my hand. Going to go buy some Dawn and see if it's more effective, but I'm open to suggestions if anyone has already faced and solved this dilemma. I'm only washing the left leg below the knee, partly because that's all that got oilded and partly because I had just a couple of months earlier washed and waterproofed the entire suit with Nikwax and would rather not repeat the whole process (particularly since it's not so easy to find Nikwax anywhere near my home and it's another $20 for both the wash and the waterproofing).

[lionlady]

Here's some help: http://www.bmwbmw.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=13580

And, check out the rest of the BMW(2) forums while you're there.

P

[priapismic]

Final question: what's the best way to clean an Aerostich that has been saturated with motor oil? I've been dunking the leg in hot water with lots of dish soap (excellent degreasers in there) and scrubbing it with a hand brush, but it still leaves an oily residue on my hand. Going to go buy some Dawn and see if it's more effective, but I'm open to suggestions if anyone has already faced and solved this dilemma. I'm only washing the left leg below the knee, partly because that's all that got oilded and partly because I had just a couple of months earlier washed and waterproofed the entire suit with Nikwax and would rather not repeat the whole process (particularly since it's not so easy to find Nikwax anywhere near my home and it's another $20 for both the wash and the waterproofing).

Best stuff I've found is to rub some Lava hand soap on the oil stains. Hand wash it in, rub it around like you would on your hands, run thoroughly.
Then proceed to wash with your favorite degreasing detergent.