[samseabass]

So, i noticed a small puddle of oil right below the frame next to the kickstand. it only appears after i ride to work and it's been sitting in the AZ heat for 8 hours. In the garage overnight no leak.
I know there is a relief tube that runs into the frame in that area, but if i'm not mistaken that is the FUEL overflow relief not the crank vent relief hose, right?
Both the oil filter and drain plug are snug with no oil residue. Any suggestions? I've had a bike for two weeks and it has 200 miles on it.
probably not normal, right?

 

[eddie]

That is really odd. You are 100% sure it's not gas.
Have you checked to make sure the oil level isn't too high?
That could lead to some accumulating in the airbox and draining out after sitting a while. That's unlikely, though.
Odd that it doesn't do it after your ride home and overnight.
Is your bike a CA model with a evap. canister by chance?

 

[flatrack]

I was thinking airbox too. Have you been doing wheelies?

 

[OpenRoad]

Never tried this method, but I've heard you can use ultraviolet dye and a UV flashlight. Hard to know where the leak is without seeing it.

 

[yoitsemo]

Never tried this method, but I've heard you can use ultraviolet dye and a UV flashlight. Hard to know where the leak is without seeing it.

I need to do this for a power steering fluid leak in my car.

 

[TheScrambled]

@samseabass did you every figure out what was leaking? Just remembered something, but this was with an ATV. There was too much joint grease and when the atv warmed up that grease melted off, not really a problem just a hassle to clean up.

 

[samseabass]

It's definitely not fuel and the oil level is spot on. I took it to the dealer and they say the relief hose also hooks up with the crank relief and what is coming out is an overflow. The temps here in Tucson are over 100 degrees, when I'm at work and it sits in the sun pressure builds and oil and fuel mixture drains out.

 

[eddie]

It's definitely not fuel and the oil level is spot on. I took it to the dealer and they say the relief hose also hooks up with the crank relief and what is coming out is an overflow. The temps here in Tucson are over 100 degrees, when I'm at work and it sits in the sun pressure builds and oil and fuel mixture drains out.

Oil and fuel mixture? It shouldn't be both. Just one or another.
Short of a fire, oil won't/can't be pushed out of the engine sitting still.
Have you taken the air filter cover off and looked inside to see if there's an accumulation of oil there that was blown in there via the breather tube while riding? I'm beginning to think your bike was overfilled with oil at the dealership and has ridded itself of the excess. The drips *should* subside and stop altogether.

 

[samseabass]

I think you are right. The amounts of oil are less each time.

 

[eddie]

I think you are right. The amounts of oil are less each time.

I'd probably just keep tabs on the oil level after each ride, checking it 4-5 minutes after shutdown with the bike level, etc...

 

[YamiGuy]

This is starting to remind me about how bad bike makers want to introduce electric bikes, can't wait for the day those arrive because little things like this will be something we look back and laugh at. HD Livewire was a great example of how electric bikes can be.

 

[eddie]

This is starting to remind me about how bad bike makers want to introduce electric bikes, can't wait for the day those arrive because little things like this will be something we look back and laugh at. HD Livewire was a great example of how electric bikes can be.

Harley-Davidson would probably put some engineer to task of making sure the e-bike leaked oil to maintain it's heritage, or some other BS. ;-)

 

[YamiGuy]

Harley-Davidson would probably put some engineer to task of making sure the e-bike leaked oil to maintain it's heritage, or some other BS. ;-)

haha very true, have to make ownership an event, otherwise what stories would we have to tell?

 

[CalciumFortified]

I’m actually having the same thing. My bike has 110 miles. I just noticed the leak yesterday. I was really concerned, but this post has made me feel a little better. Have you found that the problem is resolved? Is it really just overflow? I just stored my bike outside under its cover in the UT heat.

 

[eddie]

I’m actually having the same thing. My bike has 110 miles. I just noticed the leak yesterday. I was really concerned, but this post has made me feel a little better. Have you found that the problem is resolved? Is it really just overflow? I just stored my bike outside under its cover in the UT heat.

After washing the underside of the bike and maybe spraying some brake cleaner on any oily areas (staying away from the drive belt), I'd ride the bike for 20-30 minutes, park it and see if it drips again and from where. From a hose? Air box would be my guess. There's a small possibility it's a little over full of oil and it blowing out the excess and also a little blow-by oil from the bike breaking in and the rings seating. If the filter's tight and the drain plug's not loose, there's not a lot of places for oil to "escape" on it's own.
Check the oil level after a couple of minutes from a hot shutdown with the bike vertical and on level ground. If it's mid way/to the top of the XXXX marks, ride it and check it again after a tank of gas. The odds are way against there being a problem-problem.

 

[SCRBen]

After washing the underside of the bike and maybe spraying some brake cleaner on any oily areas (staying away from the drive belt), I'd ride the bike for 20-30 minutes, park it and see if it drips again and from where. From a hose? Air box would be my guess. There's a small possibility it's a little over full of oil and it blowing out the excess and also a little blow-by oil from the bike breaking in and the rings seating. If the filter's tight and the drain plug's not loose, there's not a lot of places for oil to "escape" on it's own.
Check the oil level after a couple of minutes from a hot shutdown with the bike vertical and on level ground. If it's mid way/to the top of the XXXX marks, ride it and check it again after a tank of gas. The odds are way against there being a problem-problem.

It’s really weird over by the kickstand though, no? Long way to travel from the air filter, that. Oil drain bolt tight? I wonder if there’s no crush washer on it. Yeah, it could get there from a loose filter too, I guess.

If you’ve just got the bike, I also wonder if they changed the oil first, and didn’t clean the underside properly, leaving some oil attached to various parts that’s eventually then fallen to the ground.

Failing that, check around the crank case breather hose, which roots from the back of the cylinders, and then goes in between them, on the way to the air filter. You’ll know it, as it’s kinked a number of times so it sits nicely in-between the cylinders. From memory, it has a joint behind the cylinders, when it first leaves the crankcase - check its all snug. No idea how it would get from there to under the kickstand though. Unless it’s loose at the base?
Ben

 

[CalciumFortified]

So after noticing that the oil was leaking yesterday after storing it overnight under its cover, I am pleased to report that there was no leakage this morning after having checked it in my garage. I don't think the fact that I stored it in the garage has anything to do with it. What would your consensus be at this point? I did ride it yesterday quite a bit - probably around ~40 miles or so.

 

[Krixtoph]

TLDR: a small oil leak shouldn't be anything to fret over. Your dealership probably overfilled your bike.

I had a small oil leak about a month ago when I went for my first 2 hour ride in 35F+ weather (it was a long winter in Illinois). I think I hit the 150 mile mark when I parked it back in the garage, and next day I walked in to find a small puddle of oil by the kickstand. I checked all my fasteners and everything was tight, then checked my cold oil level. Turns out the dealership overfilled my bike, and I remembered that most dealerships will do this with any new bike. They all figure more oil is better than too little to reduce their chances of mechanical failure and liability. I had a Honda Ruckus (a little scooter) a number of years ago and the dealer did the same thing: The original oil level was about 25% more than what the manual suggests as an optimum amount.

Needless to say I wasn't worried about it. After subsequent rides I haven't had a leak, but I'm sure looking forward to doing my first oil change soon and getting the right amount of oil in my bike. Too much can bog you down.

 

[SCRBen]

So after noticing that the oil was leaking yesterday after storing it overnight under its cover, I am pleased to report that there was no leakage this morning after having checked it in my garage. I don't think the fact that I stored it in the garage has anything to do with it. What would your consensus be at this point? I did ride it yesterday quite a bit - probably around ~40 miles or so.

Keep an eye on it, I guess. Never heard of dealers intentionally overfilling engines though - that’s a recipe for excessive crankcase pressure.
Ben

 

[eddie]

Keep an eye on it, I guess. Never heard of dealers intentionally overfilling engines though - that’s a recipe for excessive crankcase pressure.
Ben

...and heat.
The mechanical whipping of the oil by a whirling crank generates a TON of it. I want to recall reading an article where back when HD raced the KR750, it would not properly scavenge the sump at continuous high RPMs like on the banking at Daytona. Oil would build up in the bottom end and the bike would slow down as if really struggling. They computed the h.p. losses, translated it into wattage and it worked out to like seven toasters' worth - all inside the engine. Yikes!