[NC30] Mystery oil leak

[iDemonix]

I unexpectedly landed a job in Abingdon which meant moving from Nottingham. Unfortunately I was half way through an engine swap, exhaust swap, swingarm swap, suspension swap, wheel paint and tyre replacement as well as a service. The bike was left at my parents and I had to nip up one weekend and rush it to make it rideable to get it down here.

Ever since, the bike pisses oil. At first I thought it was from the oil pressure valve, then I thought it was one of the bolts, then I thought the actual oil filler neck, but now I see it's pissing down from the front as well.

My only thought is that it's leaking from all around the RHS engine cover, I remember scraping the old gasket off and as I was in a rush it's possible I got it all off but didn't scrub off the some of the excess paste/muck. Going to wait until payday then order a new gasket, gasket goo and spend more money on oil which is annoying as the oil's barely 1.5k miles old.

So much to do on this bike, need to write a to-do list.

Anyone had a similar mystery leak? It only leaks when it's warm and if I take it for a blast and lay it up, there's probably half a shot glass worth of oil on the floor in the morning, maybe more, hard to tell.






Hi-Res versions:
http://i.imgur.com/QDVrHV6.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/YLCx6nx.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/emfXlCN.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/u2Mj5b2.jpg

[iDemonix]

That last picture is on its side and was actually meant for a different thread entitled 'what's the easiest way to change the bushing in this'.

[missis sumner]

RHS oil leak? I've only had LHS, so far. Mine were rocker cover, and unconfirmed as yet, water pump. So I'm not much use to you, then, sorry...

[Neosophist]

no wonder its a mystery with all that oil every, thats really filthy.

get a small can of brush on gunk for a couple of quid and clean all the engine and ancillaries down.

hose it off and go for a small ride, come back and check.

oil tends to run down not up so start at the highest place.

[iDemonix]

Hi Neo,

Yeah I know, it was spotless but then my car suspension collapsed and I had no choice but to use the bike for the daily 80 mile commute so just had to let it piss oil everywhere and keep topping up.

I'll give it a clean next weekend then take it for a quick tootle round the block with no fairings on...

[iDemonix]

Just realised, I have a can of de-greaser (think there's some left) would that work? If it would then I'll go give it a clean after MotoGP.

[Jac-al]

Give it a clean then check, i had a similar problem, turned out my waterpump o-ring was gone

[iDemonix]

I cleaned it off and took it for a quick spin, it's bloody hard to identify. I think I'll drop the oil and replace the side engine casing gasket again, but this time with gasket goo as well or something.

Does anyone know where I could find the bolts for the engine casing in a better material than monkey metal? They're all different lengths etc...

[bikemonkey]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-VFR400- ... 3a80d4b09d

[lambchops]

I've had a mysterious leak in the RHS before and no amount of replacement gaskets could fix it. Turned out the engine cover was warped. Check to see if yours is.