A moderator needs some advice.

So.....we all make goofs, and I made one mysef recently.

Last month I fixed a weeping base gasket by replacing it, which also required a new head gasket and the other smaller bits that keep the oil on the inside.

I posted earlier about there still being a leak, but having traced it to the valve cover gasket. I solved that issue, and still have a leak. I know where it's coming from, and what needs to be done to fix it, as well as what caused the leak. That's where the goof comes in. I elected to reuse the special gaskets for the cam oil feed to the head. They were still very supple, but apparently not supple enough to reseal correctly.
I've used stop-leak to attempt to get the gaskets to swell enough to stop the leak, but that hasn't made much of a change so far (just over 200 miles since adding it).

What I have now is a somewhat tricky decision to make.

I have a multi-week trip coming up on Sunday.

The leak is small, but steady; losing about one cup of oil per tank of gas.

The leak is really more of a weep. I can degrease the head and not see any oil for several minutes (10 or more). When oil does appear it's an even film along the entire right edge of the head gasket, which indicates to me that the oil pressure to the cams is not affected enough to be of concern (please tell me if you disagree).

What I want to know is, would you take a 3,000 mile trip with this condition?
I've usually always had older vehicles that leak oil, so I'm used to having to add oil, and as long as I top her off at every fill-up everything should be fine. The concern is that I haven't seen my brother and aunts in 6 years, and I'd prefer to not have to cut the trip short for a mechanical reason.

What say you?

 

I'd spend a day fixing it beforehand because I know I'd spend more time thinking about it than anything else. I can stay relaxed about a lot of things but mechanical problems always nag at me and I know I'd be pissed as hell if something happened because I didn't fix it.
Have a great trip k-moe.

 

Well that's the thing. The head has to come back off, and there's no way I'd have the job completed before leaving.
Thank you for the reply. It's appreciated.

 

I guess you'll be driving then.......that's good--it's supposed to rain a lot anyway.

 

I cant picture your leak but can you apply some epoxy on the leak? That gas tank sealant puddy might work.
5 minutes is all you can lose.

 

It's weeping past the cam oil feed gaskets, and then out along the head gasket. Putting epoxy or any other sealer will just move where the leak is exiting the head-to-cylinder block joint. Besides, I do need to get the head back off to perform a real fix.

 

The rain isn't an issue either way. My destination is in western Oregon, where I learned to ride motorcycles. Rain and I are old friends.
I am leaming toward driving, It just sucks because I've prepped for this trip for two years.
My only real worry is that I'm wrong about the oil pressure and end up ruining the cam bearings.

 

The worry might ruin the ride. It'll always be there at the back of your mind, nagging away, like having an unhappy wife on the pillon.

 

Drive the car. Fix the leak properly when the time arises. Family is more important than even taking the chance you’ll be cutting anytime short from them.
A brother though by himself to visit. Yeah. I’d take that chance.

 

That much oil lost in that short amount of time will have a loss of pressure, how much i dont know. the constant refilling and the cleaning will suck. Take care of your baby and tell her next time.

 

Driving it is.
Thanks for helping me to clear my mind over this.

There will only be more motorcycle trips if I still have a running motorcycle.

 

on the right side? those "o rings" start life a half inch tall, i don't see how they could be reused.
when mine leaked i just stuffed a paper towel in that fin and rode it but i was only going 15 miles to work.
i'd say ride it but if it gets worse, your up the creek

 

Agreed.
If it were earlier in the Summer (or a shorter trip) I'd be inclined to just ride it. A breakdown would cost me money, since I don't have any extra time. That wouldn't be a problem, except I don't have any extra money either.

The o-rings-that-aren't-o-rings were still tall enough. I'm inclined to think that one of them got pinched or cut at some point (probably when the head went back on) and I didn't notice. I'll find out in a few weeks. I want her back to being leak-free before the winter comes.

 

I agree a persistent leak may cause the gasket to completely fail. And you pump the entire contents of engine on your leg, pipes and then rear tire. That adds up to a smoking hot mess in a ditch!
Don’t you have a spare engine to pop in for the trip?

 

I wish. All I have are the original cases that need to be fixed, and a Virago 920 that needs more work than I can get done in a year, let alone two days.
Contrary to popular belief, my stash of parts is quite small. A spare engine has been on the list of things to buy for a while though.

 

Cmon out, I got some extras....

 

Don't forget about the shame if you leak all over auntie's driveway. I have to park the Subie in the road when I visit people.

 

Let us know what you find on the controlled break down.

 

Will do.
I'm already accepting that I messed up, so whatever else I find will be in the bonus scenes portion of the movie.

 

i smell an academy award.

 

I would drive too K-moe, if it were my bike with that problem.

 

It's a done deal. The Jeep is packed. I'll update once the repair is finished and tested.

 

Glad to hear.....

FWIW--a bad unexpected bad storm came in last night and trees wires down all over..... 75 mph straight line winds and quarter-size hail. power was out from about 8:30pm yesterday til 6pm tonight.

Glad you won't get caught on a bike in anything like that

 

I like the storms, but am not much of a fan of the damage that can sometimes come with them. The irony of this particular summer is that I'm more likely to see a tornado along my westerly route than I would if I were just staying home.

 

Those are fun..........from a safe distance.

 

Yes. Once they get within a mile of you, it's not so cool anymore. BTDT.

 

I was concerned at first when I began reading this thread. You made a SO very wise decision. Have a safe enjoyable trip.

 

There are some types of adventure that I've started to be too old to take.

I have changed a starter in Laramie, replaced plug wires in Longview, and limped a car along on a collapsed wheel bearing from Rainier to Clatskanie (among other things). I figure that's enough mechanical adventure for me.