Head Gasket leaking oil

First a little background. My headgasket started leaking last summer. I pulled the head this January and replaced the head gasket. Put 50 miles on it and then retorqued the head caps. All was fine until I returned from the NTCC. Noticed the leak had returned but in a different area. I had put 1100 miles on it before any problem. I retorqued the head caps again and found 3 of the inner 4 were loose. Still leaks oil after 2 weeks. Checked the torque again today and all were tight. So you guys think I should just replace the gasket again or is there something else I could do?

 

Did you check the head surface with a straight edge for flatness when you replaced the gasket? If not it might be something too look at if you pull it back off. Also the jug surface.

Correct torque sequence?

 

No Richard I didn't. But since the head didn't leak for over a thousand miles I believe it wasn't warped. However since I found 3 loose had caps after 1100 miles I 'will' have the head checked by a machine shop if I remove it again. Torque sequence was correct.
I am investigating the option of using a sealant on the next head gasket. Oil is all that is leaking; compression is solid as ever and bike still runs like a raped ape.

 

You should have the head checked for true and pressure tested for leaks if you pull it again. You say your leak reappeared in a different location than prior to your replacing the head gasket. I'd say you have a warped head off hand, but a machinist would be better able to tell you that. Hope your fix is simple, it could get hairy so be prepared.

 

silastik [or a similiar] in the correct areas and in the correct amount will sort it out , as only oil leaks , as mentioned the main job of the head gasket in to keep the compression in da holes via the steel rings embedded in the head gasket.

oil leaks happen at , the 2 right hand side head bolts/studs 2 rubber seals[which feed the cams] , and around the cam chain hole which has a rubber seal all around it , i do not recollect anywhere else oil can or is about as the head is back on now.

so recheck to make shure it is not the valve cover or you have a hole? somewhere... hope you sort it out without tooooo much drama

 

Leak is from the front around the camchain tunnel. Last leak was near this area but toward the left side and oil would drain down the left side of the engine. Now it drains from the right side. Camchain seal was replaced along with the head gasket and all other gaskets and orings. The oil pump gallies do not leak.

 

New cam chain seal you say? Well I'm out of ideas. Permatex makes a spray stop leak product that I have used with varied results. It is effectively a clear poly-like spray that you would spray over a cleaned seam. Three coats and let dry overnight. Presto, supposedly no more leak (I'd bet that this is entirely dependent upon how much pressure was behind the leak). If your head nuts are getting loose on you, it may be time to replace them (not too terribly expensive). Hope you nail it down Max, I feel like I've let you down somehow, but this is the best I can do from this distance.

 

Well , looks like thats sorted out [as where from], did you tenson the head correctly?

anyways if there is a next time [ie:you could loosen them all off then retension them to try it first] to remove the head , a goo of your choice around/on the cam chain hole with the seal top and bottom , maybe also the seal was a bit out of position too when fitted , no big drama but annoying . all da best with it.

 

I recently had the fun experience of chasing down an oil leak on the left side cover (where the shifter is). Tried two gaskets, even made my own gasket, then tried gasket maker (stuff in a tube) with gasket etc etc etc. Bike would still leak oil!!

Finally traced it to a hairline crack by one of the lower bolt holes. New cover later and all is good. POSSIBLY, you could have the same issue.

PS: I torque all those bolts now.


Rob

 

Could be the case. I haven't given this heavy consideration since if there was a crack present at the previous leak then the leak would have had the same characteristics. i.e. it would have leaked on the same side. Looks like my only course of action is to pull the head again and have it inspected by a machine shop. If that clears I will then install the new head gasket with some Hightemp RTV. Unless of course I find out that that is a bad idea. Thanks for the input.