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Technically Speaking => General Technical discussion => Topic started by: mlivkovich on Tuesday, 13 July 2021, 07:32 PM

Title: Oil leak detection
Post by: mlivkovich on Tuesday, 13 July 2021, 07:32 PM
Maybe someone find this helpful...
I noticed that my oil cooler leaked a  few drops of oil after ride. It leaked in bottom LH area near oil pipe and I had to inspect and find exact spot of leakage. Cleaned everything with brake cleaner and let it dry. Then put some powder talc and after 15 mins on idle a leakage spot showed up! Luckily, rubber o ring gave up but I alredy ordered new cooler and braided lines as I'll need them in future project
:cheers:
Title: Re: Oil leak detection
Post by: Hooli on Tuesday, 13 July 2021, 07:50 PM
Right where they all go eventually. I had two standard ones go there so fitted a different type with triangular end tanks, that makes it much better & it's not failed since.
Title: Re: Oil leak detection
Post by: GSXKING on Thursday, 15 July 2021, 05:34 PM
Had it had impact with anything or just happened out of the blue  :whatever: :whatever:
Title: Re: Oil leak detection
Post by: mlivkovich on Thursday, 15 July 2021, 10:44 PM
It just happened, even oil cooler cover is untouched  :whatever:
Title: Re: Oil leak detection
Post by: Hooli on Thursday, 15 July 2021, 11:10 PM
Yeah, it's the expansion & contraction of the cooler due to the heat of the oil, they crack as they're made of monkey metal. I've found they manage about 50k miles before failure.
Title: Re: Oil leak detection
Post by: mlivkovich on Thursday, 15 July 2021, 11:16 PM
Hooli you were right! First test told me that its only o-ring failure but after good clean and new o-rings, oil leaked 1 cm above  :frustrated:
Obviously bad design, my bike has 61tkm so far
Title: Re: Oil leak detection
Post by: Eric GSX1400K3 on Thursday, 15 July 2021, 11:24 PM
Quote from: Hooli on Thursday, 15 July  2021, 11:10 PM
Yeah, it's the expansion & contraction of the cooler due to the heat of the oil, they crack as they're made of monkey metal. I've found they manage about 50k miles before failure.

Good to know Mr.Hooli, my K3 is at 48000km
Title: Re: Oil leak detection
Post by: Hooli on Friday, 16 July 2021, 12:08 AM
Quote from: mlivkovich on Thursday, 15 July  2021, 11:16 PM
Hooli you were right! First test told me that its only o-ring failure but after good clean and new o-rings, oil leaked 1 cm above  :frustrated:
Obviously bad design, my bike has 61tkm so far

Sorry to hear it, but I'm not surprised. I've seen so many fail over the years & it's almost always the bottom left corner.

My replacement was from Aaron Rads in the UK but I'm sure you could get one made a lot more locally & probably cheaper.
Title: Re: Oil leak detection
Post by: mlivkovich on Friday, 16 July 2021, 12:19 AM
New cooler is already home, its a 330x150x50mm universal cooler, smaller than oem but i've seen it on other bikes and they work ok. I am in proces of making bracket for cooler and fan and making oil lines, few more hours of work and time to test it. I am still trying to decide what route will lines go  :cheers:
Title: Re: Oil leak detection
Post by: Hooli on Friday, 16 July 2021, 12:20 AM
Looks a similar size to the HEL one, does it foul the yokes on full lock? the HEL does as it's thicker than standard.
Title: Re: Oil leak detection
Post by: mlivkovich on Friday, 16 July 2021, 12:34 AM
I don't know yet, bike is still on table. It probably would need new steering stops on bottom yoke. I had to make new ones when put USD forks but I'll know as soon as lines and cooler are finished.
Title: Re: Oil leak detection
Post by: Globalrider on Friday, 16 July 2021, 02:45 AM
Had mine go in Spain - exactly the same area. What an ordeal that was and never did get to Portugal!!
Title: Re: Oil leak detection
Post by: grog on Friday, 16 July 2021, 05:49 PM
Mliv, will watch with interest. Im thinking i should do similar before mine leaks. Mate owns radiator shop, can get coolers any size.
Title: Re: Oil leak detection
Post by: Eric GSX1400K3 on Friday, 16 July 2021, 06:16 PM
Quote from: grog on Friday, 16 July  2021, 05:49 PM
Mliv, will watch with interest. Im thinking i should do similar before mine leaks. Mate owns radiator shop, can get coolers any size.
Grog, same here, that would be ideal to have new one made to same size as oem.  I'd buy one if you go ahead with that.
Title: Re: Oil leak detection
Post by: grog on Friday, 16 July 2021, 06:31 PM
Eric, ill have an ask next week. Gotta be cheaper than cooler prices for 14.
Title: Re: Oil leak detection
Post by: Globalrider on Saturday, 17 July 2021, 02:05 AM
Quote from: Eric GSX1400K3 on Friday, 16 July  2021, 06:16 PM
Quote from: grog on Friday, 16 July  2021, 05:49 PM
Mliv, will watch with interest. Im thinking i should do similar before mine leaks. Mate owns radiator shop, can get coolers any size.
Grog, same here, that would be ideal to have new one made to same size as oem.  I'd buy one if you go ahead with that.
After it happened to me I bought a spare - so far my No.1 bike is still in good order.
Title: Re: Oil leak detection
Post by: Hooli on Saturday, 17 July 2021, 02:23 AM
Quote from: Eric GSX1400K3 on Friday, 16 July  2021, 06:16 PM
Quote from: grog on Friday, 16 July  2021, 05:49 PM
Mliv, will watch with interest. Im thinking i should do similar before mine leaks. Mate owns radiator shop, can get coolers any size.
Grog, same here, that would be ideal to have new one made to same size as oem.  I'd buy one if you go ahead with that.

Mine is standard sized just with triangular end tanks. A normal cooler cover fits fine, except for a slight trim at the top - they left the bracket up to the bolts complete rather than trimming the middle out as per Suzuki.
Title: Re: Oil leak detection
Post by: mlivkovich on Saturday, 17 July 2021, 05:25 AM
Little update.
Cooler, lines and fan mounted. I used an10 150° fittings on top side and for lower side I cut off old hoses and went to local hydraulic shop to make crimp joints. They said they are out of crimp collars that I need :evil:
I had to improvise and I put 3 crimp clamps on each hose, it holds so far, no leaks after 25 mins on idle, happy with that :boogie:
Also noticed small problem with forks touching fittings as they are on top of cooler. I'll have to lower it 2 cm to make room for forks. After all, happy with new mod/fix!  I just need to put all bolts that are holding cooler to homemade brackets :cheers: