robert@sri-spam.UUCP (09/10/86)
Yes, it's me again, the person who bought the FZ600 and is having problems with it. My newest question is this; This morning I noticed that there is oil leaking out of the valve cover (near where the exhaust pipe clamps to the head), on the left, outer cylinder. There is also oil blow by on the inner surface of the faring in that side. The other side is showing a little oil, but on the engine only and not the faring. My question is, could I have a blown head gasket, or something worse? Or is a little oil leakage like this normal? Any help would be greatly appreciated before I take the bike into Yamaha again. Their test riders get more time on the bike then I do. Thanks, Robert Allen, robert@sri-spam.ARPA
curry@nsc.UUCP (Ray Curry) (09/11/86)
You neglect to quantify the amount of oil. First of all since its coming from the valve (cam cover), its not a great problem unless the amount is relatively high. If is shows wet clear oil, as opposed to dry oilish powder, that is too high. The danger is that oil level can drop too quickly. If its the oily powder, then its no problem other than cosmetic. The gasket was probably scratched in the last installation. Reused gaskets will do that sometimes with a small tear. Since oil pressure is high, the oil will come out very small scratches. The cover bolts could have been not torque closely enough together or in the wrong pattern as well. I use a 120 inch pound torque wrench myself on all covers. The dry powder is realatively normal because of temperature cycling and most engines left unwashed will show signs eventually. Every engine type has its own preference for cover installation and gasket replacement to minimize seepage except old English which used gasket materials that scrubbed with temperature cycling immediately.