Now it's an oil leak..

[bmwusmc]

Noticed oil droppings this AM after my ride after the LT sat for a couple of hours..
Removed skid plate to try and find leak source but no luck.
It doesn't look like it's coming from the center stand which worked ok after the ride..
The fluid looks like oil (dark, synthetic type) and I have noticed that the oil level dropped a little from my middle mark..
Any ideas as to what might be the source? Engine runs ok..
Will remove lower tupperware tomorrow to see what I else I can trace it to..
TIA..

[cfell]

Did you replace the o-ring when you changed the oil and filter? Is it possible one of the screws that hold the Filter cover in place are weakening or loose?

[wilbar00c]

Just wipe the "belly of the beast" (engine/trans) with paper towels and "Q" tips after each ride, and after a few rides you will know what area gets wet with oil first. 05's are noted for leaking at that powered center stand. The wind blows weeping oil around. You can always diaper the center stand (tie-wrap a small rag) on one of the rides to eliminate that area. Happy investigation.

[bmwusmc]

I checked the oil fitler cover and did replace the O ring at the last oil/filter change.
The screws look to be ok and snug. Have never unscrewed the oil drain plug and all these areas look to free of any leaks.
It seemed to me that the leaks were a little bit aft of this area.
Will have a better look tomorrow for the leaking area.
My thought: leaking from a gasket? or a cracked case(hope not)?
thanks for suggestions, Deacon..

[dmatson]

I had a few drops on the ground on my 05' and it turned out to be the trans out-put seal which was replaced under warranty.

[cfell]

I checked the oil fitler cover and did replace the O ring at the last oil/filter change..... leaking from a gasket? or a cracked case(hope not)?
thanks for suggestions, Deacon..

Ok.. time for some "personal administration" time...

Check between engine and tranny... if you have a mirror this is the time to use it... saves getting totally prone on the ground... Check between engine and tranny for ANY leaks... If you spot any that seem to originate there, then get to the dealership. If it is under warranty, don't delay... get the Dealer to document it....

If you can't pick out any well defined point of origin, then the next may be something you want to tackle..

1- Get some "WD-40" and GUNK engine de-greaser and some "Simple Green" or other good oil cutting soap that is kind to aluminum.
2- remove tupperware with bike in a "wash down" area
3- douse area where engine and tranny meet with the WD-40 then the GUNK
4- Wash area with soap and lots and lots of water (pretend you have your rifle in the shower with you... a good cleaning
5- reassemble
6- Check for more leakage as you ride it... remember... take a mirror along...

You may get by just washing the underside of the bike and rechecking for leaks...

[danbrown]

You don't have a oil leak...someone has been parking a harley there.

[Taz]

Dear Roy ,

Just maybe you have your Rear Main Engine Seal leaking ( the fix is they take the back half of your motor apart and replace a seal ) .

If you are using oil meaning after 300 to 400 miles you have to add a small amount of oil to keep the level in the middle of the oil site glass and you have oil on your kick stand etc , my story is this...

My oil seal went out at 125083 miles
The cost to fix it is high
I have 141300 mile on her today
So it has been leaking now for over 16000 miles
My weekly ride is 480 miles and I add oil once per week
When it gets bad under the belly I take off the lower plastic and clean her
When you have to fix it is when your clutch starts to slip I think.
I'm on the wife's budget savings plan to make my repair so we will see how long my 99 LT keeps rolling before my clutch goes !!!

[bmwusmc]

Wiped it down this AM and went out for a 65 mile ride at speeds up to 75mph.

Took off skid plate and there definitely is a leak(oil?)..Took lower tuppreware off and inspected..fluid is not coming from oil filter cover plate or the oil drain plug although there was a drop on the plug..

wiped it down again and went around the block without the lowering fairing but no significant fluid accumulation that could lead to a source..

Think maybe Taz could be right but (dumb/blind me) I can't seem to find the tranny drain plug..it's supposed to be somewhere around the center stand, right?

Oh, there is no leaking around the FD or points forward from there that I could see. Not being an experienced wrench, I can't vouch for where the tranny and engine connects. There is oil accumulated(caked) just aft of the engine and center stand location..

Trying to set up an appointment with an independent wrench who has worked on BMR's before..

Hope I'm not being too wordy but the more info available, maybe someone can relate to it and point me in the right direction..

TIA to all again for any assistance as my budget is similar to Taz's..

[Schweintechnik]

My gut feeling is that you have a rear main seal leak - exactly what I had three months ago. Like Taz said, you can continue to ride and feed it oil until your clutch starts slipping. I probably put another 1,000 miles on mine after the clutch started slipping in 5th under load, and likely could have continued to pile on the miles, but I was overcome by foolish optimism and thought I could swap out the clutch in a weekend (http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26171), so I put the beast on the lift and tore into it. I'm on a limited budget of money and time, so here we are, three months later, and I'm just now getting the tupperware back on. That said, while I was in the process of replacing the RMS and clutch, I also replaced the tranny seals (one twice because I seated it too deep), the clutch slave cylinder, the crankcase vent hose, a few O-rings around the throttles, exhaust header nuts, re-welded a broken header flange, drilled the weep hole, modified the gas cap, mounted a new rear tire, replaced fuel & air filters, upgraded the throttle cables, did a complete canisterectomy (all the way to the throttle bodies), and took care of other miscellaneous stuff I discovered along the way.

The silver lining to all this is that I really know my bike now, and I could do it much more quickly (and correctly on the first pass) if I had to again.

Your tranny drain plug is directly over the center stand pivot bracket and is a bit of a pain to access. Excellent instructions and a clear photo of the drain plug are given in Mark Neblett's write-up (http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/articles.php?action=viewarticle&artid=4) in the Articles section.
Good luck to ya.

Wiped it down this AM and went out for a 65 mile ride at speeds up to 75mph.

Took off skid plate and there definitely is a leak(oil?)..Took lower tuppreware off and inspected..fluid is not coming from oil filter cover plate or the oil drain plug although there was a drop on the plug..

wiped it down again and went around the block without the lowering fairing but no significant fluid accumulation that could lead to a source..

Think maybe Taz could be right but (dumb/blind me) I can't seem to find the tranny drain plug..it's supposed to be somewhere around the center stand, right?

Oh, there is no leaking around the FD or points forward from there that I could see. Not being an experienced wrench, I can't vouch for where the tranny and engine connects. There is oil accumulated(caked) just aft of the engine and center stand location..

Trying to set up an appointment with an independent wrench who has worked on BMR's before..

Hope I'm not being too wordy but the more info available, maybe someone can relate to it and point me in the right direction..

TIA to all again for any assistance as my budget is similar to Taz's..

[bmwusmc]

Thanks, Dave..for the link and advice..Well, it's off to a BMW svc dept..
I have the Pinnacle coverage so I think I'll contact them and get it approved..
The link you provided is great..Oil change and FD I can do but the tranny oil change is beyond my in-house equipment/area means..
Thanks to all..I guess I'll just ride it till I can get it fixed..