Re: Initial start up
Originally Posted by Bladecutter
I have a motorcycle with over 50k miles on it that is 22 years old sitting in my garage for the last 3 years, and it doesn't seep anything at all. If your 5 year old car is seeping oil, there is something wrong with your car. Bat's 10 year old PT Cruiser doesn't leak or seep any oil. BC.
So I can safely assume that the motorcycle is not a Triumph. 
Originally Posted by learnin
I noticed this problem through the winter. For about six weeks, I didn't drive much. It would set for about 10-12 days, then, I would start it up and take it for a drive. Noticed a small amount of smoke and oil smell. Opened hood and noticed oil, on left side of block. Cleaned it up, tightened cover just a bit and it's been fine. I think what happens is that it gets down to 10 degrees, metal shrinks, you start it up and it expands, thus, leak. Since it's warmed up and I tweaked the covers a bit, no more leak.
When the metal shrinks or expands we can generally average out the effects on gaps and say that they will remain about the same. The oil will leak out of gaps, we are talking of a very small change in size, negligible in fact.
Tweaking the bolts will have had an effect far far more than contraction and expansion.
The RTV gasket should be an even thickness when applied to the surface so that it is evenly crushed, any thin area will have little compression on it and will be the first to leak. Conversely thick areas will not allow compression of the thinner areas.
Last edited by onehundred80; Apr 5, 2011 at 10:37 AM.