Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

The oil also seems to stain the engine and form this whitish crust... Corné Kloppers 0849130391 ckloppers@gmail.com

Better get it sorted before we hit the West Coast trip my friend.... Johan de Jager "It's all about the ride, nothing else"

Please do not go to any public places. ;-) If you have to, do it after dark and look for some place the HD's usually park.

I had Brenda Buttercup coughing up oil into her airbox, and she was ridden like that for months before I finally found someone who could fix the problem (Atlantic Motorrad). There was no harm done to the engine - though the original cause of the problem cost R10k to fix (the counterbalance shaft oil seal in the middle of the crankcase). Don't fret Corne, Brenda had 80 000 km on the clock at the time and the problem is caused by old-age. You appear to have a gasket or head bolt problem, or possibly a cracked head. As long as there is no water in your oil, and you keep it topped up, the bike should be fine. Only 6 days to go and let's hope it is fixed before the West Coast Trip. Brenda, Mr. Badger and I are holding thumbs for you :) Website Administrator [http://honeybadger.net Honey Badger IT Services]

If I could I would sort it out TODAY! Atlantic is VERY BUSY! Shane is on leave and they have bikes to take out of crates! I was there AGAIN today with the hope of somebody looking at my bike... no luck :-( Corné Kloppers 0849130391 ckloppers@gmail.com

Thanks Charles ;-) Corné Kloppers 0849130391 ckloppers@gmail.com

Why not try one of the other dealers if you are that concerned. But I concur with Charles, my truck (sorry, bikes hopefully to new to have oil leaks) came back from the Buffelspoort with an oil leak, it was quite severe at first but has now let up a bit, I was told it was the rear main engine seal and it was not worth it to spend the monies to take the gearbox and everything out to fix it. Was also told to just check the oil regularly and the truck will be fine. As long as there is oil for lubrication and water for cooling and the two are not mixed, you should have no problems, just don't try one of these additives that are supposed to fix leaks etc. They will fix my truck when I finally need a clutch or something which still could be a long way off. Until then, I check oil every trip.

Thanks for the advice :-) Well Donford is a bit far for me and Hamman can't supply me with a loan bike... I will hang in there until next week :-) I just don't like seeing oil leaks from my bike! PS. how am I suppose to ensure that the oil don't mix with the water? huh? Corné Kloppers 0849130391 ckloppers@gmail.com

If there is water in your crank oil when you check it (the oil will be an opaque brown), then it means that there is a leak in your cooling system between the crank (which should be oily), and the water jacket around the cylinder (which should be watery). This means big problems and imminent damage to the bike if you run the engine. So just monitor the oil to see whether the problem is really serious or just minor. Website Administrator [http://honeybadger.net Honey Badger IT Services]

Oil and water don't mix. :wink:

I said it wrong, when a seal is leaking or a gasket blows and either oil gets in to the water system or water gets into the oil they will mix, and like Charles said, you get a creamy brown colored oil which indicates water in your oil and problems. Also check your radiator for signs the same creamy color usually in the radiator cap and around the filler hole. This will indicate oil in your water system, also problems. Don't open this though when the engine is hot.

Check the oil tank above the engine (pipes; filler cap-seal etc.)

I've taken the panels off last night to clean and inspect. From what I can see it's definitely not a gasket or cracked head... The oil seems to drip from a pipe. Corné Kloppers 0849130391 ckloppers@gmail.com

Remove all the covers ("tank") and check the tappet cover.I once helped someone with the same problem.The tappet cover is plastic and for some reason it lifts on the front.Remove the tappet cover and clean it.Put some heat resistant silcone on the cover and put the whole lot together again.I think your'e sitting with the same problem,but if you remove all the covers you should be able to see where the leak is comming from.We also thought it was the pipe from the oil resrvoir but after we removed all the covers we discoverd that it was the tappet cover.

Some feedback - My bike went to Atlantic and Shane found the problem... Leaking battery acid! The battery is ruptured - how it happened and where the oil came from, God knows :-) Anyway, Shane cleaned everything up, taped the battery up so that I can do the West Coast trip and he is busy working on a warranty claim... New battery, some `acid` rusted engine bolts etc. Corné Kloppers 0849130391 ckloppers@gmail.com

Interesting! Are you sure it was oil and not perished rubber? Looks similar. Check your pipes for your claim. ''The world needs dreamers that DO!''

Could be, if it was some pipe/rubber/seal that got eaten away it sure as hell doesn't affect the bike :-) I'm still riding :-) The `leak` did stop a few days before the bike went in... some I'm pretty sure it was perished rubber and not oil. Anyway, Shane assured me I will be fine for the West Coats trip. Corné Kloppers 0849130391 ckloppers@gmail.com

I should have know better, a 650 don't leak oil ;-) he he Corné Kloppers 0849130391 ckloppers@gmail.com

MMmmmmwwwwhhaaaa ha ha ha ha ............. Corne you liar !!! You were as nervous as a lamb in the deepest thickest woods hearing 1 000 wolf calls around it would be .....about your bike. West Coast...we'll see !! Looking forward to it. Johan de Jager "It's all about the ride, nothing else"

Shane from Atlantic phoned me yesterday. The warranty claim has been approved. New battery, battery mount bracket (eaten away by acid), tappet cover (eaten away by acid), engine bolts and few more things. The amount of damage battery acid can do is scary! Shane, Thank you for the assistance! Corné Kloppers 0849130391 ckloppers@gmail.com

Hey Corné, carry on like this and soon your whole bike will be replaced with new parts!! ;) At the front of every adventure is a BMW

At least I can say BMW honour the warranty ;-) How long is the warranty? Corné Kloppers 0849130391 ckloppers@gmail.com

24 months At the front of every adventure is a BMW

Ruptured battery? Wonder what may be the cause of this? Maybe overheating due to changes in voltage from alternator? Maybe a good idea to have this tested? Would be interresting to know what is the cause of this. regards

This weekend on the West coast ride the breather pipe slipped off the battery on the right hand side and leaked freakin battery acid ALL OVER!! stained the engine, stripped paint off the frame! HUGE cosmetic damage! EISH!! Corné Kloppers 0849130391 ckloppers@gmail.com

Ugh Corne, Thats terrible mate - I hope you were able to do some form of damage control to prevent it from spreading!

Well when we got there I took the panels off, cleaned as much as I could, and put the breather pipe back. I gave the breather pipe a bit more slack by pulling it up towards the battery. That will hopefully prevent the pipe from slipping off should the battery move around on rough terrain. I also clamped it down with a cable tie. But the damage has been done. My bike will hopefully go in this week for the original warranty claim however now there are more damage due to the battery. I don't think you can get those acid stain marks off the engine? And the paint is stripped off the frame, how can that be fixed? Corné Kloppers 0849130391 ckloppers@gmail.com

Hi Corne Had the same problem on my Dak with the breather pipe on the battery that came off. Was on a trip to the Karoo going up Ouberg Pass. Acid all over the engine, so I am also looking for some way to repair the damage....Anyone?? One more thing as my bike has about the same milage..Check the nut on the rear brake leaver, mine came off completely over the week-end, seems the vibration are to blame.

Hi Corne, Studies have shown that dirty animals are healthier than the ones cleaned more frequently. I think you are cleaning your bike to often mate :) "There is just something about riding a motorcycle, something I can't explain, but that it's just so good for one's soul... " Ewan Mcgregor - 2007

Tony T - I agree with your 'less is more approach' - had my Dakar 3 months, and it had it's first clean only yesterday, and even then I cleaned it reluctantly! After having a minor 'side stand incident' at Nelsons Creek, it had to be cleaned, mud everywhere. Now to get it, and keep it, dirty! http://www.themanorcottage.co.za