Oil dripping out of the frame

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ThomasDM
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Joined: Tue Oct 22, 2019 8:03 am
What Bike or Bikes Do You Own?: 1987 Yamaha XT600z Ténéré.

Oil dripping out of the frame

Post by ThomasDM »

Hey guys!

Quick question here; I did my first oil change of the 1vj since I got him. I did the oil change on a paddock stand as I haven’t got a center stand. I opened up the oil drain plug at the oil tank and maybe 2 minutes later, oil started dripping at the other side of the bike out of a random hole in the frame as well. I never noticed any oil loss around that area before. After doing the complete oil change and putting it back on its side stand, it started dripping oil again slowly until it stopped after some minutes. Now 2 days later and about 100km of driving, it still drips an oil drop once in a while. I checked the oil level and that still looks good.

Is this normal? And do you guys also have this hole? It’s right next to the side stand close to the mounting of the bashplate.

Thanks guys!
Thomas

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scottieh
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Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2011 3:58 am
What Bike or Bikes Do You Own?: 1988 XT600Z 3AJ
1987 XT600Z 1VJ
1985 XT 600
1980 TT500
1980 XT250
2001 KTM 300XC
Previously Owned Bikes: 1982 XT550
1981 TT250
1989 Yamaha Virago 750
1994 DR650
1980 Suzuki GR650
1997 KLR 250
1986 Honda Spree
Location: Salt Lake City

Re: Oil dripping out of the frame

Post by scottieh »

I’m going to venture a guess and say when you drained the oil from the oil tank you didn’t place a redirect funnel underneath the hole? These side mount oil reserve tanks have a bad tendency to spout oil directly onto the frame or swingarm, which can then run down to the lowest point, which on the left hand side is the spot you indicated. Since the maintenance was done on a stand the oil probably pooled up under the frame point and some oil stuck around. That same hole in the frame can also harbor water from rainy roads or water crossings and may even stay in the frame until the bike is tipped over to the far left side. I have definitely seen water come out a day or two after a rainy ride.

All that said there are no oil lines connected into the frame on the 1vj so I wouldn’t worry too much about it other than to keep an eye on how the oil drains out of the tank next time.
ThomasDM
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What Bike or Bikes Do You Own?: 1987 Yamaha XT600z Ténéré.

Re: Oil dripping out of the frame

Post by ThomasDM »

Hi Scottieh,

Indeed, it dripped out of the tank onto the frame down into the oil container. That definitely makes sense and is probably the case. I was first searching for a place where it crosses from right to left and couldn’t see any place where it did this. I haven’t checked for ways how it could end up into the frame and get out at that side. But yeah, that’s probably what’s up.

Cheers for giving me a peace of mind!
motorang
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What Bike or Bikes Do You Own?: XT600Z 1VJ
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Re: Oil dripping out of the frame

Post by motorang »

The drain plug is inside a hollow screw you can unscrew to form a spout.
Same on the 3AJ.

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This is from the 3AJ owners manual
Andy
Chop your own wood and it will warm you twice (Henry Ford)
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