Weird oil leak around stator cover...any advice?

1385 Views 6 Replies 5 Participants Last post by AKBeemer, 21 d ago

BlueRidgeTiger

Discussion Starter · Sep 10, 2021

Hey everyone,

My 2017 F800 GS with 32,000 miles has developed a small oil leak around the front portion of the stator cover, just behind the exhaust pipe.

I first noticed this leak around December 2020. I had changed the oil the day before I noticed the seeping and assumed it was some oil that had splashed on the engine case from when I removed the oil filter. I cleaned the bike and all seemed well.

However, sometime later I noticed a new wet spot had developed in this same spot. Cleaned it off, kept riding. Checked oil levels, still sitting at "full" on the dip stick.

I'll clean the bike about once a month and it'll gradually come back.

I hit up ADV Rider about 6 weeks ago regarding the issue, they suggested I tighten the stator cover bolts. I bought a Haynes manual and tightened the stator cover bolts according to the procedure. Cleaned off the bike again and now 6 weeks later... the oil spot is back.

Not really sure what the deal is here. Research I've been doing hasnt been successful - cant seem to find anyone that has posted online with a similar issue.

Can anyone share some insight here? Picture attached.

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DJ123

· #2 · Sep 10, 2021

If it's only a spot, and not getting worse, (no bigger leak, and oil level not dropping) I'd carry on as is, and keep an eye on it.

I would re-do the torque settings though when the engine is warm, and see if that helps to nip up that seal.

Is it definitely coming form there, and not potentially running down/across from elsewhere? The talcum power test is good to show the trace of it.

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BlueRidgeTiger

Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 10, 2021

DJ123 said:
If it's only a spot, and not getting worse, (no bigger leak, and oil level not dropping) I'd carry on as is, and keep an eye on it.

I would re-do the torque settings though when the engine is warm, and see if that helps to nip up that seal.

Is it definitely coming form there, and not potentially running down/across from elsewhere? The talcum power test is good to show the trace of it.

Its definitely coming from somewhere in the area where the wet spot is.

The bolt on the stator cover that has the most saturation around it (2nd one from the bottom) has 3 seams just behind it from what it looks like. The vertical seam where the stator cover mates to the engine, and then a horizontal seam where the oil sump pan is bolted on. I'm wondering if its the stator cover or the oil sump pan.

Either way, I'll go warm the engine up and retorque the stator cover and oil pan bolts.

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DJ123

· #4 · Sep 11, 2021

Wors case scenario, might jsut have to replace the stator gasket & oil pan gasket. Relatively easy jobs and non expensive IIRC.

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Gezzzza

· #5 · 22 d ago

BlueRidgeTiger said:
Hey everyone,

My 2017 F800 GS with 32,000 miles has developed a small oil leak around the front portion of the stator cover, just behind the exhaust pipe.

I first noticed this leak around December 2020. I had changed the oil the day before I noticed the seeping and assumed it was some oil that had splashed on the engine case from when I removed the oil filter. I cleaned the bike and all seemed well.

However, sometime later I noticed a new wet spot had developed in this same spot. Cleaned it off, kept riding. Checked oil levels, still sitting at "full" on the dip stick.

I'll clean the bike about once a month and it'll gradually come back.

I hit up ADV Rider about 6 weeks ago regarding the issue, they suggested I tighten the stator cover bolts. I bought a Haynes manual and tightened the stator cover bolts according to the procedure. Cleaned off the bike again and now 6 weeks later... the oil spot is back.

Not really sure what the deal is here. Research I've been doing hasnt been successful - cant seem to find anyone that has posted online with a similar issue.

Can anyone share some insight here? Picture attached.

View attachment 374317

I would check it's not the chain lube splashing!

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Reactions: 1

guenner

· #6 · 22 d ago

Remove the bolt where the leak starts (2nd from top).

Check for any fine crack in the area of the hole.

If none then loosen all the bolts of the cover by about half a turn. Move the cover left-right and up-down a bit to get a better seat between the gasket and the cover. If bolts still too tight to do the shifting then loosen the bolts a bit more. Then start torqueing all the bolts beginning with the bolt mentioned on top. If you're lucky that might do it. If not...replace the gasket.

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AKBeemer

· #7 · 21 d ago

This thread was idle for 20 months, so perhaps the OP has resolved his issue, and with a total of 4 posts it doesn’t appear he spends much time here.

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