coolant leak under spyder after parking

[NancysToy]

Everyone is a comedian!! :>) I'll call Len at Cowtown to see if he swapped it out on me after Spyderfest.


Okay so a little more sleuthing and I found out where the "leak" is coming from - tried to take a picture. There is a little hole in the engine (again don't know what parts) and if I let the bike run for a 2-3 minutes I see occasional flows of what appears to be coolant in the area I have circled below.

View attachment 52569

I am proud that I was able to determine the source of the leaks is not any of the hoses - but now that I know where it is coming from - not sure what I am supposed to do next....

Thanks,
Brian

See your dealer. nojoke

 

[MikeinGA]

Mike please explain the "problem". I was under the understanding thats what happens if the oil is over filled.

My 2011 RS-S SE5 was getting so much oil in airbox it leaked out of the front of the box and dripped down on the front of the engine and ran to left side of the Spyder and dripped on the floor. This only happend when I did a lot of highway driving with the rpm over 5,800 rpm and thats 65 to 75 mph. I cleaned all the oil around the motor and trans. and check it every 150 miles. That's when I made a PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) filter and installed it. That ended the leak and no more oil in the airbox and I don't add any oil between oil changes and I have almost 10,000 miles on my Spyder.


Mike

 

[staysafeonline]

See your dealer. nojoke

Exchanged emails with Len and he indicated that it was a weep hole for when the coolant system can't vent (so a backup vent if you will). I (maybe stupidly) ran the bike at idle for about 2 minutes with the coolant cap off figuring it would need to vent (since there is no top) and still saw the seeping.

I guess I'll have to put her back together, park her until I can get an appointment at my local dealer.

I now understand how people feel when their spyder goes down. :banghead::banghead:

 

[Bob Denman]

Sorry... I couldn't help myself! pps: :roflblack:
I'm only here for the laughs; the REAL magicians in here are already talking to you about solving the problem. :thumbup:

 

[spyder stryder]

oil under spyder

So it is definitely the antifreeze - as I found pools of it inside the Spyder as I took more and more plastic off. I checked all the hoses from the coolant canister (and it isn't cracked - checked that) and didn't notice any "drips" on the hoses, but I did clean everything up.

This a pic of what I found about 1500 miles after my 600 mile service so I am guessing if there was a slightly loose hose that over 1500 miles it could drain my coolant almost completely right? (Cause I didn't check before - I will most certainly check now!)


For those that may be reading this thread later, here are some pics:

View attachment 52552
The above picture is of the "pan" that sits under this area? (Is this the thing that people don't put back to help further cool the engine.


View attachment 52553
I am not sure what that silver thing is (I have now done more mechanical work on my Spyder than I have ever done on any one the cars I own), but it has some coolant on it. Thinking it means coolant is coming from above or in front of this point - is my thinking right?

And Spyder Stryder - are you talking about he screw circled in this picture

View attachment 52554

I was able to get a small screw driver in there and turn that screw about 1 1/2 times but didn't want to over tighten it.

As always - a great forum filled with great - nay - amazing people!

Brian

That is the one,i understand that a lot of these clamps have been loose & leaked.

spyder stryder

 

[staysafeonline]

Just wanted to provide an update on my coolant puddles after riding. After talking with Len @ Cowtown he suggested I fill the coolant (it had gotten pretty low) and then ride the bike hard and keep an eye on the coolant. I did and continued to have a leak. Took me about a week to get it over to the local dealer (my fault, not theirs) and they had the bike from Tuesday until Saturday morning (busy week so though I missed my byke, didn't really keep me from riding). They ran the bike, rode the bike and never got any additional puddles. Picked up the bike on Saturday and rode it probably 15 miles (local road and highway) and didn't notice any pooling of coolant.

So what happened?

They think that when the coolant got low, air got into the system and only after I filled the coolant, rode it for a while did it stop leaking. They weren't committing to this being the answer, but because they couldn't get it TO leak, there wasn't much more they could offer.

They did confirm that:
- there is not a crack in the coolant resevoir
- they had some early RS's with slight cracks in some part on the engine that would cause the problem (sorry, I don't remember what part they said).

So we shall see - weather is nice and should have plenty of opportunities to ride and I'll be checking for leaks after every ride!

Thanks to everyone who offered ideas/suggestions.

 

[dliszews]

Oil under my Spyder usually means I pulled into a spot where a Harley was parked :roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:

 

[hotglue]

Are your SURE that you didn't buy a Spyder-Davidson??? :roflblack: :joke:

I don't think so..... FB's Spyder leaks oil.... and my Harley doesn't...

 

[boborgera]

I don't think so..... FB's Spyder leaks oil.... and my Harley doesn't...[
/QUOTE]


:agree:
My T/G with close to 12 thousand miles hasn't used/leaked a drop of oil.
But if it makes some happy to knock another product when they run out of things to say,
More power to them.

 

[gypsy_100]

Everyone is a comedian!! :>) I'll call Len at Cowtown to see if he swapped it out on me after Spyderfest.


Okay so a little more sleuthing and I found out where the "leak" is coming from - tried to take a picture. There is a little hole in the engine (again don't know what parts) and if I let the bike run for a 2-3 minutes I see occasional flows of what appears to be coolant in the area I have circled below.

View attachment 52569

I am proud that I was able to determine the source of the leaks is not any of the hoses - but now that I know where it is coming from - not sure what I am supposed to do next....

Thanks,
Brian

Excellent photo of the weep hole. Usually very difficult to see and even more difficult to photograph. Scotty is right -- see your dealer. I read your later posts where it seems to have cured itself. All I can suggest is keep an eye on the pan for small drips. It may take a lot more than 15 miles to show anything. The water pump shaft runs behind that weep hole and has a water seal on it to keep the water out (keep it in the cooling system) and an oil seal to keep the oil where it belongs. If either seal starts leaking, then water or oil will start dripping out of the weep hole. I know. I'm on my third water pump shaft and seal set. Each one has lasted 8,000 miles. Hopefully you're good to go and will have no more problems. But keep checking to be sure.

 

[Bob Denman]

I really wan't meaning to tweak anybody's tail... pps:
I laid down the ":joke:" card so's you know that it wall all in good (or not so good) fun!
pps: Sorry! pps:

But I did like the "Spyder-Davidson" name...

 

[boborgera]

I really wan't meaning to tweak anybody's tail... pps:
I laid down the ":joke:" card so's you know that it wall all in good (or not so good) fun!
pps: Sorry! pps:

But I did like the "Spyder-Davidson" name...

:thumbup:
:thumbup:

 

[hotglue]

I really wan't meaning to tweak anybody's tail... pps:
I laid down the ":joke:" card so's you know that it wall all in good (or not so good) fun!
pps: Sorry! pps:

But I did like the "Spyder-Davidson" name...

All good here Bob.... just dishing a little back.hyea:. LOL:thumbup:68K on the harley with no drips... .. no errors....

BTW..... I don't usually get stressed.... by I am a carrier...LOL:yikes:

 

[Warlock]

All good here Bob.... just dishing a little back.hyea:. LOL:thumbup:68K on the harley with no drips... .. no errors....

BTW..... I don't usually get stressed.... by I am a carrier...LOL:yikes:

Got to noticing Kathy's and it had a leak on the left side. Looks like the seal on the output shaft. Headed to New Orleans in the morning to get a seal and repair it tomorrow evening.
David

 

[staysafeonline]

Update: Issue not solved, went for a short ride today (5 miles) checked the coolant and it was low low low again (1/4" above minimum line). I filled it back up and at some point this week, I'll take it to the dealer after riding it for like 20 minutes so we can look at the leak happening together. I'll keep everyone posted.

 

[staysafeonline]

Update: Issue not solved, went for a short ride today (5 miles) checked the coolant and it was low low low again (1/4" above minimum line). I filled it back up and at some point this week, I'll take it to the dealer after riding it for like 20 minutes so we can look at the leak happening together. I'll keep everyone posted.

Call from the dealer indicates that the water pump has most likely so they are going to order the parts (and tools) to fix it. Will keep everyone posted.

 

[plescaille]

Call from the dealer indicates that the water pump has most likely so they are going to order the parts (and tools) to fix it. Will keep everyone posted.

Systemic problem
This problem may be as simple as tightening a hose clamp, it could be a cracked reservoir tank, but it is probable a problem with the mechanical seal known as water pump shaft. I own 2 2012 rts and both have the problem. Today while helping another board member deal with an improperly installed Bluetooth cell phone harness I told him to shine a light down to the tray near the fan and he too had antifreeze.


The shafts were on back order but have arrived at my dealer today. If they were on backorder it is because there is a high demand. the sad part is that most people don't even know they have a problem because it is a small leak coming from the weep hole.


Hopefully they can put my wife's bike back together on Monday and do mine on Tuesday.


This is a pretty significant job. See pic below It really should be a recall in my opinion. I called BRP when I was told the parts were on back order . They said they were available. The following day the dealer said they were released. I am pretty disappointed to say the least. We have missed 2 weekends of riding.


its worth a quick looking into.

 

[kentuckyguy]

Mine woud have a small amount of coolant as well.. Took it to the dealer an they checked it out an said that the top radiator hose clamp had broken causeing it to seep a bit...

 

[staysafeonline]

Systemic problem
This problem may be as simple as tightening a hose clamp, it could be a cracked reservoir tank, but it is probable a problem with the mechanical seal known as water pump shaft. I own 2 2012 rts and both have the problem. Today while helping another board member deal with an improperly installed Bluetooth cell phone harness I told him to shine a light down to the tray near the fan and he too had antifreeze.


The shafts were on back order but have arrived at my dealer today. If they were on backorder it is because there is a high demand. the sad part is that most people don't even know they have a problem because it is a small leak coming from the weep hole.


Hopefully they can put my wife's bike back together on Monday and do mine on Tuesday.


This is a pretty significant job. See pic below It really should be a recall in my opinion. I called BRP when I was told the parts were on back order . They said they were available. The following day the dealer said they were released. I am pretty disappointed to say the least. We have missed 2 weekends of riding.


its worth a quick looking into.

This is exactly what they said was going on with mine. They had to order the parts and a special tool to do the job. Here is hoping the parts won't take too long to arrive.

The good news is that I am leading a ride tomorrow and they are going to let me take their demo bike (which I thought was very nice!)

 

[gypsy_100]

This is exactly what they said was going on with mine. They had to order the parts and a special tool to do the job. Here is hoping the parts won't take too long to arrive.

The good news is that I am leading a ride tomorrow and they are going to let me take their demo bike (which I thought was very nice!)

Make sure your dealer notifies BRP of the water pump shaft problem. Obviously they should know it from parts shipments and warranty claims but they are asking for dealer input on the BRP/dealer website or blog, whatever it is. BRP started an "investigation" on this issue last Monday and is asking all dealers to provide input. My dealer checked yesterday and found the request online. As I stated in a post in a different thread, I am now on my third replacement shaft and it, too, has failed. Obviously BRP needs your dealer input while they try to figure out what is going on. Hopefully you won't have repeat problems like I do.