coolant leak under spyder after parking

[staysafeonline]

So I recently noticed there is a small pool of oil (at least I think it is oil) that appears under the Spyder when I park. It seems like it isn't really leaking more like there is a liquid coming out of the little tube that comes through the frame -- and the frame area seems to be lightly coated with the liquid. I haven't verified this 100% yet, but it seems like the "leaking on the floor" is more coming off the frame (as opposed to it falling directly down from the tube).

Checked the oil level and it looks to be pretty good (have about 2000 miles since the 600 mile service)

Thanks to those who can provide insight - you all rock!

 

[donnellpj]

You're not alone

I have this also. The pooling never gets much larger than ,..a silver dollar, maybe, and it definitely has a petroleum smell and feel to it.

I checked my oil as well when I saw it, and that seemed fine, so it's some kind of coolant over flow or something. I haven't really been able to trace it back the source yet.

 

[Bob Denman]

:shocked:
I honestly would like to suggest that you guys should both be doing a little bit of digging to see just exactly what's going on under there...
After all; they ain't supposed to leak nuthin!
Please let us know what you find, and GOOD LUCK! :thumbup:

 

[boborgera]

I would guess it's coming from the evap canister tube.
Do a search, Theres a lot of info on that.

 

[JJW SpyderRider]

Small leak to big mess

Check the seal on the ECU filter cover. My new RT came with small leak from a non-descript location. I could not see where it came from but over a short time it became a huge spray of oil all over the side of the :f_spider:. The seal was pinched new the righthand side screw. The leak could only been seen when the engine was running and hot.

 

[MikeinGA]

So I recently noticed there is a small pool of oil (at least I think it is oil) that appears under the Spyder when I park. It seems like it isn't really leaking more like there is a liquid coming out of the little tube that comes through the frame -- and the frame area seems to be lightly coated with the liquid. I haven't verified this 100% yet, but it seems like the "leaking on the floor" is more coming off the frame (as opposed to it falling directly down from the tube).

Checked the oil level and it looks to be pretty good (have about 2000 miles since the 600 mile service)

Thanks to those who can provide insight - you all rock!

Check the right front of the air box for oil, if it's wet with oil, you got a problem.


Mike

 

[waytootall67]

Check the right front of the air box for oil, if it's wet with oil, you got a problem.


Mike

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

 

[boborgera]

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

If you over fill the oil at high revs it has a tendency to blow into the air box [blow bye] and then drip out the bottom of the air box [weep hole lower right side of the air box]' But the OP said it was coming out of a tube, Which i would think the OP', problem is the evap canister vent tube, Which will be a mixture of condensation and gas.!

 

[J W Miller]

My 2010 RTS had a drip after a ride about the size of a half dollar. Found oil was coming from high up on left side of the motor. Water pump o ring seal on the water pump shaft. Repair included new pump drive shaft and a bunch of new seals and gaskets.Extended warranty took care of it which was $ 400 to $450.

 

[SilverSpyder]

I had a small drip problem and it turned out to be the O-ring seal on the cap where the oil is checked & filled. Simple problem, no cost solution!

 

[USRanger]

Nuthiin'

Guys, Gals, Look at the instructions on your Oil Can, Are you checking your oil when the engine is cool, or after some time? Then the level has gone down and you're overfilling. Oil goes thru our airbox and some gets lost, like on all bikes, and if you overfill it pukes out, but since our engine is covered, it stays there. Look at your engine, if it's oily, there's your culprit. FYI, keep an eye on your coolant bottle, prior to 2010 the plastic was cheap and it cracked, you will start seeing small green puddles.

 

[staysafeonline]

Sorry for the delay - been out of town. Took some of the plastic off this morning and noticed pretty quickly that my coolant is nearly empty so I am betting/guessing that what I am seeing is coolant. It has been a few days since I rode my byke, but I felt the overflow tube and it doesn't appear to have any liquid in it so I guess I'll take some additional plastic off this morning to check a few other things - and maybe run her with the plastic off to see if I see anything actively leaking. I am going to check to see if the coolant canister is cracked (read several reports of that) but if anyone has any ideas of specific places I should look - I'd welcome your expertise and guidance.

What I do know is that whatever is leaking is causing liquid to coat the frame piece under the bike with a fine sheen - and in some cases it accumulates enough to start to drip. So I am thinking - something leaks, the leaking gets blown onto the frame and then once it accumulates enough it drips.

BTW, when I checked the oil I had allowed the engine to run for a about 5 minutes to get the temp up to operating temp.

Thanks in advance and I'll be sure to keep everyone posted on what I find/do. (I do know I am going to head to the dealer this morning to get some more coolant).

Thanks,
Brian

P.S. We are talking about a 2012 RS.

 

[NancysToy]

Sorry for the delay - been out of town. Took some of the plastic off this morning and noticed pretty quickly that my coolant is nearly empty so I am betting/guessing that what I am seeing is coolant. It has been a few days since I rode my byke, but I felt the overflow tube and it doesn't appear to have any liquid in it so I guess I'll take some additional plastic off this morning to check a few other things - and maybe run her with the plastic off to see if I see anything actively leaking. I am going to check to see if the coolant canister is cracked (read several reports of that) but if anyone has any ideas of specific places I should look - I'd welcome your expertise and guidance.

What I do know is that whatever is leaking is causing liquid to coat the frame piece under the bike with a fine sheen - and in some cases it accumulates enough to start to drip. So I am thinking - something leaks, the leaking gets blown onto the frame and then once it accumulates enough it drips.

BTW, when I checked the oil I had allowed the engine to run for a about 5 minutes to get the temp up to operating temp.

Thanks in advance and I'll be sure to keep everyone posted on what I find/do. (I do know I am going to head to the dealer this morning to get some more coolant).

Thanks,
Brian

P.S. We are talking about a 2012 RS.

Check to see that your coolant cap is properly seated. It has to be at the second detent. If not, it will blow off coolant under pressure. make sure you don't overfill the coolant. It needs room for expansion. The tank is marked with the proper levels.

 

[oldgoat]

Antifreeze will wash off with water, oil won't, so it is easy to tell the difference between them..

 

[staysafeonline]

Oil under spyder after parking

Dealer only had Honda coolant which is a 50/50 blend. Any problems using this with the existing coolant (know the shop manual says to not mix coolant brands)?

 

[spyder stryder]

oil under spyder

Guys
When you have oil or coolant leaking from the right side this is where it
useally comes from. Coolant will leak from the top rear radiator hose
that has the screw clamp on it. Most times it only need a couple of
rounds to tighten it up. If you take the snap off panel off the right side
( just like the left side oil snap off panel) you can look in & up a little
to see this clamp. On the oil leak look at the right side of the engine
where you see the water pump then go forward just below the pump
to the front of the engine where the clutch housing bolts to the side of
the main engine case & check this gasket it will leak & the oil will run
down & spread around the area of the overflow tube & onto the frame.

spyder stryder

 

[NancysToy]

Dealer only had Honda coolant which is a 50/50 blend. Any problems using this with the existing coolant (know the shop manual says to not mix coolant brands)?

Any 50:50 blend of ethylene glycol antifreeze/deionized water, that is listed on the label as safe for aluminum engines, will work.

 

[staysafeonline]

It's definitely coolant.... pics

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:


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.



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



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

 

[Bob Denman]

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

 

[staysafeonline]

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

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.



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