Is my bike F'ed

Splash

Splash

Well-known member
Take the bike out of winter storage. I noticed antifreeze on the floor. Then I noticed where it's coming from.

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It's a 2005 Kawasaki Z750. Is there a fix or does the engine need to come out now?
 
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might just need a new valve cover gasket, and if the amount is small you can ride it until it really starts to leak bad.

BB
 
likely just the gasket, but inspect the valve cover for a crack. Watch the torque on the bolts when you put it back on. Inexpensive fix today, could be a hassle tomorrow. Remember the coolant pressurizes. When the temperature goes up the problem only gets worse. Check the service manual for the procedure, you may bet lucky and not have to remove the motor, but it looks tight. I would not leave it. Coolant runs down the motor and may be dripping on the road right where your tire rides.
 
That does not look good at all. There is no way that coolant should be under a valve cover. Inspect, don't ride.
 
inreb said:
That does not look good at all. There is no way that coolant should be under a valve cover. Inspect, don't ride.
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This. Should only be oil under that cover.

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Its not F'd , its 12 yrs old. Get it fixed before it really pukes antifreeze, 100kms from home. If antifreeze makes it's way into the engine and mixes with the oil it will be F'd and you'll be looking for a motor .
 
There could be a dozen ways antifreeze has leaked from the cooling system. Something as simple as a loose hose clamp or something as catastrophic as a cracked block. If you find that it's too technical to troubleshoot you need to get it to a shop, without starting it.
 
I agree with DJM, this is a coolant leak that landed on the valve cover. A cooling system tester is cheaper than trailering your bike and paying someone to do the diagnoses. Pick up a Stant cooling system tester, track down a MAC or Snap On dealer and purchase the necessary adapter (take your radiator cap to match it up).

Pressurize the system and watch for the leak.
 
crankcall said:
Its not F'd , its 12 yrs old. Get it fixed before it really pukes antifreeze, 100kms from home. If antifreeze makes it's way into the engine and mixes with the oil it will be F'd and you'll be looking for a motor .
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I don't mean to be hysterical but if there's anti freeze coming thru that valve cover gasket the only logical reason would be cracked head. I'll leave it to others to decide what constitutes F'd.
 
Not sure how that bike runs its coolant. You need a shop manual to do a correct diagnosis. Antifreeze coming from a valve cover gasket seems a bit strange since valves are usually cooled by oil. I suggest the winter freeze/thaw conditions this year might have pried something loose. Definitely wouldn't run it until you at least change the gasket and do a pressure test. If you're not familiar with working on engines this would be better handled by a $hop. Glad I have an air-cooled engine.
 
So my thought is that it's not the valve cover at all; how would there be enough clean coolant coming from under the cover, mixing with oil, on an engine that's not been run... and enough to pool on the floor? The pic looks to me like there MAY be evidence of moisture on top of the valve cover, where there are coolant lines. I would be pulling the tank and looking higher than you are. Either way you've got to find the source BEFORE you start it up
 
Theres no coolant passages under the valve cover. Check your oil, change if you're paranoid and see if any comes out. The thermostat housing for that bike is right under the tank, top centre. It probably leaked out from that area and travelled. Remove the tank and check for residue in that area.
 
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phil_si said:
Theres no coolant passages under the valve cover. Check your oil, change if you're paranoid and see if any comes out. The thermostat housing for that bike is right under the tank, top centre. It probably leaked out from that area and travelled. Remove the tank and check for residue in that area.
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This is your guy.....right here.
 
coolant in engine oil or where there should only be engine oil usually means blown head gasket...
 
Think it's effed and you should just junk it. Give you a $100 take it off your hands.


Kidding.

Leaks need investigation. Where it pools or shows doesn't mean that's the source.

The bike is an 04 and after a winter, a hose or clamp or cap can leak from age.

Some have posted where to look and how to test.

I wouldn't think it's a cracked block at this point. But you never know.




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If coolant was leaking in his engine, the engine oil level will rise. Look for a mayonnaise looking sludge in your oil. Probably not a big problem. You just need to take things apart to have a better look
 
phil_si said:
Theres no coolant passages under the valve cover. Check your oil, change if you're paranoid and see if any comes out. The thermostat housing for that bike is right under the tank, top centre. It probably leaked out from that area and travelled. Remove the tank and check for residue in that area.
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Agreed. There is no way nice clean coolant like that came out from the valvetrain under the valve cover gasket - aside from the fact there should be no coolant in there to begin with as mentioned, even if there was and it leaked out it would be a milkshake like sludge by that point, not perfectly clean and green like that.

It almost certainly leaked from somewhere else and just landed/pooled there - as Phil mentioned, look higher.
 
Wash the engine and wait for it to dry. Cover the area in baby powder and follow the green trail
 
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I'll do the cheap easy stuff first then go from there.
I'll remove the tank and see if it's just run off like Phil_si suggested... I'm starting to think that's the problem because the puddle was bright green (no contamination) and I left it on the kickstand this time.
I'll keep you posted.

Thanks.
 
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