ozion787
Parking Attendant
Posts: 4
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posted September 03, 2006 05:57 AM
 Edited By: ozion787 on 3 Sep 2006 07:01
02 Oil Leaking! HELP!
Hello everybody im new to the forum. Just bought a 2002 zx12 with 12,000 miles. After driving it for a month I notice oil on the frame sliders. I take the plastics off and find the bike is leaking oil from certain parts of the valve cover and head. My question is the bike has never had an overheating issue so why is it leaking oil? Has this ever happened to anybody? Thanks in advance for any help.
  
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CrotchRocket
Moderator
Bracket Racing with Betsy
Posts: 8038
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posted September 03, 2006 07:16 AM
Spray simple green, gunk, or some kind of de-greaser on the motor clean it hose it off, dry it...Ride it around for a couple days to see how bad the leaks are...I would have a leak down done on the cylinders
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Jason Miller StreetBike Seminars
*****DragRacers do it better, because they dont cut Corners*****
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psycho1122
Pro
Posts: 1608
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posted September 03, 2006 07:44 AM
Buy a new Valve cover SET, which includes the 4 sparkplug hole gaskets. If either were pinched during installation, you will NEVER get the current gasket to seal "properly".
Oil leaking from the "Head" gasket is much less likely than coolant. Oil would have to be getting by your rings for that. I'm willing to bet it just "appears" like it due to the valve cover leaks.
Like CR said, Do a compression or leak down test while your in there. You might as well put in a set of plugs also.
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You say PSYCHO like it's a BAD thing!!
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blitzkrieg
Needs a job
Road kill = Free lunch.
Posts: 2044
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posted September 03, 2006 11:31 AM
The valve cover gaskets on the 12 compress and age with time. They are okay until you break the seal (like for checking the valve clearance) but iffy after that.
My 12 leaked in several places after reusing it the first time.
As said above just replace the valve cover gasket and spark plug hole gaskets. Make sure you use Yamabond on the cam end plugs when installing the new gasket.
Don't have a heart attack when you see how much the gasket costs, Kawasaki is VERY proud of that gasket. 
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"BTW....You need to get a girlfriend who's last name isn't .jpg"
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tuusinii
Pro
Posts: 1031
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posted September 03, 2006 01:44 PM
Valvecover seal can be used many times, but they can still leak. Allthough if Your bike has only 12k miles it means it has been opened only one time - if even that. But besides valvecover there has been couple leaks in the cam shaft sensor seal leaking. I also though I had a valvecover leak but it turned out to be the camshaft sensor. I would first just open the cover and check the valve clearances and do every other maintenance and inspect the seal. If it looks good just clean it good and try again. At the same time remove the camshaft sensor and clean and change the o-ring it or add sum RTV to it like I did.
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psycho1122
Pro
Posts: 1608
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posted September 03, 2006 04:45 PM
True, the gasket "may" be reusable IF: It's not pinched, hardend (from heat) or middle rib is compressed.
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You say PSYCHO like it's a BAD thing!!
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ozion787
Parking Attendant
Posts: 4
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posted September 03, 2006 07:51 PM
Edited By: ozion787 on 3 Sep 2006 20:55
THANKS!!! for all the great information. I cleaned out the motor like CrotchRocket recommended dryed the area with an air compressor and ran the motor for 5 mins. I noticed the oil only coming from the valve cover espcially close to the cam seals also I found some silicone residue around the valve cover letting me know that somebody did open the motor. I did have a heart attack when I saw the $40 dollar price tag on the freaking seal but thanks for the heads up blitzkrieg...lol. I plan to change out all gaskets I'll post an update ounce I change out the gaskets.
Does anybody have a suggestion what is the best way to change the all the seals. Thanks
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