Fluid leak question - SV650.org

13-02-13, 01:02 AM

Good evening fellow orgers.

At the moment my bike is tucked up in a neighbours garage while I'm at University and I'm trying to figure out what the problem it has just sprung is, while being about 200 miles from the bike!

What I was told is that it had been leaking something which was pooling underneath the engine, nearer the back than the front. All I've managed to get off the guy other than that is that it's not black, so it can't be engine oil as mine is fairly filthy, and it doesn't smell like fuel.

Now I've been going through in my head what fluids there are in an SV, and as far as I can think there is only engine oil, brake fluid, petrol and fork oil, and if we discount engine oil and fuel I can't see any way that a small puddle near the back of the engine block could be anything other then brake fluid leaking from the rear brake system, probably somewhere near the reservoir.

Can anybody from here come up with any logical ideas as to what it could be? Just trying to get an idea in my head of what I'm looking for when I'm back home in a couple of weeks.

Thanks.

13-02-13, 01:06 AM

You forgot coolant...
Reservoir is on left side of bike near engine. Worth checking hoses etc for leaks.

rictus01 · 13-02-13, 02:24 AM

also the drain from the filler cap (amongst others) comes out behind the swingarm pivot.

Fallout · 13-02-13, 08:13 AM

Here's a stab in the dark: if your coolant was actually mostly water than it could've frozen in this weather and split a pipe.

Shawthing · 13-02-13, 12:33 PM

Hope it's not battery acid!
Could be just condensation from warm humid air hitting cold bike and draining off.

13-02-13, 06:37 PM

From what I've been able to get out of the guy today he was saying that it's oily, so I'm guessing that pretty much means it could only be brake fluid from the rear brake system?

13-02-13, 06:40 PM

Any fluid running down off of the engine is bound to pick up grime etc & could appear oily or greasy so I wouldn't rule anything out until you get eyes on.

Geodude · 13-02-13, 06:40 PM

Get him to take and send you a picture of where its dripping from and where its pooling under the bike, might help you a bit.

13-02-13, 01:02 AM	#1
mackemforever Guest Posts: n/a	Fluid leak question Good evening fellow orgers. At the moment my bike is tucked up in a neighbours garage while I'm at University and I'm trying to figure out what the problem it has just sprung is, while being about 200 miles from the bike! What I was told is that it had been leaking something which was pooling underneath the engine, nearer the back than the front. All I've managed to get off the guy other than that is that it's not black, so it can't be engine oil as mine is fairly filthy, and it doesn't smell like fuel. Now I've been going through in my head what fluids there are in an SV, and as far as I can think there is only engine oil, brake fluid, petrol and fork oil, and if we discount engine oil and fuel I can't see any way that a small puddle near the back of the engine block could be anything other then brake fluid leaking from the rear brake system, probably somewhere near the reservoir. Can anybody from here come up with any logical ideas as to what it could be? Just trying to get an idea in my head of what I'm looking for when I'm back home in a couple of weeks. Thanks.

13-02-13, 01:06 AM	#2
dkid Guest Posts: n/a	You forgot coolant... Reservoir is on left side of bike near engine. Worth checking hoses etc for leaks. Last edited by dkid; 13-02-13 at 02:41 AM.

13-02-13, 02:24 AM	#3
rictus01 Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: South London Posts: 9,799	Re: Fluid leak question also the drain from the filler cap (amongst others) comes out behind the swingarm pivot. __________________ Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, 'Wow! What a Ride!

13-02-13, 08:13 AM	#4
Fallout Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Basingstoke Posts: 2,983	Re: Fluid leak question Here's a stab in the dark: if your coolant was actually mostly water than it could've frozen in this weather and split a pipe. __________________ MotoGoLoco - You knows it The Shed - Suzuki GSX-R 750 K1 \| Triumph Tiger 1050 K6 Fallout Bikes (VLogs, Tutorials, Bike Vids) Fallout Breakbeat (My Music)

13-02-13, 12:33 PM	#5
Shawthing Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Manchester Posts: 396	Re: Fluid leak question Hope it's not battery acid! Could be just condensation from warm humid air hitting cold bike and draining off. __________________ SK9 Sport Black Delkevic can. Non arbores caesa suum mittere nuntius, sed magnum numerum electrons uehementissime incommo. Last edited by Shawthing; 13-02-13 at 12:36 PM.

13-02-13, 06:37 PM	#6
mackemforever Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Fluid leak question From what I've been able to get out of the guy today he was saying that it's oily, so I'm guessing that pretty much means it could only be brake fluid from the rear brake system?

13-02-13, 06:40 PM	#7
dkid Guest Posts: n/a	Any fluid running down off of the engine is bound to pick up grime etc & could appear oily or greasy so I wouldn't rule anything out until you get eyes on.

13-02-13, 06:40 PM	#8
Geodude Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Durham Posts: 2,676	Re: Fluid leak question Get him to take and send you a picture of where its dripping from and where its pooling under the bike, might help you a bit. __________________ Black naked 1999 sv650 which im trying to keep happy Custom paintwork *Saragon Customs* Spray painting *Electrical fault finding guide* and *Regulator rectifier test* Only a biker knows why a dog sticks his head out of a car window.

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