1990 suzuki ltf250 Quadrunner 4X4 Oil leak

[caperwing]

I just got this quad a few days ago and finally got it running. It has oil leaking and it seems to be coming out around a cylinder bolt. Not the valve cover but just below and to the rear. Is there supposed to be crush washers on that bolt? and what are those bolts supposed to be torqued at?

Thanks

[Frank Angerano]

Welcome to Quadcrazy. What bolt is it you are referring to ? Only bolt that should have that type washer is the oil drain plug. 

Maybe post a picture of the bolt and area on the bike.  

[caperwing]

Thanks for the welcome. The bolt i am referring to is just below the valve cover and I think it is one of the bolts for the cylinder head. It has a domed head

Maybe someone in the past tried to stop the leak with a crush washer, who knows.

I am an older guy just learning to use computer stuff and I don't have a camera to take a picture and if I did I wouldn't know how to get it from a camera to the computer box.

[Frank Angerano]

Have you tried to tighten the bolt down? Maybe loosen it up and put some high heat silicone on it and re tighten.  

Do the other bolts have the same washer ?

Might as well check all of them while your at it.  

[caperwing]

I do have some high temp silicone I can try. I was kind of worried about over tightening and breaking something. Do you know if there is a torque spec for this?

Thanks

[Frank Angerano]

Not sure on the spec but I would just make it tight and go a hair more for now.  You won’t strip or break anything.  It would take a good amount to do that.  

[caperwing]

Any idea how long to let the silicone set before cranking the engine over to see if it worked?

[Frank Angerano]

I’ve done it in 2 hours not by choice and it worked great. 

Honestly... I would wait 24. 

Also remember to clean the area with a little carb cleaner to make sure all the oil away from the area.  Just a little shot will do.  Dry it with a rag.   

[caperwing]

Thanks for the carb cleaner advise. I will try it now and let it sit overnight and try tomorrow.

[Frank Angerano]

Good luck.  Let us know how it goes. 

[caperwing]

For sure will let you know .  Thanks for the help.

[caperwing]

Well no more oil leak. The silicone worked. Even if it does not last at least I'm on the right track.  Thanks

[Frank Angerano]

It should hold fine.

  Ride safe. 

[JacobSlabach]

another thing to remember is if you take a bolt out, especially those long ones that hold the head and cylinder to the crank case, never put the bolt back in if any liquid gets in the hole-  let is sit overnight and air dry out.  Have a relative that does automotive repair and she has cracked crankcases before because she torqued down a bolt that had water (or some other liquid) under it.  That water is very powerful under pressure like that, hence it cracked the case and ruined the engine.