My 06 Sportster 1200 Custom is leaking oil from the crankcase and oil tank when I ride...what can I do ?

Question

My bike, is spitting the oil out of the oil cap, dripping onto the oil tank.. Also when I park I find a puddle just under the crank case...the air filter doesnt look to be splattered with any blow by, as the external parts do not have any oil residue. I am gonna replace the gasket on the oil dipstick, but I am not sure what to do about the crank case.. The oil is just over 3 qts and is not overfilled. A light light smoke comes from the dipstick area when I get on the throttle..any advice would help! thank you

Answer 1

That's a Known Issue

Gets REAL bad w/ aftermarket air filter assys.

They put the most absurb crankcase breather I ever seen on those things.

* 3 qts is too much.
Take out 8~16 ounces,,,try to keep it around 2 3/4 qts
Yeah,I know what the book sez.
You see what the motorcycle sez about it.
They just dont have enough air volume in the tank and begin to compress.

*Normal for oil near boiling temp to fume a bit

Quit using Harley Oil.

That'll stop the fumes,help the " leak ",quiet the lifter noise a bit

You should use Valvoline 50 race oil.
If you have to have Multi Vis,,use Mobil 1


*If you wanna see where the oil is coming from,,,dust it for prints.

>Clean your engine
>go wind it out thru 2~3 gears ,,2~3 times.
Ya dont need to run the dawgshitt outa it all night.
But you DO need to crank it hi & long enough to Wet Head the top end,,,so ya can see immediate results
>Go Home & Baby Powder it.
Sprinkle it all over,,,especially on timing cover area
>Get a fan,blow dryer,air hose,,,whatever,,and blow the powder off

You'll see real easy where it's coming from,going to,and everything

It may actually have a joint failure somewhere and be leaking from somewhere besides the usual place.
I'd be surprised.
Sportsters are pretty dry engine assemblies other than their crankcase breather probs.

Make certain you dont have a Twin Cam Oil Filter.
They interchange,and look alike.

They are WAY,WAY tighter than a XL filter.
Which causes engine to wet sump(Fill Crankcase with Oil)from the restriction on the pump's return side.

Which dont help the oddball breather system at all.

Case Volume is very small,,,air displacement into that on Downstroke is Big.
Any oil stuck in case Reduces Volume.
Which Raises Crank Case Pressure dramatically.

They already have a Higher Crankcase Compression Ratio than a LOT of 2 Strokes.
Something's gotta give.

*Drop Oil Level in tank a bit
*Quit using HD oil
*Make sure ya have right filter
*Check to see if you actually have a leak

Doesn't sound like much of a remedy,,but ya might be surprised

Good Luck,,,I doubt it's anything serious

Answer 2

i bet you have a clogged filter. replace it and than check oil level and make sure it is not over full. not even a little bit. your oil tank need room in the top for vent. if you'r too full it messes stuff up. sportsters filter oil before the motor.so if it is clogged it will back up in your tank and probably leak around the filter gasket. change you're filter. this is just a starting point. get a service manual and trouble shoot with it. i guarantee it will tell you.

also, all these dorks that say Harley's leak oil are talking out of there butts. Harley's are probably some of the best built bikes today. thy have some of the best quality controll in the industry.

Answer 3

Crankcase Leak

Answer 4

You shouldn't be getting pressure in the oil tank.
2 year, unlimited mileage warranty. Need I say more?

Answer 5

Sounds like you're building up pressure, maybe a bad/stuck breather inside the engine.

Answer 6

may have oil pump problem. could the crank case is warped.

Answer 7

take it to the dealer it should be under warranty