OIl Pan and Oil Filter Installation Theories

[Beater]

Tell me how you put these gaskets on. I have replaced many in my short carrier, and every frickin' one of them leaks. Most just a drip here and there ... but the neurosis has finally kicked in, and if I see another drip, I'm going ballistic. Seriously.

The Dobber has always leaked a bit ... but after this latest gasket change, it's a large drip. Constant, and like 5mL / day. It needs to STOP.

The requisite picture:

[craydds]

Originally Posted by Beater

Tell me how you put these gaskets on. I have replaced many in my short carrier, and every frickin' one of them leaks.

Are you asking about the oil pan, oil filter cover, or both?
1. Oil filter cover. http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/Oil.htm , and http://www.largiader.com/tech/filters/ .

measure this:


and this:


It is the white o-ring that seals and prevents leaks. I have no leaks on my bike. I do not use a gasket on the cover, some do, and this is addressed in Anton's article:


cover on, new white o-ring, correct thickness of o-ring and metal "shim" for the depth of oil filter canister equals no leaks:


2. Oil pan. Here is a fairly straight forward oil pan and gasket installation - http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/pangasket.htm

[ozmoses]

I lightly grease the sump gasket, both sides.




Cray- where did you come by that measuring stick, it's perfect ( & dead simple) for this?!

[craydds]

Originally Posted by ozmoses

Cray- where did you come by that measuring stick, it's perfect ( & dead simple) for this?!

I can't remember; I have had that thing forever (possibly a Sears Craftsman thing?). I use it all the time, it is stone axe simple, kind of like my brain.

[some_guy]

My oil pan gasket was weeping. No drips, but the pan kept getting oily a couple weeks after a wash. Pretty much all of the bolts had loosened to just more than finger tight. I'm going to start checking these more often.

[ME 109]

First thing would be to thoroughly check both surfaces (sump) for any scratches/gouges etc.
Second, I would check the sump cover for warp.

My sump weeps, sometime in the not too distant future I'll take my own advice.

[supershaft]

Well, just to prove that I do sometimes agree with the bum. No sealant, oil or grease. Clean! Stock gasket. And now the Bum and I part. My advise is to buy and use an inch pound clicker torque wrench. Good with guessing torque? With bolts inches apart on top of such a thick gasket. No on is that good. 75inpd??? Not nearly tight enough! 100inpds. Around and around until they ALL click at the same time. Ride it just once or twice and re-torque. Re-torque them once or twice a year. You will find that there are at least a couple of bolts that need it! I have good luck with this method. My bikes have literally gone for decades thusly and not even weeped!

[DoktorT]

For sure, if you just don't have the feel from daily experience, you should use a torque wrench. It will save you money. But lots of people do develop a good feel and simply do not need it for all but a very few critical fasteners on the Airheads.

[Paul_Rochdale]

Here we go again

[georgesgiralt]

Ray,
Could you please tell me what is the device bolted into your filter housing cover and what's it's use ?
Thanks.
To the others, gluing the O-ring and shim with grease on the cover is an easy way to get the things done properly and not leaking...

[chasbmw]

The BMW tool kit contains a short 10mm ring spanner that is perfectly sized so that you have to be really ham fisted to strip the threads. On earlier bikes the oilpan bolt underneath the oil filter is shorter than the rest so don't get them mixed up!

[hardwaregrrl]

Fred, I've had good luck putting a thin layer of RTV on both sides of the GASKET. I triple check the torque over a period of a few weeks. I have a silicone oil pan gasket if you want to try to layer.

[oldroadie]

Originally Posted by Beater

Most just a drip here and there ... but the neurosis has finally kicked in, and if I see another drip, I'm going ballistic. Seriously.

Easy there, man, I've got drips too! Dry gasket, letters up, inch pound clicker and I still have tiny puddles after any week of sitting. I've got a drip sheet under the center stand made from left over roofing tar paper and life is good.

[craydds]

Originally Posted by georgesgiralt

Ray, Could you please tell me what is the device bolted into your filter housing cover and what's it's use ?

It is a temperature sending unit that came with my Acewell, it can be used for water or oil temp. There are two temp readouts on the Acewell, one for ambient air temp, the other for oil (or water) temp. A few more details starting in post #393 here - http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...527749&page=27 .

[georgesgiralt]

Thanks !