Vent Leaking what looks like oil

[AllanR]

One of the vent lines under the bike leaks whenever I have the bike parked outside in the sun. The dealer indicates that it is from the battery and quite normal, yet when looking at the liquid it seems to be oil. Are others experiencing the same?

 

[GPMAZ]

Is your gas tank full? Could be fuel. I've had mine do that a few times when full.

 

[Blastedbones]

If not fuel then it could be that your radiator overflow is too full. The battery is sealed, and even if it weren't, it shouldn't be leaking acid.

Battery!!!???? as IDK said... if yer battery is leaking, it's ****ed!!!Put a glass under the leak & catch some.. rad water or fuel vapour condensing; would be my bet. In the sun you often see quite a haze of fuel vapour from the tank vent.

 

[Blastedbones]

One of the vent lines under the bike leaks whenever I have the bike parked outside in the sun. The dealer indicates that it is from the battery and quite normal, yet when looking at the liquid it seems to be oil. Are others experiencing the same?

Just had another thought.. this bike new? you didn't say.. they coat the engine in a wax that melts off.. could be this stuff thats melted & trickling off one of the vent hoses....

 

[zenbiker]

Wait! Can we not tell the difference between coolant, oil, fuel or battery acid?? Eyes, nose and taste buds , MAN!

Coolant = green and slimy
Oil = slippery and tasteless..does not evaporate
Fuel = smell it!...evaporates quickly
Battery acid = colorless and tastes like very strong vinegar....evaporates like water

Alan....When you say "It seems to be oil"..what do you mean "seems" to be. Why?
..

 

[zimtuff]

One of the vent lines under the bike leaks whenever I have the bike parked outside in the sun. The dealer indicates that it is from the battery and quite normal, yet when looking at the liquid it seems to be oil. Are others experiencing the same?

I bet its petrol.The sun heats up the tank and if its full ,it vents out the bottom. OR it is oil,they do spew a bit out the bottom now and again.Mine did a it few times but hasnt done it for a year or more now.

I doubt it is the battery

 

[AllanR]

It is not coolant and not battery acids as I took the seat off and there is no hose attached to the battery. The stain left looks like evaporated fuel yet the consistency of leaking fluid left on the hose is that of oil.

 

[budman]

crankcase vent?

 

[Willtill]

crankcase vent?

Not if he has not yet modded the crankcase vent. My bet is that it's gas and cosmolene (from the engine preservative on new bikes).

I would say young man... go forth and ride the chit out of the bike and the dripping will soon stop. You live in one of the ****ed hottest states of the Union anyway; that cosmolene will eventually stop dripping.

Freaked me out a little when I first got my Classic. Once it melts off; you're good to go

 

[zimtuff]

It is not coolant and not battery acids as I took the seat off and there is no hose attached to the battery. The stain left looks like evaporated fuel yet the consistency of leaking fluid left on the hose is that of oil.

From memory there is 3 hoses down there,one is for the crank vent,one for the fuel tank and one to drain the starter when it gets flooded with water.
I think the one that hangs the lowest is the fuel tank vent.