Ninja 250 oil leak

jfinch05 · 09-08-2008

(Repost from main forum)

Hello, this is my first post and I have a question-

I have recently bought my first bike (2007 Ninja 250) off of one of my friends who moved to a new job in another city and couldn't take the bike with him. It has 1800 miles on it and I have had it for the last 2 weeks. Just this afternoon I noticed a small pool of oil in the driveway(after having rode maybe 10 miles today, in town/on highway). The oil appears to be coming from somewhere above the header as the drops appear on the left header. The bike had sat in a garage since November so the oil was changed before I started it for the first time and the bolt that you unscrew to drop the oil filter and drain the oil is not loose. The oil level gauge still shows the oil at the proper level.

As I said this is my first bike and I don't have much mechanical experience at all, so I was wondering if anyone may have any previous experience with the same thing on a Ninja 250 and what they did to fix it. Thanks.

Johnathon

keyda81 · 09-08-2008

My 05 leaks oil too, but it doesn't leave any puddles at all. My cousin said there is a hose, that has a small sponge in it, that can get gunked up with oil and leak. I'm not sure if that's the same problem you have, and I haven't taken mine apart yet to see if that's what it is. Just a suggestion.

07Ninja250 · 09-08-2008

Probably a valve cover gasket. If the valve cover bolts aren't torqued down properly they can vibrate loose and take the pressure off the valve cover. The bolts on my 94 when I bought it were hand-tight, and I had oil running down the head all the time.

Ericthejet · 09-08-2008

Can you post up a picture?

jfinch05 · 09-08-2008

It is not the valve cover gasket as there would be oil on or around the cylinder.(Coming from my dad). It didn't leak at all overnight in the garage and I rode it for about 10 minutes just now and parked it in the driveway to see if it leaks again.

jfinch05 · 09-09-2008

Well no oil leakage in the garage where it sat overnight and none in the driveway this evening so I don't know. Yesterday was the first time I've had it up to higher rpms on the highway 9-10,000rpms instead of 6000-7000 where I shift in town, maybe that could have something to do with it, though I' not sure why.

09-08-2008	#1 (permalink)
jfinch05 Newbie Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Jackson, OH Posts: 5	Ninja 250 oil leak (Repost from main forum) Hello, this is my first post and I have a question- I have recently bought my first bike (2007 Ninja 250) off of one of my friends who moved to a new job in another city and couldn't take the bike with him. It has 1800 miles on it and I have had it for the last 2 weeks. Just this afternoon I noticed a small pool of oil in the driveway(after having rode maybe 10 miles today, in town/on highway). The oil appears to be coming from somewhere above the header as the drops appear on the left header. The bike had sat in a garage since November so the oil was changed before I started it for the first time and the bolt that you unscrew to drop the oil filter and drain the oil is not loose. The oil level gauge still shows the oil at the proper level. As I said this is my first bike and I don't have much mechanical experience at all, so I was wondering if anyone may have any previous experience with the same thing on a Ninja 250 and what they did to fix it. Thanks. Johnathon

09-08-2008	#2 (permalink)
keyda81 2005 Ninja 250 "Sapphire" BTK Expert Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Niagara Falls, NY Posts: 574	My 05 leaks oil too, but it doesn't leave any puddles at all. My cousin said there is a hose, that has a small sponge in it, that can get gunked up with oil and leak. I'm not sure if that's the same problem you have, and I haven't taken mine apart yet to see if that's what it is. Just a suggestion. __________________ You only live once, get out there, enjoy it, and have no regrets!

09-08-2008	#4 (permalink)
Ericthejet Forensic Bug Splatter Analyst BTK Expert Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: The northeast! Posts: 1,705	Can you post up a picture? __________________ 1984 Ninja 900 (A1) To make it go faster I need to add more lightness!

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09-08-2008	#3 (permalink)
07Ninja250 Wants better weather! BTK Expert Join Date: May 2008 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 721	Probably a valve cover gasket. If the valve cover bolts aren't torqued down properly they can vibrate loose and take the pressure off the valve cover. The bolts on my 94 when I bought it were hand-tight, and I had oil running down the head all the time.

09-08-2008	#5 (permalink)
jfinch05 Newbie Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Jackson, OH Posts: 5	It is not the valve cover gasket as there would be oil on or around the cylinder.(Coming from my dad). It didn't leak at all overnight in the garage and I rode it for about 10 minutes just now and parked it in the driveway to see if it leaks again.

09-09-2008	#6 (permalink)
jfinch05 Newbie Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Jackson, OH Posts: 5	Well no oil leakage in the garage where it sat overnight and none in the driveway this evening so I don't know. Yesterday was the first time I've had it up to higher rpms on the highway 9-10,000rpms instead of 6000-7000 where I shift in town, maybe that could have something to do with it, though I' not sure why.

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