XR400: What's this grime?

[SliderOne]

I need your expertise.

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed grime/goo-looking substance on the right
side of cylinder between the pipe and the engine block. It appears to be
coming from where the top end joins to the bottom end. This happens only on
the right side.

Is this due to engine oil seeping out through a damaged gasket or is it
something to do with the pipe? Is this normal or should I be worried? I'd
hate to have to remove the top end in order to change the gasket.

What do I do?

Thanks in advance.

-Kevin-
sli...@pacific.net.sg

remove "nospam" when replying.

[Bill]

Kevin,
My 96 XR400 has goop on the left side. It is caused from dirt
sticking to the oil leaking from the gasket between the head and
cylinder. It is a very slow leak. I never have to add oil to keep up
with it. It looks ugly (just clean it a lot with degreaser) but I
wouldn't worry about changing the gaskets till it gets a lot worse or
you just want to. Get a top end gasket kit now because it will need
to be done someday. Mine's been leaking since this past summer with
no problems and I ride it hard. At first I couldn't tell where it
was comming from, but the air flowing around the cylinder tends to
make the goop appear all around the area. If you have the
time/patience to change the gaskets, do it. Otherwise it would have
to be one big leak to hurt performance. Good luck.

Bill

[fred]

"SliderOne" <sli...@nospam.pacific.net.sg> wrote:
>
>What do I do?
>

I'd check for proper torque on your head bolts. They may just need to
be tightened down a bit.

[Vogt Family]

Heh...was just talking to my buddy the other day and he was saying all
Honda 4 strokes leak oil out of the top end....

Birken

[TIGIT4U]

both my hondas leak from wear the exahst meets the motor. because of a bad
gasket in th exaust pipe