Exhaust valve guides leaking

[AZBaldur]

I don't remember seeing this the last time I yanked the headers off, about a year ago. The left cylinder exhaust valve guides are apparently leaking oil, although it's hard to say how much. Cause for concern/replacement? Would this affect how the bike runs?

[smiller]

Yeah, hard to say how much and I'd guess very little. If you're not seeing oil smoke on deceleration and a compression or leakdown test indicates A-OK then I wouldn't give it a second thought.

[11101110]

If I saw that in my bike I would have no idea that what I am looking at is abnormal. Is it the white ash or something on the valve stems that indicates oil leakage?

[smiller]

The white ash is normal and I assume that the OP was talking about the darker coloration of the bottom port, but looking again it appears that may just be due to lighting so I'm not sure exactly what he was referring to now. But in any event no need to worry about the white ash, the exhaust port of any bike with a decent amount of miles will look like that.

[AZBaldur]

Is it the white ash or something on the valve stems that indicates oil leakage?

I got concerned when I noticed actual oil on the valve stems, right where they exit the guides. I'm not seeing any smoke on deceleration, and compression and leak-down tests came out roughly equal on both cylinders.

[T__]

I don't remember seeing this the last time I yanked the headers off, about a year ago. The left cylinder exhaust valve guides are apparently leaking oil, although it's hard to say how much. Cause for concern/replacement? Would this affect how the bike runs?

AZBaldur, wouldn’t’ be a valve guide problem but could be a valve seal problem (that is if you even have a problem)..

 

Are you getting any oil smoke out the exhaust a few seconds AFTER start-up ? As a rule exhaust valve seals are only a problem after engine shutdown as that is a positive pressure area when the engine is operating.. If fact some (especially older) engines don’t even use exhaust valve seals..

 

The valve guides have to get some oil or the very heated exhaust valve stems can stick in the guides..

 

Your exhaust ports really don’t look too bad inside,, what I’m seeing is mostly fuel additive & normal.. If you really want to see if you have an exhaust valve seal problem look at the very back of the valve heads.. If they are coked up with lots of carbon then maybe enough oil is running down the valve stem after shut down & cokeing up the inside of the valve head..

 

Twisty