Kawasaki GPZ500s New Oil Filter Leak

KurtJ · L Plate Warrior Joined: 04 Apr 2016 Karma :

Hey,

Yesterday I changed my oil and fitted a new filter for the first time - under the guidance of someone who is pretty good with general mechanics etc.

All seemed fine, had run the engine for a good while with no leaks.

However, today when I have started it up I'm getting an oil leak which appears to come from the new filter. But then it stops. And then when I started it up again, another leak of oil comes out then it stopped again...

Any ideas? Thanks!

MCN · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2015 Karma :

Kawasaki really want their oil filters rammed on as tight as fuck.

Hand tight is waaaaaay too slack.

Check what it says in the book.
____________________
Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

zzpza · Derestricted Danger Joined: 10 Feb 2015 Karma :

Hand tight and then 1/4 turn has worked well on my '94 GPZ 500S so far. Did you make sure to oil the rubber seal before installation, and clean the mating surface?

It's pretty exposed on the front of the engine (if you have no fairing) so is easy to get road debris fouling the filter seal when you install it if you don't clean the area before removing the old filter.

pompousporcup... · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Apr 2015 Karma :

as above, although even the lower fairing has a hole in the middle that allows crud to get kicked up from the wheel and cake the filter.

tighten it as hard as you dare, clean up the surrounding area and see if it comes back.

KurtJ · L Plate Warrior Joined: 04 Apr 2016 Karma :

Hey everyone, after seeing first post I got myself a strap-wrench to tighten it up a bit, as it was only hand tight - and that has sorted it out, no more leaking oil.

Thanks for the advice people, much appreciated!