3 Simple Tips for Finding Motorcycle Oil Leaks 

Oops\. Your bike forgot its potty training and you come out to the garage to discover a puddle on the floor. It's time to find out where that motorcycle engine oil spill is coming from. 

Have no fear: finding the source of a motorcycle oil leak is pretty simple. Here are some tips for identifying where your motorcycle is leaking oil from. 

How to Find an Oil Leak Tip 1: Wash Your Motorcycle 

First thing's first: Wash your motorcycle. We're not talking a little spray down with bike wash. Get the soap and some toothbrushes, and thoroughly wash the entire bike and its motor. It's much harder to figure out where the oil leak comes from if the bike is covered in grime.

How to Find an Oil Leak Tip 2: Inspect the Engine

Once you have it all cleaned up, start the bike up and let it run for a few minutes. Then grab a flashlight and check over the whole engine. If a gasket is leaking, you should see the oil seeping out somewhere. Once you find where the leak is coming from, do something about the gasket failure or leaking seal immediately before the problem gets worse.

How to Find an Oil Leak Tip 3: Take a Short Bike Ride

If you can't find a leak anywhere, take your bike for a short ride. Chances are you'll find the leak behind its front sprocket. In most cases, especially with dirt bikes, the countershaft seal will be the issue. This seal blows out with the abuse of the spinning shaft, and when a chain gets tightened too much. After your ride, take the chain and front sprocket off, and inspect the countershaft to see if it's the culprit. 

Don't Ignore the Leak

Cleaning your bike alone should do the trick, but one thing is certain: ignoring the leak won't make it go away. If you have a motorcycle leaking oil, troubleshooting the problem should be a top priority. Ignoring it is a huge mistake, as leaking oil can not only affect the condition of your bike's motor, but it can get everywhere, including the tires, making them lose traction and possibly causing a motorcycle accident. 

Once you've identified and repaired the oil leak, it's a good idea to change the oil in your motorcycle. Oil changes vary by motorcycle makes and models, but the process is the same or similar for most bikes. Watch the video above to see how to change the oil in a Kawasaki Z1000.