Decided to ride the bike around the block to really pin point the oil leak. When I got back I checked my oil and found it was very bubbly. Anymore opinions on the matter.
also the oil leak is only on this one corner both on the seam of the rocker box/cylinder and on the next seam up from that.(forgive my layman's terms)

2008 Nightster
3500 miles
stage one

oil leak..

DSC_7766 by Chase Vanderbilt, on Flickr

bubbly oil...

DSC_7771 by Chase Vanderbilt, on Flickr

DSC_7772 by Chase Vanderbilt, on Flickr

 

Well for one thing. You oil is way over full. should only be about half way on the dip stick. And, you also need new rocker box gaskets, do both when you do em. The other one will start leaking soon. Damn, the way the last pic looks, almost looks like it's full to the top.

 

edit: the dipstick photo was for viewing the bubbles only. I went and wiped it clean and re checked it and the level was fine. Also after only about 30 minutes the bubbles were all gone...? I suppose that makes sense.

oh and the pic of inside the oil reservoir is very deceiving. It was taken with a DSLR and a lens that probably distorted it. It is no where near the top haha.

 

Short rides will collect condensation, the more short rides you take the worse it will get. Then when you go on yet another short ride and all that water mixes with your oil, it will look like the pic you posted.

The oil level is way too high too. Get rid of some of the oil and Go for about 3 hundred mile runs over the next week or so and most that water will burn off.

Rocker cover gaskets are way too easy to do. It only requires a total of three tools.

 

You still need new rocker box gaskets, that leak will only get worse, ask me how I know. Good luck.

 

Thanks guys and yes I wont be driving more than 10 miles to the garage I'll be fixing it in. Thanks again.

 

Oh and just to vent.... 3500 MILES and I'm leaking oil...... all of a sudden i'm really disappointed in Harley and disheartened in the product. Someone please tell me this isn't going to happen every 3500 miles and to cheer up!

 

that's not a bad situation man. This is where you and the bike bond. do the upper rocker cover gasket replace on a cold hard (not soft hot) engine and you be fine.

frothy oil is fine. if it's bothering you, swap the oil to synthetic.

i know it's frustrating i've been there... but, i caused my leak playing around with rocker covers. that was frustrating. i had to do the gasket replace two or three times because i keep messing (swapping black, wrinkle black, aluminum) with the covers.

just relax and dig into the job. you'll be ok.

 

Harley knew of this problem and changed and updated the design of the gaskets.

 

thank you!