So Fix it

The name Harley Davidson is synonymous with motorcycles, a desert landscape, street cool and rebelliousness. Some famous riders include actors Brigitte Bardot, Peter Fonda and Elizabeth Taylor. It is also the motorcycle for the notorious gang, Hells Angels, which is most popularly linked to crime and drugs. Harley-Davidson may evoke a glamorous image but even this is not a perfect brand. Even the most expert rider will probably have to tend to an oil leak at some point in his lifetime.

Instructions

1

Check from where the leak is occurring to locate the problem. Make sure to check for any holes in the fuel, oil, or hydraulic tanks. Check both the cases and the lines for leaks. The leak may not be directly from the tank but could be a mixture of oil, water and air, blackened to look like an oil leak. Checking the source of a possible leak should be a regular practice anyway to ensure you are not left without fuel in the middle of nowhere.

2

Wipe away excess oil. According to Harley Davidson Maintenance, the initial thoughts of a rider when he finds oil formation on the right side of the engine is that the oil leak is caused by a damaged push rod tube seal. In this case, the tube should be replaced. A replacement tube can be found by looking at Harley Davidson parts retailers.

3

Take your bike to a mechanic who specializes in Harley Davidson motorcycles. If the problem is recurring, your best bet is to take it to an expert mechanic. He or she may have to tear out the engine to look for the cause of the oil leak and this is best left to an expert. Affordable mechanics can be found on the Internet.

The exhaust on a car or truck directs the gasses built up from the internal combustion process out to the back of the vehicle, that way the gasses dont build up inside of the vehicle and cause a carbon monoxide poisoning. If you develop an exhaust leak, then not only will it make an annoying noise, but if it could leak exhaust gasses into the cab which could be dangerous. To fix the issue, you can use a specialized clamp called an exhaust clamp to fix the issue.

Instructions

1

Put the vehicle on jack stands with the jack. Start the engine and listen to locate the exact spot of the exhaust leak, then turn off the engine.

2

Crawl under the car and go to the exhaust leak. Wrap the clamp around the leak, which should not only be a hole, but should also have carbon buildup around the hole, indicating where the leak is.

3

Tighten the clamp down over the exhaust using the flathead screwdriver, making sure that its secure all the way around. Lower the vehicle off the jack stands with the jack.

Having a manifold leak in your vehicle can cause it to have performance problems. Making sure that the leak gets fixed is important if you want your vehicle performing at its peak. Because the intake manifold is primarily responsible for distributing the mixture of both fuel and air to each of the engines intake ports, fixing these types of leaks is paramount when trying to get the most out of your engine.

Instructions

1

Check your vehicle to see if theres any oil leaking from the manifold. Identify where the leak is.

2

Disconnect the battery. Remove the nylon fuel rail and the air ducts. Once the fuel rail is removed, press the wires of the injector connectors with your fingers in order to detach them. Use a screwdriver to help make the rubber rings loose. This will aid in removing them easier.

3

Use a socket to take the throttle cables, alternator brace and throttle cable cover off. You must also remove from the intake manifold, the throttle body. Once this has been accomplished, you will need to loosen the two nuts that are attached to the EGR pipe and detach that as well. When you do this, youll find a gasket on the EGR pipe, but leave it there for later use.

4

Inspect the manifold of your engine. Remove any gaskets that seem to be loose or broken, and replace them. Clean existing gaskets with WD-40, and make sure theyre free of debris by wiping them with the cloth. Replace all of the parts you just took off. This should fix the leak. If it does not, take your vehicle to a professional.

If your "check engine" light comes on, if your engine ticks or if you smell antifreeze, your vehicle might have an exhaust leak. Whether you do the repairs yourself or take your car to a mechanic, locating the leak helps ensure the repair is made correctly and that you dont overspend. Fortunately, it doesnt take long to locate an exhaust leak.

Instructions

1

Let the car cool down. When the engine gets warm, the metal expands, hiding small leaks from view.

2

Examine the exhaust system without the engine running to see if any holes or slits are visible. Start at the engine and work your way to the tailpipe. Check each connector because they they are most prone to leakage.

3

Check the exhaust manifold. Its possible for the exhaust manifold to become warped and cause a leak. This is more common in older vehicles. A simple hand inspection should tell you if anything feels out of place or if any holes have formed. Check the gasket that connects the manifold to the cylinder head. Its common for that gasket to crack and cause a leak.

4

Look for holes in the exhaust pipe, especially where the pipe bends over the rear axle. That portion frequently cracks or leaks. Check rusty spots to see if its just surface rust, or if it goes all the way through the pipe.

5

Feel for leaks. Have your helper cover the tailpipe by sticking a piece of metal over it and start the engine. This restricts the flow of exhaust gases and pressurizes the exhaust system. Without touching hot metal, carefully move your hands around the outside of the entire exhaust system to feel for any exhaust fumes coming out of strange places.

6

Using a mechanics stethoscope, listen for an exhaust leak. The stethoscope isolates the sound of the engine, making it easier for you to hear escaping exhaust fumes.

A head gasket seals an engine as well as the pathways of oil and coolant within the engine. An intake manifold gasket seals the cylinder heads and the intake manifold together. Information on these parts can be beneficial as they can both experience leaks leading to other problems if left unchecked.

Manifold Gasket Leak

A leak in the intake manifold gasket can lead to coolant running down the sides of a vehicles engine. Some vehicles have become well known for springing leaks in their intake manifold gaskets. These vehicles, however, are usually equipped with plastic manifold gaskets which tend to fail sooner than other gaskets.

Head Gasket Leak

A head gasket can leak either coolant or compression. Coolant leaks in a head gasket will be discovered fairly quickly due to the fact that an engine will run hot as a result. Although compression leaks cause engines to lose a lot of their power, they will not prohibit you from continuing to drive the vehicle.

Considerations

Some motors are prone to coolant leaks in their intake manifold gaskets. There are also some vehicles which have motors prone to head gasket failure. Review consumer guides and other forums to determine if a particular vehicle is subject to head gasket failure more often than others.