Well Ridin' season is just about done for another year here in eastern Newfoundland (though yesterday and today have been summer-like with sunshine and warm temps!), so yesterday I changed my oil and filter as a first step in readying my LS for winter storage. After completing the oil/filter change I took the Bike for a wee 15min. run to check things out ... well, on the way home I stopped at the local Bike hangout and lo and behold, right on the very bottom of the engine there was a bit of oil (I had previously wiped down the entire lower engine, exhaust, etc. to remove the enevitable oil that spills out when you remove the filter cover ...)!! Looked to see if it was coming from an improperly seated filter cover and running down ... but no, that area was as dry as a bone. I couldn't for the life of me see where this oil had come from? Rode home, wiped off the offending oil and put the Bike away. Since today was such a beautiful day, I decided to go for a spin. At the end of the Ride (which was awesome BTW!), I again checked under the Bike and sure enough, there again was a bit of oil, exactly where there was some yesterday ... right on the very bottom of the engine block,  just aft of the front pegs, near the right side frame tube.
Any ideas on this folks?

PerrydaSavage wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:


This area sure sounds like an oil filter seal leak. It started right after an oil filter  change so I would suspect this to be the source. I know you double checked this area but it can be hard to detect an oil leak when the oil is new. Clean up the oil residue then fire up the Savage and watch very closely for leaks at the filter cover. It probably is very slight so use a magnifying glass if you have to. Rub the area with a Q-Tip to see if it picks up oil. When the engine cools off rub the area with your finger and check for oil. Generally, oil that drips from the crankcase can be sourced from an  area higher up. Let us know how you make out.

bantwheel, you just might be right about this ... the leaking oil isn't dripping off of the bottom of the crankcase, but is more like a small thin film ... and it isn't dark/gritty like old crankcase oil ... it's fresh. I just came in from the shed (It's 6:33am here and this has been on my mind all nite ...); ran my little finger between the exhaust and the lowest part where the filter cover mates to the engine case and there was a very slight residue of fresh oil there ... so it's either the cover is improperly seated, or the rubber o-ring on the filter cover needs to be replaced. Some say to replace it every time the filter is changed and some say it's reusable many times ... I checked it when I did the oil/filter change and it looked good and I smeared it with a light coat of fresh oil as the Clymer suggests ... but, in the 5000kms (3400mi) since Aug. '03, my LS has had 5 oil changes and 3 filter changes, so it's probably time for new o-rings ... a job for the after-winter-storage oil change in April (I change the oil & filter before winter storage and the oil only when taking Bike out in the spring).
Hey Starlifter! So you are a fellow Newfoundlander! Welcome b'ye! The Codroy Valley on Nfld's west coast is a beautiful area of the province ... I have some relatives living there, as my family originates in the nearby island community of Ramea. I hear you about putting the Bike away ... and sure enough we will have the occassional spring-like day from now until usually late December, but they will be few and far between ... and it gets dark early and very cool when the sun goes down ... so, it isn't worth the hassle ... I'll probably get one more run in over the next week or so, and then it's hibernation 'til April ...  
Ride Safe guys ... and thanks for the input!