I've had my Yamaha XJ600N (1997) for 6yrs. It now has 44,000miles on clock. All was fine until I moved job about 15 months ago and my commuting distance increased from 10 to 20 miles each way. Since then the oil has been leaking out of the breather tube leaving a bad looking mess on the ground wherever I park. The oil comes from the bottom of the engine (crankcase?), up a rubber pipe into the air filter housing then down another rubber pipe onto either the road (right in front of the back tyre), the exhaust or the drive chain depending on where I position the pipe. At the moment I have fitted a baked bean can onto the side of the bike for the oil to drip into (doesn't look quite as bad as it sounds!).
Is there a valve or filter available that would stop the oil going out of the engine in the first place?
Has anyone else had a similar problem - if so how was it solved?
Thanks,

Nickyj

I'd whip the top off the air filter box and mop out any oil that's sat in there, then monitor any further build up (say once a week).

On an engine that's done a few miles I'd expect to see a little oil out of the breather - it shows it's doing it's job at any rate and as things loosen up the compression can get past the rings and pressurise the cases, forcing oil out the breather pipe.

An excessive amount usually points to worn rings but I'd be surprised at 44,000 miles if the bike's been well treated.

I'd also do an oil and filter change. You haven't put too much oil in him have u? I had a similar problem last year cos he had a little too much oil in ... also whip off the breather tubes and give em a good clean - mine got all crudded up.

Yeah i would check the oil level. when was the last time you cleaned the air filter?.
have you dropped the bike at anytime over the last few weeks....???

i thimk a few ppl in the past had this problem if XJ's were over filled slightly

THANKS FOR ALL THE ADVICE.

- I CHANGE THE AIR FILTER AND OIL WITH FILTER ONCE A YEAR IN APRIL AND CHANGE JUST THE OIL IN OCTOBER.- ABOUT 18MONTHS AGO I DID CHANGE THE MAKE OF OIL FROM CASTROL GP 4 STROKE 10W-40 TO MORRIS SPORT SYNTHETIC FORTIFIED 4 STROKE 10W-40, WOULD THAT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE?

I LAST DROPPED THE BIKE 5 YEARS AGO! I WILL CLEAN IT ALL OUT AS SUGGESTED, CHANGE THE OIL AND FILTERS AND BE MORE ATTENTIVE TO HOW MUCH OIL I FILL IT WITH IN CASE I'VE BEEN OVERDOING IT. - ALTHOUGH IT WAS LEAKING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND THE OIL LEVEL HAD GONE QUITE LOW.

MANY THANKS,

NICKYJ

Is that fully synthetic? FWIW it's supposed to be semi

um,.... the container just says "synthetic 4" so I suppose it's fully synthetic but it does say it's for all 4 & 2 stroke motorcycles. I phoned the parts dept of the local bike shop today and they recommended Castrol GPS (I asked about Castrol GP, they said they had it but the GPS would be better for the distance I cover- but more expensive!)
Your views are appreciated

Thanks,

Nickyj

My bike (Triumph) has fully synthetic oil recommended, which is unusual for bikes with wet clutches.