Suzuki V-Strom (VStrom) Owners Club DL250, DL650, DL1000 & DL1050

V-Strom specific discussion => V-Strom specific discussion => Topic started by: Ovidiu on August 22, 2016, 23:36:58

Title: Bike knocked over - Petrol on the ground
Post by: Ovidiu on August 22, 2016, 23:36:58: Hello everyone,

Today while I was called by a friend and told that my bike was knocked over. How it got knocked over is still to be discovered (1% wind, 99% bad intention). But that for later.
The damaged to the bike is minimum (scratches on crash bars and punctured cover (edit and broken signal housing)).

What worries me is that some brake fluid has poured from the cover when the bike was picked up. The brake handle is scratched and the brake fluid reservoir seems to be full, as in the picture. I slowly tried braking about the house and it all seems to work just fine, maybe a little bit spongy, maybe I'm a bit paranoid.
Tomorrow I will try to book for a service check and maybe fluid change.

Is there any way brake fluid can leak out if the bike has been on the side for 1-2 hours?

Thank you,
Ovidiu.
Title: Re: Bike knocked over - brake fluid on the ground
Post by: greywolf on August 23, 2016, 01:13:52: It shouldn't leak. There is a rubber diaphragm #4 and plate #5 inside that seals the cover and flexes to allow fluid to leave the reservoir as the pads wear. If #4 is missing or damaged, the reservoir can leak.

(http://images.powersportsnetwork.com/fiche/images/Suzuki/2007/Motorcycles/10126_63.gif)
Title: Re: Bike knocked over - brake fluid on the ground
Post by: Fat Rat on August 23, 2016, 06:22:59: Are you sure its Brake Fluid? Coolant/Antifreeze can look like oil when spilled.
Title: Re: Bike knocked over - brake fluid on the ground
Post by: Offtheclockuk on August 23, 2016, 07:04:37: What fat rat said, the expansion bottle is on the same side and a little lower down from the indicator,

Look down the inside of the fairing from the handlebars and see if it's got fluid in.

.
Title: Re: Bike knocked over - brake fluid on the ground
Post by: Ovidiu on August 23, 2016, 22:44:01: Hello again,

Thank you very much for the suggestions. Unfortunately I was unable to check today, and probably won't be able to do it tomorrow either. Will update on Friday.

Thanks again.
Title: Re: Bike knocked over - brake fluid on the ground
Post by: joderest on August 24, 2016, 17:19:00: has the fluid on the ground evaporated ?, if so, brake fluid (oil based) does not, but cooling fluid (water based) will, could give you more clues.
Title: Re: Bike knocked over - brake fluid on the ground
Post by: greywolf on August 24, 2016, 18:45:44: A typical 50/50 water/coolant mix will stay wet for a very long time. Check the fluid levels in the radiator, coolant expansion tank and brake fluid reservoir. Also check the color and odour to see if you can tell from that.
Title: Re: Bike knocked over - Petrol on the ground
Post by: Ovidiu on August 25, 2016, 19:19:26: Hello again,

Found it! Today I leaned the bike on the side for about 5 minutes and, as you can see in the attached picture, liquid started to drip on the side fairing. The smell made it obvious seconds later, it was gasoline.

It looks very oily on the ground and the old stain does not smell at all, but now I am 100% sure that it's gasoline. Even if initially I suspected that some brake fluid might have come out between elements 2 and 3 of the picutre greywolf posted, I'm happy to say I'm glad I was wrong.

If possible can someone edit the title, not to confuse others?

Thank you all! Sorry was wasting your time.
Title: Re: Bike knocked over - Petrol on the ground
Post by: MartinW on August 25, 2016, 20:58:07: Title changed :thumb:
Title: Re: Bike knocked over - Petrol on the ground
Post by: pr on August 28, 2016, 11:39:25: Is it normal to leak petrol when on its side? The fuel tank should only be able to vent out air when it reaches a certain pressure, right?