Q: Hi, I have a 2008 Kawasaki ZX-10 with approximately 8,000km on the clock. Everything was fine until I noticed oil dripping out from under the engine, after a long ride. It seems to be coming out of the breather pipe.
I would like to know if this breather pipe should have a plug in the end of it, or should it be open? If I’m not mistaken I think there was once a plug on the end of the pipe.
Michael Biggs
A: I doubt if the breather pipe you’ve mentioned will have a blank/plug in the end of it, maybe one of those ‘duck bill’ things, which allows for some form of pressure relief. Why not pop into a local dealer and check out a new ZX-10 to see if that has one or something fitted from new?
But if your question is to why there’s oil coming from the breather pipe in the first place, we might have a problem, as there shouldn’t be any to be concerned over?
It could mean that the engine is overfilled and crankcase pressure could push some oil into the air box, as that’s where this breather comes from. Just check the oil level when warm to make sure the bike isn’t too full. Or you could check out inside the air box, which isn’t an easy job to get to if you haven’t done it before.
Worst-case scenario is that there could be cylinder leakage due to piston ring damage, causing high internal crankcase pressure, so a compression leak-down test might be in order. But with only 8,000km on the clock I doubt it very much. Hope all this answers your question?
