Coolant and oil leak

[Racer242]

Had the Stelvio in for its first service this past Wednesday. No issues up to this point, flawless performance. Riding home, it was the first hot day we have had here in N GA. Stop and go on a metered on ramp to the interstate in 90 degree temps and I catch a slight hint of cooking coolent. Can’t be me because my temp gauge is showing just one bar above the midpoint. Highest I have yet to see but certainly not hot. When I get home, there is a small amount of pink fluid in the valley under the water pump. I optimistically write it off to “overfilling” at the dealer. I let the bike cool and proceed to clean but note that this is the most slippery (oil like?) coolant I have ever seen.

Today, I am riding with a group as part of the BMW Club Mountain Rally and at our first stop I notice the valley under the water pump is filled with pink fluid this time with drops of oil suspended in it. A check on the right side shows a fair amount of oil has flowed down the right side, onto the swing arm, the fender hugger, muffler and my boot. It’s clean engine oil and not clutch fluid because the quantity would have drained the clutch reservoir.

I head back to camp, cautiously. Once here, I see that the oil coating has made it down the entire length of the swing arm and is all over the hugger and muffler. The temp never went above the mid point and that would not explain the oil issue. Volume of oil leaked is significantly greater than volume of coolant leaked.

I can only theorize that fluids are leaking from the seals on the water pump shaft. Both the oil seal and the water seal and then both fluids are finding there way to that valley under the water pump via a weep hole.

I’ll call the dealer in the morning. If it were just a minor coolant leak, I could ride with that but an oil leak that seems to be getting progressively worse is a ride ending issue. I’ll keep ya posted.

 

[john zibell]

Unfortunately time to go back to the dealer for a warranty repair.

 

[JPC56]

There is a drain hose (tell tale) that vents from between the oil and water shaft seals of the coolant pump. If it's bypassing that then the fault is a bit more involved.

 

[GTM®]

There is a drain hose (tell tale) that vents from between the oil and water shaft seals of the coolant pump. If it's bypassing that then the fault is a bit more involved.

Can you expand more on this?

 

[GTM®]

When I get home, there is a small amount of pink fluid in the valley under the water pump.

Thanks for posting in this section. We have a running thread for this on the Mandello HERE. I was hoping they fixed the teething issues on the Stelvio. Sigh. Please keep us updated.

 

[JPC56]

Re post #3. As you are aware the drain from the coolant pump shaft will show either coolant or engine oil depending on which seal has failed. This will drain to the ground via the dedicated hose on the left hand side of the bike. As the leak is coating the swinging arm and muffler on the right hand side then it's not coming from the tell tail drain.

 

[Racer242]

In the light of day I did some clean up and further examination. There was a rainbow streak of fluid running across my paved campsite and a fair puddle under the bike but I am going to walk back on there being oil in the mix. The dealer did the first service and used Motul oil which is nearly the same shade of red as the coolant and they taste the same! After I cleaned everything, it looks pretty clearly like the leak is coming from the hose out of the top of the pump. That coolant is very slippery and makes quite a mess. The second picture was taken with the bike sitting cold about 20 minutes after cleaning. It looks to be leaking from the junction. I could not feel or detect any slippery stuff at any higher location. The puddle under the bike was not directly under the wad of discharge hoses so I think it just a case of a failed or improperly installed clamp.

 

[john zibell]

Thanks for the update. I don't recommend riding with that coolant leak. If you have no choice, keep a close eye on the temp gauge. If you overheat the engine, that would be on you and not covered under waranty.

 

[JPC56]

That is quite a leak and it doesn't look like just coolant.

 

[rslezak]

Went to the Guzzi dealer for service on my '17 California (running great by the way) and saw a guy sitting on his recently "serviced" Mandello... I asked him how it liked it, he said he "Loved It" But, and here's the big "BUT" he said he as of that day he's now on the 3rd engine. Two others failed to the point of having to have them completely replaced. He was gracious and complimented the dealer on their customer service and Guzzi for not having him jump through hoops to get back on the road. But, it definitely makes me wonder what the heck's going on. Might have to wait on the Stelvio as it was definitely going to be my next bike !!

 

[Racer242]

Thanks for the update. I don't recommend riding with that coolant leak. If you have no choice, keep a close eye on the temp gauge. If you overheat the engine, that would be on you and not covered under waranty.

No riding. I took a picture of the temp gauge and with the rain and cool weather, I never saw more than 2 bars

 

[Racer242]

It’s a great feeling when the service tech tells you we got this. I had my coolant leak on a Friday, called the dealer on Saturday, they took the bike in on Tuesday at 1:00 and I was out the door by 2:00. The tech told me mine was the first of their V100/Stelvio deliveries to experience the coolant leak but he knew all about it. Already had a supply of hose clamps in stock. He said the only service issue and warranty issue that have had has been for clutch cylinder leaks.

Back on the road and have done another 300 or so miles and still enthralled with this bike. Thanks to Vespa Moto Guzzi Marietta.