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Oil Cooler Leak,

S

stelviolivo8v

Just got it firing!
Joined
Oct 23, 2012
Messages
9
Location
Alsager, Cheshire
Hi Guys.
Out on a run (circa 160miles) on Monday, when I noticed that my right boot had some oil spray on it, on investigation there was oil apparently leaking from the lower part of the oil cooler and spraying down the right side of the bike (hence the oily boot).
I checked the level of oil in the bike on the dipstick and it was fine, so I road the last 20+ miles home at a sedate pace, keeping an eye out for any warning lights .
On return home ,I waited for the bike to cooldown, then degreased the entire affected area and washed it off.
Restarted the bike, brought it up to normal running temp but NO LEAKS appeared, the oil level in the sump is still good and I've inspected the cooler for any damage or possible small holes but I can' t find any !

Anybody got any suggestions ?
Bike is a Stelvio 2011 model 8v with 7000 miles on the clock, with a full Dealer Service history.
Thanks Paul.
 
Take a look at your right fork leg just to be sure it isn't from there. When moving, oil can go in strange directions.
 
Hi Guys.
Update on the Oil Cooler leak, got round to removing it last week and sent it to a local Radiator/Cooler specialist for testing.
The result was that the cooler has 4 or 5 champagne leaks ,(lots of tiny bubbles from various areas).
This wasn't due to any damage but due in fact to the unit being porous and it cannot be repaired !

Therefore I will try to get it replaced under Warranty ( Bike is 2yrs & 2months old) and see what happens.

Do be honest with all the small but niggling faults, I might just trade it, for something more reliable, after all I just want to ride the bloody thing not repair it !

Might feel different after I've had a BEER AND CALMED DOWN.
 
If you really enjoy riding the Stelvio I would be tempted to get it fixed and continue with the bike. just because this has happened it doesn't mean any thing else will. If you did replace the bike and the new one played up would you just ditch that?
 
Hi Guys.
Bit of an update, bike still off the road whilst Piaggio make up their minds , to treat the defect as warranty ( 2 months out of date) or tell me to piss off and buy a replacement.
I 'm not happy with the protracted decision making of the manufacturer ,but I must say that the Dealer (Rocket Motorcyles) have been brilliant and in particular Steve the Workshop Manager who is fighting my cause.
I wait with baited breath to see the outcome and as this wekend was fantastic weather in the UK ,it's another chance missed to ride the Guzzi.

Watch this space.:
Cheers.
 
At last, got the bike back last Saturday, collected it in the pouring rain and rode it home (65 miles) deep joy.Not impressed with Piaggio's response ,it was off the road for over 8 weeks !
So now it's decision time, do I keep it or trade it in.
I'm not convinced that something else won't fall off or break and the parts back up in the UK isn't very good.
Basically I've just lost confidence in the bike and I want something to ride not just sit in the bloody Dealers workshop, so it looks like it might be a KTM 1190 Adventure or BMW GS TE (water cooled).
Sorry to say but I think my Love Affair with the Italian Beauty is over.
Cheers
Paul.
 
Hey I had a K1200RS and after 20000 Miles the rear clutch cylinder started leaking. I was riding in Germany and drove home without clutch. Dealer repaired and costs were 1100 Euro. Clutch oil has damaged the clutch plate and crankshaft seal. One day labor because the whole gear box had to be removed and housing cleaned because the clutch oil is brake fluid. Verry aggressive stuff. It's well known problem of BMW but warranty,..neeeeeee. I had some other small issues like cracked brake hose which polluted my whole ABS unit, oil leaking engine and I needed every 1,5 year a new battery. I crashed the bike last year because at >150 km/h didn't want to take the corner like I had planned and I had to buy a new one. I choose a bike which handled good and I could sit up straight. Drove GS but was disappointed and finally bought a Stelvio, why?.. well it has character and rides really good and has comfort. I also had 20 years ago a 1200 le mans II and sold it without having any real issues (30000 K) else than the normal you can expect from such a peace or character. I sometimes came home on one cylinder because of some stupid electrical failure but is always brought me home. I wish I never sold it.

My Stelvio of 2008 had also some issued, but my dealer always helped me. When there were no parts he didn't wait for Piaggio but took parts from a stock Stelvio and even from a second hand. All issues were solved and I did 7000 miles this summer without problems. He modified the electric without asking and a few month ago even did the center stand. I got a new fuel map from a forum friend and the thing drives like a dream. I've the impression that dealers are not so good in your area and mess up the brand image. A negative story is easy to write but finally it all stands with a good Dealer and service.

Are there guys with good stories?...or am I the only one? ha haaa..
 
Wait...
The bike is old enough to be out of warranty but the oil cooler was porous and leaked as a manufacturing defect? And it just started leaking two months out of warranty? And that is not a reliable bike to you?
Hey, if you don't like your Guzzi then sell it. But if you think only Guzzi's have issues and that the two bikes you named are 100% reliable......good luck on that. I have seen more than a few KTMs with major issues, and BMWs are famous for their issues.
Best of luck whichever way you go.
 
Did it take 8 weeks for Guzzi to get the part or a combined 8 weeks for Guzzi to decide on the claim and then get the part....I am going to assume the latter.

Here is the thing that I have found with warranty claims. Depending on the part it does take some times. Add in the fact that the bike was out of warranty and Guzzi had to make the call of whether to cover it or not I can see how the clock gets ticking. That does not differ alot from other manufacturers. In fact, other manufactures may not have covered it at all, so good on Piaggio.

There are small things on my 2012 that I fix myself as I have on other bikes. It is not worth the time it will take for the manufacturer to figure out the claim. I have to admit that Piaggio is not the quickest but in the end they do the right thing.

IMHO, since it was out of warranty anyways, perhaps you should have just bought a new cooler and then had the discussion with Piaggio. My dealer tells me many times that I can call Guzzi and submit the claims myself as long as I have a picture. I understand the principal of the thing, however, I would rather be riding.

Unless you don't like the bike I would not sell...just my 2 cents
 
Hey Guys.
Thanks for the feed back, just to clarify I really like the Stelvio ,it's different and stands out in a crowd, but I think the build quality isn't as good as it should be for a £10k bike.
The fact that the oil cooler failed after 26 months isn't the issue, it's the speed with which the problem was resolved.
I just wish the UK network was a bit bigger and not so fragmented (location wise) and then maybe they would sell more bikes.
Anyway the jury's still out on the KTM/BMW, I might fall back in love with the curvy Italian Girl .
You never know, Love is a stange thing !
I will let you know what happens.
Thanks
Paul.
 
Hi Guys.
Just a quick update to let you know that the Stelvio will be replaced in January with a KTM 1190 Adventure, I'll be a bit sad to see her go ,but the deal on the table was too good to miss.
I guess I'd just lost a bit of faith in the reliability of the Curvy Italian Girl and didn't want to take the chance of being off the road again .
Anyway lets see what happens with the KTM, but thanks to all of you ,who gave your support over the last couple of years, it's been a blast !

Just to finish I'd like to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.

Cheers
Livo.
 
If reliability is a concern, perhaps a KTM as a replacement was a little hasty. Good luck with it anyway they do look nice, and the riding dynamics are supposed to be excellent.
 
fatal said:
If reliability is a concern, perhaps a KTM as a replacement was a little hasty. Good luck with it anyway they do look nice, and the riding dynamics are supposed to be excellent.
Click to expand...
glad someone said it besides me, the three of us always take 4 ktms when we do the trail thing. the 990 is big dirt bike really big fat dirtbike off road which is good...kind of just ok on pavement, get the latest version the fueling on the 09 was a total misery in town...guess they figured if it was a big dirt bike, idling and low end response did not matter :S
 
More interestingly IMHO. I had a Breva oil cooler off once, and it was a KTM part. I wouldn't be surprised to find that the defective Stelvio oil cooler was a KTM part also.
 
WayneOrwig said:
More interestingly IMHO. I had a Breva oil cooler off once, and it was a KTM part. I wouldn't be surprised to find that the defective Stelvio oil cooler was a KTM part also.
Click to expand...


That would be ironic indeed.
 
My issues with ktm have not been with motor stuff (except soft transmission gears), it has been small stuff just big enough to send ya walking. It seems like foot peg mounts, shift levers, kick start levers(not on the 990 of coarse), ignition in the wet, and Frame welds...damn old Honda and suzuki frames looked like hell, (don't get me started on Kawi frame welds) but they were and are always solid, I loved the superduke I had, and the 440 I still have,
I would not worry, with ktm too much, If you live with them a while you get to know their common faults and what parts break a lot ( I used to service them at a dealer as well)

The 990 i had a relative still has and it is still going after 3 trips to alaska, its fueling has been mostly taken care of, but it is still only so so on road, BUT excellent off road (for 550lb bike)... I have made 2 tig repairs to the frame though. (no engine or transmission issues)

any Ktm I would throw the factory cables away, and replace with Japanese, the cables tend to be soso.
I also used to go over the plastics on our show room bikes, and remove the mold flashing...at the price of KTM I do not know why the fit and finish has to look so cheap. :evil:

riding the 990 reminded me of the Honda Transalp, or africa twin. We received one of the first 10 rc-8s and it was very nice for a first try and MUCH better looking in person than in the pics...we sold like 3 and then it died, (the fueling was not even,and handling was only, good not great) KTM folks are off road types in our area, The dukes and rc-8s went to wealthier anything new/ exotic type of riders and that is a shame as the duke is a very very nice naked, a bit comfort impaired but nice (think unrefined aprilia)

I would have new Adventure...they are much improved, but I have the luxury of having more than one bike and there is much better off road, and I keept the stella 90% on road and it is good for that....hell if you want reliable cheap do it all the dl-650 is da bomb....
 
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