I've been getting the smallest amount of oil towards the front of my manifold. It is basically a stain and would not have noticed it except for the smell. It took many miles but eventually a SMALL drop would form on the bottom of the manifold. Barely enough to even drop off. I cleaned off the area including rocker and head gaskets several times before a ride and checked after to try to narrow it down but I find no source. Took the tank off today to look further but still no obvious source. Anyone have this happen or likely sources before I take it down further?

Thx

 

You mean outside the intake manifold behind the carb/throttle body, or inside the throat of the carb/throttle body? Wondering how it would smell also, that shouldn't get that hot as to burn off oil I wouldn't think.

 

Sorry outside of the manifold. Seems to be more on the front of the intake. As if it is coming from front cylinder and making its way onto the manifold

 

Front cyl Breather bolt leaking is the first thing that comes to mind. Feel around there?

 

For sure. I have a dk setup with external breathers so I do clean them before rides and check them after. Can't say I've found any there that would make a difference.

 

The bolts? Don't they mist occasionally? Honestly if you've checked the rocker gaskets, what else could it be up there? I got nothing, sorry.

 

Dude it's the breather, they're working more when your running and the "vapor" is blowing back and condensing on the intake manifold. There are other methods of routing the breathers then just "open",, DK has a few different methods.

 

So checking around the breather bolts after riding isn't gonna help me then. In my own sad defense...I've been reaching down and giving the screen on the bolts a wipe every so often to check that. When you say vapor are we talking mist or even finer?

 

It's a gas, not like fuel but like Oxygen is a gas,
https://www.google.com/search?q=PVC+...arley+davidson
Hot gases condense when they're exposed to lower air temperature