Modern Buddy

Hey all,

I've had the sh150 out of winter storage for a few weeks now and I've noticed a mystery oil leak. It's coming from a small hole near the oil drain plug. The hole is obviously part of the design but I don't think it's supposed to be leaking oil. My only guess is that it's possible that I put a little too much oil in when I filled it up last time and that maybe this is some sort of oil overflow hole so that it doesn't build up too much pressure. Either that or something is seriously wrong and it needs to go to the shop. Any ideas?

generally when the manufacturer has added a weep hole, it occasionally weeps.

If it was me I wouldnt worry about, based on your picture of a bit of oily residue....unless it gets appreciably worse.

Thanks, I didn't know that little hole was called a weep hole. This picture was taken after I had cleaned it up so I could find the leak. That little bit of oil was after just 5 min of idling. I just checked it after my 5 mile ride to work and it's dripping down the area where the oil drain bolt is. Since I purchased the extended warranty I think I'll take it in just in case it's someting serious. From what I could tell after searching around a bit, that much oil comming out of the weep hole could be a sign of a blown seal. Thanks again

jasondavis48108 wrote:Thanks, I didn't know that little hole was called a weep hole. This picture was taken after I had cleaned it up so I could find the leak. That little bit of oil was after just 5 min of idling. I just checked it after my 5 mile ride to work and it's dripping down the area where the oil drain bolt is. Since I purchased the extended warranty I think I'll take it in just in case it's someting serious. From what I could tell after searching around a bit, that much oil comming out of the weep hole could be a sign of a blown seal. Thanks again

Good idea...let us (me) know what the pros tell you. Honda doesn't build any junk...those SH are pretty sexy!

I took it in Friday but couldn't get an appointment till this coming Saturday. I'll definitely let ya know what they say.

If you think you over-filled the oil, why not just drain and re-fill with the correct amount? You could even use a clean container and re-use the same oil.

If that stops the leak, problem solved.

I thought about that but then I read the oil level several times at different places to make sure the ground was level and it's not reading as over filled.

Are you talking about this hole? That seems pretty low in the case for it to be just a weep hole.

yeah syd, that's the hole. I'm not sure what it is, but it's definitely leaking oil. I have an appointment this saturday at our local shop to see what's going on with it. The thing that scared me was that I read about how if oil is coming out of certain weep holes it can mean a seal is about to blow. Definitely don't want that.

jasondavis48108 wrote:yeah syd, that's the hole. I'm not sure what it is, but it's definitely leaking oil. I have an appointment this saturday at our local shop to see what's going on with it. The thing that scared me was that I read about how if oil is coming out of certain weep holes it can mean a seal is about to blow. Definitely don't want that.

The scoot ought to still be under warranty, no? (Check the oil level before it gets there, making sure it's not too high, though.)

Oh, and don't be like me. Former Honda owner, they all specified the dipstick unscrewed to check the level. Buddy = dipstick screwed in.

It pays to check the manual.

Syd wrote:Are you talking about this hole? That seems pretty low in the case for it to be just a weep hole.

What kind of hole are you suggesting it is then?

mattgordon wrote:

Syd wrote:Are you talking about this hole? That seems pretty low in the case for it to be just a weep hole.

What kind of hole are you suggesting it is then?

You got me. But why put a weep hole at the bottom of something that is supposed to hold oil?

Syd wrote:

mattgordon wrote:

Syd wrote:Are you talking about this hole? That seems pretty low in the case for it to be just a weep hole.

What kind of hole are you suggesting it is then?

You got me. But why put a weep hole at the bottom of something that is supposed to hold oil?

You're not seeing the channel that the oil has to go through between the oil reservoir and the weep hole. If the weep hole was located at the bottom of the sump as a direct pass-through, it'd be called a drain. It'd also be a pretty poor design.

It's under warranty, you know what to do.

I bought the 4 year extended warranty to it's definitely still under warranty. The placement of the little hole be it a weep hole or not is near the oil drain plug but it's on this rounded part of the case which makes me think that it may be separated from the oil reservoir in some way (not really sure but if it weren't it seems like it would have always leaked). I did read the manual so I'm not screwing the dip stick back in when I check the oil level. Luckily my buddy is a 2T so there's no confusion there Hopefully the pros will find a very simple problem with a very simple fix. I'd also like to know exactly what that little hole is and what it's for

jasondavis48108 wrote:I bought the 4 year extended warranty to it's definitely still under warranty. The placement of the little hole be it a weep hole or not is near the oil drain plug but it's on this rounded part of the case which makes me think that it may be separated from the oil reservoir in some way (not really sure but if it weren't it seems like it would have always leaked). I did read the manual so I'm not screwing the dip stick back in when I check the oil level. Luckily my buddy is a 2T so there's no confusion there Hopefully the pros will find a very simple problem with a very simple fix. I'd also like to know exactly what that little hole is and what it's for

Have you looked or stuck something up there to see how deep it is? I wonder if it's not just an alignment hole cast into the case for some reason.

Syd wrote:

jasondavis48108 wrote:I bought the 4 year extended warranty to it's definitely still under warranty. The placement of the little hole be it a weep hole or not is near the oil drain plug but it's on this rounded part of the case which makes me think that it may be separated from the oil reservoir in some way (not really sure but if it weren't it seems like it would have always leaked). I did read the manual so I'm not screwing the dip stick back in when I check the oil level. Luckily my buddy is a 2T so there's no confusion there Hopefully the pros will find a very simple problem with a very simple fix. I'd also like to know exactly what that little hole is and what it's for

Have you looked or stuck something up there to see how deep it is? I wonder if it's not just an alignment hole cast into the case for some reason.

Haven't tried that, I'm a bit afraid of making things worse at this point

jasondavis48108 wrote:

Syd wrote:

jasondavis48108 wrote:I bought the 4 year extended warranty to it's definitely still under warranty. The placement of the little hole be it a weep hole or not is near the oil drain plug but it's on this rounded part of the case which makes me think that it may be separated from the oil reservoir in some way (not really sure but if it weren't it seems like it would have always leaked). I did read the manual so I'm not screwing the dip stick back in when I check the oil level. Luckily my buddy is a 2T so there's no confusion there Hopefully the pros will find a very simple problem with a very simple fix. I'd also like to know exactly what that little hole is and what it's for

Have you looked or stuck something up there to see how deep it is? I wonder if it's not just an alignment hole cast into the case for some reason.

Haven't tried that, I'm a bit afraid of making things worse at this point

I understand. What can I say, sometimes I'm just a little kid

well I just heard back from the shop. That weep hole is there to let you know when the mechanical seal on the water pump is going bad. They've ordered a new seal and all the work will be covered under the warranty. I think it's a bit crazy that at just shy of 1900 miles this would happen. Honda is generally know for their reliability, hopefully this is just a fluke and not a design problem with the scooter itself. I don't want to have to pay to have this done every 1900 miles.

It's gotta be a fluke, but I'm glad that they are taking care of it. I bet that it never happens again, but just in case, keep an eye on the weep hole (in 2000 more miles).

Oh I'll be watching it very carefully. I have another two plus years on my four year extended warranty so if it does happen again it should do so well within the warranty period. Actually, it's kinda sad that I've owned the scooter for almost two years and I only have about 1900 miles on it. It really shows me that I don't go anywhere but work which is only 5 miles away

Yeah gotta be a fluke. Still sucks though.
The SH model is like over 11years old now and still selling really well overseas. Don't think it be selling like that if it had problems.

On the plus side Honda is bringing a new scooter to the states, Hondas website should say what it is on Monday.
My money is on the Vision.

I really wish they would bring over the sh300. That is one sweet scooter.

Looks like it's the PCX now available in 150ccs (used to be 125), unless I missed that earlier. I was wondering what was going on when I saw that their entire 2012 line up was the S-wing and the Ruckus 50cc. I bet that the Vision is next... maybe this afternoon?

http://powersports.honda.com/2013/pcx.aspx

Note: Bless Honda for calling a 153cc a 150. Props.

Metro got a update as well. Looks like a Buddy now.

Well spotted, sir.