What's This?

[AZRider]

My first time in trying to add an image so I hope I've done everything required.  It's in my Image Gallery but not sure I got it to attach to this message.  It's not super clear how to do that.  Anyway, I'm also not so sure whether I need some help from someone with mechanical abilities or from someone with a chemistry background.  I purchased the Trophy recently from a dealer but know nothing about the bike's history.  After riding the bike about 2500 miles I noticed the oil plug's condition as shown in the photo.  I've changed oil on vehicle for way more years than I want admit to and have never seen such.  This is so true I almost talked myself into the result was because I hit something oily and it splattered on my oil plug.  THat didn't happened.  It's coming from the oil plug and the substance there is hard to explain without a photo.  It's a moldy look or a gooy look or a chemical reaction to the silver oil plug washer or something else.  The odd part is that the photo shows the mold, goo, chemical reaction etc to be big yet there's no drops on the floor.  So the leak is very small but it definitely is coming from the oil plug and likely from the oil plug washer.  Would a copper washer help?  Anyone ever heard of such?  Thoughts would be appreciated.

[AZRider]

I'm trying again to attach a photo to this message using the Insert Image icon above.

[Coconut]

I've looked at the 2 Photo's in your Forum Gallery, and while it is difficult to tell,
I would think it is more likely that something has been thrown up from the road
and stuck there, with th eheat from the exhaust contributing to it's consistency !

I'd clean it off, check the Sump Plug is not loose ( 25Nm ) and just keep an eye on it.

To Post your Photo, do the the Gallery, click on the Photo, then scroll down to the first section :
"BBCode for Forum posts" - Hover your Mouse pointer over the Line of text to the right
of that Heading, which reads, {"https://cdn.img.triumph-trophy.com/07-06-21-62.jpg"}
and "Copy" will appear to the right of it - Click on that to copy the preceeding text,
then go to your Forum Post and Paste ( Right Click & "Paste" or Keyboard CTRL + "V"),
the Text into a new line of your Post - When the Post is viewed the Photo will be seen.

Cheers 

[digital]

The oil plug has white markings between the plug and the crankcase. It could be that that cap has been inserted somewhat twisted and tightened somewhat forced, so that the thread of that cap has suffered some damage that has been threaded. Then they inserted some type of glue so that it does not leak oil and what you see is very possible that it is that glue.

[Coconut]

… or those 2 white paint spots - one on the Sump Plug and one on the Sump
could just be usual marks that some mechanics use to show where a bolt etc
was tightened to, to make it easier to see if it has been moved it worked loose
since it was fitted - difficult to tell.

Without removing the Plug it is difficult to know.

[digital]

Yes, precisely those marks could have been placed because if they know that that bolt was not in good condition, the marks tell them if the bolt is loosening by itself or not.

[GarminDave]

If Triumph Newcastle are anything to go by those white marks are a check that the plug has been tightened correctly.  My bike comes back from a service with red marks all over it.  It is supposed to treasure the customer that all bolts are at the correct torque.

I would not mind but my bike looks like a right mess!

It is now a standing order not to mark my bike in this way.  I'll rely on the mechanic and their supervisor doing the job I pay for.

As for the goo/sludge I'd clean it off and look again after a ride.

[AZRider]

I took the bike out this morning for a 42 mi run.  When I came back, the oil plug was dry and the area under it too.  So my guess is that the mess came from the last oil change or that I have a very, very small leak.  So my next decision is:  Was there damage to the threads somehow and should I change the oil by myself as always or should I let the dealer do it in case there's a problem.  Thanks all for the input.