Sawdust behind cam cover!

[Unlaoised]

Replaced both cam covers today with chrome ones.
When I removed the LHS cover there was a lot of mess there, like sawdust.
I cleaned it up as best I could and drove on.
The RHS looked as I expected it to.
Is this something to be concerned about?

LHS:




LHS cleaned:


RHS:

[The emperor has no clothes]

It looks like something got in there and dried up and crystallized a little corrosion. I don't know what though.

[RonW]

Might be seepage from the inside like the clutch slave (bottom pic.). That's total accumulation after 20-years, nothing tragic.

[Jims99]

Water, soap, gas. That's the low side, gasket let something leak in over time. Not oil so not leaking out of the engine. You're good to go.

[da prez]

  I have seen it several times also. I just thought it was old age dust.

                                  da prez

[indybobm]

  I have seen it several times also. I just thought it was old age dust.

                                  da prez

Residue from a cork gasket?

[98valk]

looks like dried up preservation grease.

Honda had thousands of pre-made GL1500 engines on the self in support of GL1500 Goldwing production.

[old guy]

Could it be soapy water infiltration from a high pressure car wash?

[The emperor has no clothes]

Could it be soapy water infiltration from a high pressure car wash?

I think this is the most likely scenario 

[Valkorado]

  I have seen it several times also. I just thought it was old age dust.

                                  da prez

I find that behind my ears lately.   

[f-Stop]

looks like dried up preservation grease.

That's exactly what I was thinking...