Little smoke, how big a problem?

[Extent]

I'm trying to get my bike back up and good enough to ride down to MotoGP in two weeks time.  I've already got it on the road, and it all seems to be running smooth, but I've got a blueish smoke from my exhaust now that never goes away.

I pulled the plugs and they're slightly dark, and smell a bit of oil.  I've routed a new vent tube to the airbox, since the front one was kinked.  When I first brought it back to life I changed the oil and added a splash of seafoam, warmed it up a couple of times, and then changed it again with my usual synth blend, the smoking has been pretty consistent throughout.

The haynes says scary sounding things about having to replace piston rings or valve stem seals or a bad headgasket.  Anything else to check?  And more importantly, how much damage am I likely in for if I ride it in it's current state for a couple hundred miles?

[Rick G]

Your not going to hurt anything ,just be sure to keep a constant eye on the oil level.
valve seals aren't a problem, but rings are another story.  I've been nursing a set I bought on ebay, in '04 , the last two times I've had it down..
Check your coolant level too, it may be coolant that's "smoking" .
I can get custom made rings , through an outfit here in kingman , if push comes to shove I have  just used a glaze breaker hone on mine, to put a cross hatch on the bore,  when I have it apart and they have reseated fine.

[Tiger]

 :) I agree with Rick...ride her for a few hundred mile's but keep an eye on oil and coolant levels. After being down for a long period it could be a sticky this or that type problem...or a high level of condensation "drying out"... ;)

               8).......TIGER....... 8)

[joevacc]

I agree with Rick and Tiger. Watch fluid levels!

I would try some Yamaha Ring Free also.  I used a bottle of when my carbs got a little crappy, - Didn't do a thing for the carbs, still had to pull them and clean them...   :-\

All of the marine guys swear by the stuff and they deal with motors that sit all the time.  Anyway it couldn't hurt anything.

All else is nothing a little time and money won't fix!  Except the rings of course...  They don't seem to go bad too often though, I have only heard of a couple instances.

Good Luck,

[williamruck]

Now I don't have the long -term experience that these guys have but I will say that I agree with them. When I finally got my V up and running it smoked like crazy. It was pretty funny. Anyways, about 100 miles later, being sure to watch the oil and the coolant, the smoke has gone away and everything sooms to be OK, except for the other issues; but the engine is fine. Which is a big deal.

[h2olawyer]

When mine was stored for several years, and I was away at law school, my dad had to move it.  The clutch pack had frozen, but he thought the engine had siezed.  He poured Marvel Mystery Oil into the cylinders and let it sit.  I came home shortly after that and he told me what had happened.  I got the clutch loosened up & then got the bike started.  There wasn't a mosquito around for blocks after I got it running.   ;D  I took it for a short ride & the heavy smoke continued for well over a mile.  The cars that started out behind me sure gave me lots of room!

H₂O

[67GTO]

When I store my GTO for the winter I pour Marvel Mystery Oil down the carb until the car chokes
out. In the spring I produce a large cloud of smoke :)

[motorcyclezen]

I agree about giving it some time. When I started my bike at first after it sat for about a year. It was smoking and stinking. Figured it was just bad fuel components left in the carbs, etc.

Should be between the  marks. One other thing is to check is the oil level to make sure it's not too high. That was another problem  I ran into land only discovered when I found that oil had been spewing from my breather into my air box. Thankfully, the guys here helped me sort it out.

Ed--

[QBS]

Rick, how does engine coolant get into the oil?

[Rick G]

There's really only one way I can think of , a leaking head gasket . One of the tubular o rings may have started leaking.

[QBS]

What about a leaking water pump seal, as in steam coming out of the weep hole?

Also, if coolent does get mixed with the oil, how does that manifest itself in the exhaust color?

[Rick G]

 While living  in MN , I bought a 4 cyl. Plymouth minivan . as I drove out of the lot, I noticed the exhaust vapor (it was cold out) had a greenish tinge. After a discussion with the lot owner next day , they repaired it.(new head gasket)
As for the mechanical water pump seal, I replaced mine first thing ,on my first V . The only sign was the tell tale trickle of coolant from the weep hole.
look for bubbles ( beads of water) in the oil , usually on the dip stick. Since you don't have one, you might try dipping a long, thin screwdriver in to the oil , after removing the remote filler hose and carefully examining  it with a magnifying glass.
Are you saying that your getting steam from the weep hole ??? 

[QBS]

Yes. Steam from the weep hole.

[Rick G]

Dam , I'd like to see that!
I would  do a pressure test on the cooling system. Out here Auto Zone will loan a pressure tester .
If the cooling system checks out OK , then I'd install a new mechanical seal in the water pump and a new oil seal in the outer case.
I traded my '76 Dodge  PU for a '88 Honda Accord , which then proceeded to blow a head gasket . Auto Zone provided the pressure tester to confirm that the new radiator and re machined head were indeed sealed up.

[jasonm.]

I think we all know...white smoke = coolant >head gasket,... dark smoke= oil issue(rings, valve stem seals & more)... light grey smoke= rich carb condition, especially noticed by friends following you when you accelerate but not noticeable at idle except by smell.

[Kenny]

  You would only get coolant into the oil via the waterpump if these conditions are met: the case drain hole (vent hole) is plugged, the waterpump seal is leaking and the oil seal is bad. Other wise it would be by a bad headgasket or "O" rings in the cylinder head area.
           Cheers Ken S.