White smoke, am I burning oil?

Yellow Submarine · April 13th, 2010, 10:27 PM

I was sitting at the stop light the other day and I was completely engulfed by a cloud of white smoke from my bike. It's been smoking mildly a lot lately, but this was really bad, so I'm concerned now. I checked my oil levels and they don't seem to be much lower, but my coolant seems to have gone down some as well (although I think it's due to the overflow tube) I checked the spark plugs and sure enough they were all black on the ends. Any suggestions on what might be happening/how I can fix it?

kkim · April 13th, 2010, 10:40 PM

generally when exhaust smoke is concerned...

white=water/coolant
blue=oil
black=unburned gas

I'd suspect a coolant leak somewhere.

tlhamon · April 14th, 2010, 07:26 AM

I agree with KKIM. White is usually an indicator of a cracked block where coolant is leaking into the cylinder. Get your bike hot and then put it in your garage and lie next to it. You may be able to smell the coolant as it is very sweet smelling.

Snake · April 14th, 2010, 08:07 AM

Watch your fluid levels to see if they go down. I agree with the others. It sounds like a coolant leak.

g21-30 · April 14th, 2010, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlhamon

White is usually an indicator of a cracked block where coolant is leaking into the cylinder.

It could be as simple as a leaking head gasket or as bad as a cracked block. Probably just the gasket.

Yellow Submarine · April 14th, 2010, 09:15 AM

Thanks guys. So you think it's a coolant problem even though my spark plugs were black and oily? I've got a new head gasket coming in the mail. We'll see if that does the trick.

g21-30 · April 14th, 2010, 09:37 AM

When the head gasket leaks, it's possible for coolant to mix with the oil and/or to enter the combustion chamber. It's also possible for the oil to leak into the coolant and your coolant tank volume will increase and look black. So, check your oil level and if it's not increasing, but the coolant level is decreasing and you have white smoke, most likely coolant is getting into the chamber.

Thrak · April 15th, 2010, 04:50 PM

I'm curious, do you have your crankcase breather plugged like some here do?

kkim · April 15th, 2010, 05:18 PM

Who has their crankcase breather plugged?

Yellow Submarine · April 15th, 2010, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thrak

I'm curious, do you have your crankcase breather plugged like some here do?

I've actually got a much different set up than anyone on here. Mine has a wet turbo. No, my breather isn't plugged up though. By the way, do I want the piston cover gasket or the lower cylinder cover gasket? Or both?

g21-30 · April 15th, 2010, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellow Submarine

By the way, do I want the piston cover gasket or the lower cylinder cover gasket? Or both?

Any part that you must remove normally needs a new gasket, if it has a gasket. Do you want to tear the engine apart again, just because you reused a cheap gasket?

Thrak · April 15th, 2010, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kkim

Who has their crankcase breather plugged?

Isnt that what this pic is showing?

Yellow Submarine · April 15th, 2010, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g21-30

Any part that you must remove normally needs a new gasket, if it has a gasket. Do you want to tear the engine apart again, just because you reused a cheap gasket?

Got it, thanks. Several new gaskets it is

kkim · April 15th, 2010, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thrak

Isnt that what this pic is showing?

no

Thrak · April 16th, 2010, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kkim

no

So...

1) What do you call the plugged vent?
2) Where is the crankcase breather on this bike? The one down by the trans?

kkim · April 16th, 2010, 04:12 AM

1) thats the Kleen system inlet to the exhaust.

2) yes, crankcase vent is the tube coming out of the case that connects to the bottom of the airbox.

Thrak · April 16th, 2010, 04:46 AM

Thanks, didnt know that!

April 13th, 2010, 10:27 PM	#1
Yellow Submarine ninjette.org member Name: Jake Location: San Francisco Join Date: Dec 2009 Motorcycle(s): Kawasaki Ninja 250 2008 Posts: 10	White smoke, am I burning oil? I was sitting at the stop light the other day and I was completely engulfed by a cloud of white smoke from my bike. It's been smoking mildly a lot lately, but this was really bad, so I'm concerned now. I checked my oil levels and they don't seem to be much lower, but my coolant seems to have gone down some as well (although I think it's due to the overflow tube) I checked the spark plugs and sure enough they were all black on the ends. Any suggestions on what might be happening/how I can fix it?

April 14th, 2010, 07:26 AM	#3
tlhamon ninjette.org member Name: Thomas Location: Traverse City, MI Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): None Yet Posts: 183	I agree with KKIM. White is usually an indicator of a cracked block where coolant is leaking into the cylinder. Get your bike hot and then put it in your garage and lie next to it. You may be able to smell the coolant as it is very sweet smelling. __________________________________________________ It's not worth doing if you aren't completely stressed out about it.

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April 13th, 2010, 10:40 PM	#2
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	generally when exhaust smoke is concerned... white=water/coolant blue=oil black=unburned gas I'd suspect a coolant leak somewhere.

April 14th, 2010, 08:07 AM	#4
Snake ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Rick Location: Alexandria, Louisiana Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 Blue Ninja 250 Posts: Too much. MOTY - 2017, MOTM - Jan '19, Oct '16, May '14	Watch your fluid levels to see if they go down. I agree with the others. It sounds like a coolant leak.

April 14th, 2010, 09:15 AM	#6
Yellow Submarine ninjette.org member Name: Jake Location: San Francisco Join Date: Dec 2009 Motorcycle(s): Kawasaki Ninja 250 2008 Posts: 10	Thanks guys. So you think it's a coolant problem even though my spark plugs were black and oily? I've got a new head gasket coming in the mail. We'll see if that does the trick.

April 14th, 2010, 09:37 AM	#7
g21-30 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Sam Location: Northern Virginia Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R 2009 and ZX-12R 2000 Posts: A lot.	When the head gasket leaks, it's possible for coolant to mix with the oil and/or to enter the combustion chamber. It's also possible for the oil to leak into the coolant and your coolant tank volume will increase and look black. So, check your oil level and if it's not increasing, but the coolant level is decreasing and you have white smoke, most likely coolant is getting into the chamber.

April 15th, 2010, 04:50 PM	#8
Thrak ninjette.org member Name: None Location: Atlanta Join Date: Feb 2010 Motorcycle(s): Lots Posts: 55	I'm curious, do you have your crankcase breather plugged like some here do?

April 15th, 2010, 05:18 PM	#9
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	Who has their crankcase breather plugged?

April 16th, 2010, 04:12 AM	#16
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	1) thats the Kleen system inlet to the exhaust. 2) yes, crankcase vent is the tube coming out of the case that connects to the bottom of the airbox.

April 16th, 2010, 04:46 AM	#17
Thrak ninjette.org member Name: None Location: Atlanta Join Date: Feb 2010 Motorcycle(s): Lots Posts: 55	Thanks, didnt know that!