white smoke

[08broach]

I know this has been mentioned before, i was just polishing my bike and started it up because when i put it away last night it was smoking white smoke, when i started it this evening it was still smoking, i thought it might be the cold but it is in a garage (not heated though).. however i left the bike to warm up for 15 mins or so and when i came out the temp gage was half way yet the smoking continued.

When i put my hand in the smoke it got abit wet, there was alot a wet path on the door about 2 feet behind the exhaust?

could it be burning coolent or just the cold?

[stug]

Its probably just condensation.

[RedexRobB]

Its probably just condensation.

id go with that too.

[cargo]

did you check the coolant level ??

And your oil level ? and how does you oil look?


I would also ask what sort of use does your bike get.......................long daily runs ? lots of very short daily runs? one short run a month?

[Jamz]

Like Cargo says - check your coolant level!

To make absolutely sure, when the bike's cold get the top off the rad and make sure that's topped up and looking ok.

[08broach]

how should my oil look? Do I need to take the fairings off to check the coolent level?

[rene]

From what i can remember of the L model the coolent bottel is just above the oil window, it should be bettween the high/low.

Go for a ride and if theres still white smoke coming out of it and the coolent level has gone down i recomend you get someone to look at your head gasket ASAP!

[cargo]

Good grief.........................

Oil should look like oil if it's fresh and new most oils look like a golden colour if it's old and done a few miles it will be dark gray nearly black
If the oil in the sight glass looks white or creamy coloured it is very likely to have water/condensation in it.
Sometimes new oil can be red in colour but it will still be dark after a few hundred miles

You can check you coolant level in the expansion tank on the right of you bike there is a little slot in the fairing infill panel that allows you to see the marks on the side on the tank and the level itself.

If need be remove the infill panel for a better look
When the bike is cold you can take the radiator cap off and check it is full...................do not dare ask me where the radiator cap is or I'm likely to be really tearing my hair out

This is all basic daily maintance stuff.................you should know it.

Rant over

[08broach]

yeh obviously this is stuff I should know, hence why I am asking,
Chill.. This is my first bike and I have only had it 2 days,
Thanks though

[08broach]

the smoke appears to have stopes when warm, however the lense to see the oil looked abit creamy coloured in patches, they did however stay there when I tilted the bike in either direction. The oil behind it did not appear creamy though, it was gone when I got back from my ride?

[lewisdale]

sounds like condensation to me

[cargo]

sounds like condensation to me

If you have only had it two days and have no evidence of a recent service including oil and filter change then if I was you I'd get it done now..................then use the bike ride it enjoy it but keep a close eye on the oil level and condition AND the coolant level...................

Given that you have just bought it then it could well be nothing more than condensation............follow the above and you'll soon find out

ENJOY

[superman]

ah yea its abit of condensation mate, mine was the same, shouldnt cause you any problems, mine was fine.