White Exhaust Smoke
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- Bytown Bandit
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White Exhaust Smoke
Is it normal for the GL1000 to smoke a bit on the left bank on start up. The bike hasn’t been ridden in 20 years. It runs well I put there is a bit of faint white smoke coming out of the left side. Oil and coolant look normal and clean. I haven’t taken it for ride as I’m in the process of a build. Hopefully a good ride will help clear this up.
Bytown Bandit
1977 GL1000 | 2020 BMW S1000XR
Ottawa, ON, Canada
1977 GL1000 | 2020 BMW S1000XR
Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Lucien Harpress
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Re: White Exhaust Smoke
Left side, if it goes away, is generally normal. That's just a bit of oil pooling in the left cylinders because it's on the sidestand.
If it persists? It may be a head gasket about to go. Does the smoke have a sweet-ish smell to it? (WARNING: Use every precaution when sniffing exhaust fumes.) Another tell-tale is, while the bike is running, check the coolant overflow tank. If you're getting bubbling into the tank, that's another good indication of imminent head gasket failure.
Third option? Just ride it. If it's nothing, you'll be fine. If your head gasket DOES eventually blow for real, the white smoke will be copious, thick, and billowing.
Best of luck.
If it persists? It may be a head gasket about to go. Does the smoke have a sweet-ish smell to it? (WARNING: Use every precaution when sniffing exhaust fumes.) Another tell-tale is, while the bike is running, check the coolant overflow tank. If you're getting bubbling into the tank, that's another good indication of imminent head gasket failure.
Third option? Just ride it. If it's nothing, you'll be fine. If your head gasket DOES eventually blow for real, the white smoke will be copious, thick, and billowing.
Best of luck.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete
All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete
All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
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Re: White Exhaust Smoke
Always run a few heat cycles to loosen up the rings and whatever before worrying about smoke.
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Re: White Exhaust Smoke
What Lucien said is spot on ! Smoke on start up is a normal Goldwing trait if parked on the side stand. My 76 has done it since new and my friends (yes I have a few) 1800 does it as well ocaisionally. My advice,,, park it on the center stand to minimize any startup smoking, if you’re ok with the smoke on the side stand just ride it and enjoy it. I will add that if it’s been sitting for a while keep an eye on the oil & coolant, no bubbles in the coolant & the oil shouldn’t be milky which signifies coolant in the oil, not good ! Really bad for the bearings !
Red 1976 oe owner
1976 LTD restored
1980 CBX , in the que, to fix the ignorant heavy handed owner
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1980 GL1100
1984 GL1200 naked
1969 CL350, in the que
1976 LTD restored
1980 CBX , in the que, to fix the ignorant heavy handed owner
1981 CBX
1977 CB750 K7
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1980 GL1100
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Re: White Exhaust Smoke
If you do ride it, watch your temperature closely, if it’s a head gasket it may overheat ...
Gord(bitter experience far far from home)Jones
Gord(bitter experience far far from home)Jones
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My Original 'RAT' was a hybrid '82 CB900/1100F
‘14 KLR650 ... not a rat ... yet
‘84 GL1200i ‘R2B6' (Rat to Be 6, the last, adopted by twowings)
My Original 'RAT' was a hybrid '82 CB900/1100F
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Re: White Exhaust Smoke
Also worth mentioning is the longer it sat the higher the odds of a head gasket failure. Generally on any bike I resurrect I just accept replacing the head gaskets as part of the work.
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"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
2008 GL1800 IIIA "TH3DOG"
1975/6/7/8/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
and a whole garage full of possibilities!!
Psst. oh and by the way CHANGE YOUR BELTS!!!!
- Lucien Harpress
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Re: White Exhaust Smoke
Thankfully, God forbid a head gasket is an issue, replacing them isn't that complicated.
A bit involved, maybe, and one or two specifics to watch out for (easily missed bolts, etc.), but not that complicated.
Still, let's hope you don't have to worry about it.
A bit involved, maybe, and one or two specifics to watch out for (easily missed bolts, etc.), but not that complicated.
Still, let's hope you don't have to worry about it.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete
All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete
All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
- Bytown Bandit
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Re: White Exhaust Smoke
Thank you for your comments and advice.
I will keep an eye on once I start to ride it in 2022.
I will keep an eye on once I start to ride it in 2022.
Bytown Bandit
1977 GL1000 | 2020 BMW S1000XR
Ottawa, ON, Canada
1977 GL1000 | 2020 BMW S1000XR
Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Sidecar Bob
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Re: White Exhaust Smoke
Some smoke from the left side is normal for a bike with horizontal cylinders, especially if it was parked overnight on the side stand (mine is held upright by the sidecar and still smokes occasionally). It is caused by oil pooling in the cylinders next to the bottom of the piston and a tiny amount getting past the piston rings (a pinpoint drop can cause a pretty big cloud of smoke).
I have a Cycle Canada test report from '76 that mentions it smoking the first start of the day.
Honda knew about it and even issued this
Apparently the BMW K bikes smoked so badly they issued a recall to replace the pistons with ones that didn't allow the ring gaps to point down to deal with it (if they had designed them so that the cylinders pointed to the right instead of the left it wouldn't have been a problem but by the time the problem was evident it was too late for that.
I have a Cycle Canada test report from '76 that mentions it smoking the first start of the day.
Honda knew about it and even issued this
Apparently the BMW K bikes smoked so badly they issued a recall to replace the pistons with ones that didn't allow the ring gaps to point down to deal with it (if they had designed them so that the cylinders pointed to the right instead of the left it wouldn't have been a problem but by the time the problem was evident it was too late for that.
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Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
"A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad." - Cookie
Another guy with two sidecars..... Hmmmm... must be something to that....
The Famous Eccles ('84 CX650EI/VeloUral) winter Never Ending Build (CX500forum)
Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
"A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad." - Cookie
Another guy with two sidecars..... Hmmmm... must be something to that....
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Re: White Exhaust Smoke
If I remember correctly Honda actually “clocked” the piston rings so there was no open gaps on the bottom of the cylinder starting in 78, again if I’m remembering right !
Red 1976 oe owner
1976 LTD restored
1980 CBX , in the que, to fix the ignorant heavy handed owner
1981 CBX
1977 CB750 K7
2014 FJR OE owner, sold
1980 GL1100
1984 GL1200 naked
1969 CL350, in the que
1976 LTD restored
1980 CBX , in the que, to fix the ignorant heavy handed owner
1981 CBX
1977 CB750 K7
2014 FJR OE owner, sold
1980 GL1100
1984 GL1200 naked
1969 CL350, in the que
- Old Fogey
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Re: White Exhaust Smoke
That makes no sense. The rings do not stay stationary, hence the reason for two stroke rings being pegged to stop the ends getting into the ports.
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- robin1731
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Re: White Exhaust Smoke
Correct, the rings rotate a lot on the pistons.
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1985 Honda Elite
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1992 ZX7 Dragbike (KZ900 style motor w/NOS)
and a rotation of various purchases
Randakk approved Carb Rebuilder
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Re: White Exhaust Smoke
I know that the rings normally rotate but it seems like I remember in 78 they clocked at 120deg intervals & pinned the ring gaps so that they were not at the bottom to minimize any oil getting past to minimize the start-up smoking. Pretty sure that Honda did that on the newer Wings as the start-up smoke show wasn’t viewed favorably by buyers. Anyway that’s what I remember.
Red 1976 oe owner
1976 LTD restored
1980 CBX , in the que, to fix the ignorant heavy handed owner
1981 CBX
1977 CB750 K7
2014 FJR OE owner, sold
1980 GL1100
1984 GL1200 naked
1969 CL350, in the que
1976 LTD restored
1980 CBX , in the que, to fix the ignorant heavy handed owner
1981 CBX
1977 CB750 K7
2014 FJR OE owner, sold
1980 GL1100
1984 GL1200 naked
1969 CL350, in the que
- Sidecar Bob
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- Location: Kawartha Lakes, Ontario
Re: White Exhaust Smoke
BMW had to do that for the K bikes. If Honda did it wasn't until after '82 because my engine does it.
Mr. Honda ('83 GL1100/Dnepr) summer How a motorcycle evolves thread
The Famous Eccles ('84 CX650EI/VeloUral) winter Never Ending Build (CX500forum)
Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
"A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad." - Cookie
Another guy with two sidecars..... Hmmmm... must be something to that....
The Famous Eccles ('84 CX650EI/VeloUral) winter Never Ending Build (CX500forum)
Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
"A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad." - Cookie
Another guy with two sidecars..... Hmmmm... must be something to that....
- pidjones
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Re: White Exhaust Smoke
As long as it isn't a head gasket (milkshake-looking coolant is a give-away), and you aren't using a quart of oil between changes - ride it! Consider the start-up show an "undocumented feature" to keep the muffler bearings lubricated.
"Love 'em all.... let God sort 'em out!"
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Ex 2006 GL1800 - the Black Pearl SOLD! to make room for:
2021 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited Dark Chalk Metallic
1975 Red GL1000 project - ex Pistol Pete project
1972 Triumph T150V Trident rescue - finished and FOR SALE!
1976 Yamaha RD400c
1978 GL1000 with '75 engine - the Hunley
Ex 1978 GL1000
Ex 1979 GL1000
Ex '79 CB750F rat bike
Ex '86 SEi
Ex '77 GL1000
Ex '76 RD400
Ex '72 Penton 125 set up for flat track
Ex '73 RD250
Ex '68 TR6C - chopped
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