Author Topic: Smokin.......... not in a good way (Read 3319 times)

mattydefran · « **on:** August 23, 2006, 10:03:40 AM »

Hello,

I noticed something for the first time the other day that has me rather worried. My Bandit is puffing Blue smoke. I was wondering if anyone else has this problem, or if it might be normal. I don't know how long it has been doing it. I just happened to notice it, because the bike was in the garage and the lighting was just right, so I could see the smoke.

Well here is the rundown on the bike. It is an 2004 1200s I just bought it May of 2005 as a leftover. I have only put 4,000 miles on it since. I had the valves adjusted last year by a very reputable local dealer. So I do not believe that is the issue. Since then I installed a Micron muffler, and Ivan's jet kit. The Bike seems to run fine. I am not losing any oil that I have noticed anyway. I am running the SHELL ROTELLA synthetic oil as someone on this list had suggested. I can't say that I have always babied the bike, but I never beat the living hell out of it either.

I am just trying to see if I should jump ship and trade it in or if this is a common problem that I need not lose too much sleep over.

any help anyone could offer would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Matt

tacoman · « **Reply #1 on:** August 23, 2006, 01:53:16 PM »

Was the bike cold when you started it and it was smoking? Cold engines will smoke due to small amounts of oil which has seeped thru the valve guides, not to mention unburned fuel as choked carbs are dumping a lot of fuel in the motor to keep it running until the temps rise. There is also some expansion as an engine warms so oil burning when cold is normal. Other than that, keep riding and check your oil level and plugs. If your oil level drops and your plugs are oily & wet, you've got a problem.

mattydefran · « **Reply #2 on:** August 24, 2006, 01:23:25 PM »

It is definately more apparent when the bike is cold, but I did take it down the road for a spin, and I could still see it puffing when I came back. I rode it home from work the other day which about a 20 min ride and when I got home, I got off of it and revved it up a couple times, and I could still see some, but it was hard to tell in the direct sunlight. At first I thought it might have been just black smoke from some extra carbon due jet kit making it run a little rich, but it definately is blue in color.

Even if the bike is cold should it smoke enough to be obvious?? You can see it smoking from like 20 feet away!!!!!

Thanks
Matt

Daytona · « **Reply #3 on:** August 24, 2006, 01:39:02 PM »

Get the synth out of it add Rotela T 15x40 and run it like you borrowed it! It ain't broke in yet! make sure the oil is no more than at the top line on the window sitting for an hour? Also if it is hi the cam chain will sling it into the airbox via the vent hose, see if there is any oil in the drain hose from airbox?

mattydefran · « **Reply #4 on:** August 24, 2006, 02:22:04 PM »

Quote from: Daytona

Get the syth out of it add Rotela T 15x40 and run it like you borrowed it! It ain't broke in yet! quote]

huh? You're kinda losing me. What is a SYTH??? Is riding it like you borrowed it anything like riding it like you stole it????? And I believe I do have the rotela 15x40.... Is it the Blue Jug they sell at wal-mart????

Sorry I am just not following your language

terrebandit · « **Reply #5 on:** August 24, 2006, 08:53:41 PM »

Your bike shouldn't be smoking in 4000 miles... NO WAY! Running the crap out of it will not solve this particular problem because your rings are already bedded in as good as they are going to get. You could rehone the cylinders and replace the rings and do that....

I don't think so....

You may have to take your bike down to your dealer and get a leak-down test. Your problem is more than likely a bad valve seal. Oil is making its way from the top end of the motor down into the combustion chamber; probably on one or more of your cylinders. Some said to check the plugs? That might be a good idea to see how even the cylinders are burning or if you have an oily plug. That could point you in the direction to find the problem.

If you are running the synthetic oil and have been doing that from the very start, it is possible that your rings did not bed-in properly. However, running the snot out of it with a non-synthetic oil now is not going to help you at this point. The synthetic oil that you are using is 5W40 oil. That particular weight is not recommended for your bike by Suzuki (see chart below and check your manual)

I would dump that stuff and put in a recommended oil grade before taking it to your dealer. This is especially true if you are seeking any kind of warrenty claim. Lots of guys will give you their opinion on a non-recommended grade of oil because they "think" they know more than Suzuki about these bikes. I laugh my ass off everytime I hear that. Some of those guys are seeking maximum hp out of their bikes and might care less about engine longevity or they just want to be diffferent and say its good because my engine didn't blow up or my cams look good...

As a first step, I would put in some heavier weight oil (10W 40 or higher) and see what that does. If you live in a hot climate (like me) go to a 20W50 and see what happens with the smoke. It may stop the leakdown from the seals or stop it from getting past the rings, a little, which would help your smoke situation (at least visually).

I also know that Ivan jet kits can run very rich if not set up properly or you didn't get the air box drilled right. Also, Ivan also released some needles that were not quite right in very early production making the receiving bikes VERY rich. What was the origin of your jet kit? Did ya get it new from Ivan recently or did ya pick up a used kit off of someone? Extremely rich bikes may give the appearence of smoke but I don't think it would be BLUE smoke. That brings us back to an oil related problem.

Good luck.

Daytona · « **Reply #6 on:** August 25, 2006, 12:58:58 AM »

Quote

="mattydefran"]
Quote from: Daytona
Get the syth out of it add Rotela T 15x40 and run it like you borrowed it! It ain't broke in yet! quote]

huh? You're kinda losing me. What is a SYTH??? Is riding it like you borrowed it anything like riding it like you stole it????? And I believe I do have the rotela 15w40.... Is it the Blue Jug they sell at wal-mart????

Sorry I am just not following your language
Synthetic, 15w40 Dino (reg oil) Rotella [T] Do check the level, and the airbox. Rite the rings are probably seated beyond break in now!!! How about the old jewelers rough trick the old timers used to use??? I seen it work on diesel eng!!!

Farre · « **Reply #7 on:** August 25, 2006, 07:41:00 AM »

Daytona, what's this trick? i've never heard of it, but i'm sure intersted in hearing it!

Daytona · « **Reply #8 on:** August 25, 2006, 10:51:04 AM »

Quote

="Farre"]Daytona, what's this trick? i've never heard of it, but i'm sure intersted in hearing it!

When using the old liners but new rings, or just to get them to seat! A bit of fine silica would be allowed to enter the air inlet, which would seat the rings, or reseat em! This worked well on the older say 2 stroke naturally aspirated Gray Marine or Detroit eng's.