White smoke in the mornings?

[placidfemme]

Hi all

This is proberly a dumb question, but when I start my ZXR250C up in the mornings, it pumps out white smoke from the exhaust. At first I thought it was steam, but it has a strongish smell, and I was wondering if that was normal?

Also when I went on the Ride RIGHT Ride SAFE course one of the instructors asked me if my ZXR was a 2 stroke... and I said "No, why?" and he said "because it's smoking and usually only 2 strokes do that".

So judging by that, it doesn't only smoke in the mornings, but thats the only time I see it, and they seem to think it's not normal...

If its not normal what can I check or do to fix it?

Thanks in advance

[Jonty]

Hi all

This is proberly a dumb question, but when I start my ZXR250C up in the mornings, it pumps out white smoke from the exhaust. At first I thought it was steam, but it has a strongish smell, and I was wondering if that was normal?

Also when I went on the Ride RIGHT Ride SAFE course one of the instructors asked me if my ZXR was a 2 stroke... and I said "No, why?" and he said "because it's smoking and usually only 2 strokes do that".

So judging by that, it doesn't only smoke in the mornings, but thats the only time I see it, and they seem to think it's not normal...

If its not normal what can I check or do to fix it?

Thanks in advance

You could try quit line

[Motu]

And it's not a diesel either I presume,like a 2 stroke they often have white smoke when cold.If you are sure it oil and not steam - oil will smell like oil,a cold engine also has a strong smell as it is running rich and very poorly with incomplete combustion - then it is possibly running down an inlet valve guide or just from the rings.

[Paul in NZ]

Maybe it just elected a new Pope?

[bugjuice]

smoke, and not just 'steam' cos it's so cold...?? Does it go away when the bike warms up? And it's not the same as you see other bikes and cars? Stick your hand in the smoke and see if it feels wet..
Else might have the choke on too rich..? But that wouldn't be white..

[vifferman]

Yeah, what Motu said: it is mostly steam, but smells because when you start it up, it's running on choke. Plus our fuel has lots of xylene and toluene in it, so exhaust emissions are smelly anyway, more so when the engine's cold.

But if the instructor said your bike was smoking, it may need some work done. However, if it's not using much oil, and not fouling sparkplugs, I wouldn't worry about it too much yet.

[placidfemme]

Thank you everyone... Yes my bike is the new pope! Pope ZXR the 1st! lol

I only ever notice the smoke in the mornings when I start her up (using the choke otherwise I'd have to wait until like 10am before it's warm enough to start without the choke). I'll be taking the ZXR into the shop soon (once I know if I have to fork out any $$ to get Sams bike fixed), to get the chain adjusted (instructor at Ride RIGHT Ride SAFE said it was too loose or too tight... I don't remember now lol... but then again I'm not sure if I trust what this particular instructor said... as he told another biker on her Learners, that she cannot legally ride her bike on the motorway with a "L" plate... LOL dumb ass)

So when I take the ZXR in I'll ask them to check for me

Thanks again
From the rider of Your wonderfully newly ellected smoking Pope!

[Paul in NZ]

Thanks again
From the rider of Your wonderfully newly ellected smoking Pope!

Hey... Don't get too carried away. It's more likely your bike is just a common old cardinal voting for the Pope...

[placidfemme]

Hey... Don't get too carried away. It's more likely your bike is just a common old cardinal voting for the Pope...

Damnit lol... I already organised the white doves to shit on it

[cheetor]

Sounds like a head gasket to me, ZXR250s are notorious for it especialy at every 20,000K, if its a thick white smoke it'll be the head gasket, Antifreeze gives the thick white smoke
if its a blueish smoke, then its oil, in chich case you're probably in for a rebuild

[placidfemme]

Sounds like a head gasket to me, ZXR250s are notorious for it especialy at every 20,000K, if its a thick white smoke it'll be the head gasket, Antifreeze gives the thick white smoke
if its a blueish smoke, then its oil, in chich case you're probably in for a rebuild

It's white smoke... not blueish...

*needs to drink anti-freeze in the mornings its so damn cold... glad I don't live further south*

[crashe]

placidfemme... "your popeness"

Whip the bike over to Frosty, while he is at work...
He works over your side of the bridge.
He maybe able to tell you or help you out...

[cheetor]

Looks like you have a blown headgasket then, lucky that not anywhere near as expensive as a rebuild

[placidfemme]

*doesn't want to have a blown head gasket*

How much do they cost to fix/replace? And if it is a blown head gasket... can I still ride it until I get it fixed? *rides to work everyday*

hehe... your popeness

[Ixion]

Looks like you have a blown headgasket then, lucky that not anywhere near as expensive as a rebuild

If it's a head gasket on a water cooled engine you should see the water level in the resevoir drop slowly. A compression test shuld confirm it.

Is this related to the white smoke on stopping that you reported earlier I wonder ?

Show it to a wrench, they'll be able to tell

EDIT And if it is needs to be looked at ASAP before the head warps or cracks