Puff of black smoke.

coastie

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Now I know my Tenere burns a bit of oil, so for the week before my current trip I monitored the oil and it stayed at the high level mark on the sight glass. While I was doing group rides in the Smokey's I had a few people tell me that I was puffing black smoke on the exits of most turns. I did not think much of it, just that our bikes run rich. Well I happen to check the site glass tonight, as I'm getting ready to ride for 8 hours tomorrow on my final leg and there is not a drop of oil to be seen in the Window. Anybody else puff black smoke? Is the oil consumption and smoke related? I'm not sure there is really anything I can do about it, so I'll just make sure I keep it topped off. Any suggestions?
 

iridemotorbikes

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My bike doesn't burn any noticeable amount of oil between my oil changes 3500-4500 mile range, most bikes/cars I've dealt with that burn oil will have white/grey-ish color smoke.

It's safe to say/guess your black smoke and oil consumption are related.

Maybe some one here will chime in some more, how many miles does your bike have?
 

squarebore

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I used to say that burning oil was OK because who wanted a rusty exhaust. Seriously though it sounds like you may be burning some oil. I'm not familiar with this bike yet but on others it was usually due to worn rings, valve seals etc.
 

GrahamD

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coastie said:
Now I know my Tenere burns a bit of oil, so for the week before my current trip I monitored the oil and it stayed at the high level mark on the sight glass. While I was doing group rides in the Smokey's I had a few people tell me that I was puffing black smoke on the exits of most turns. I did not think much of it, just that our bikes run rich. Well I happen to check the site glass tonight, as I'm getting ready to ride for 8 hours tomorrow on my final leg and there is not a drop of oil to be seen in the Window. Anybody else puff black smoke? Is the oil consumption and smoke related? I'm not sure there is really anything I can do about it, so I'll just make sure I keep it topped off. Any suggestions?
Does it puff after a period of deceleration?
Is the smoke really black or very light blue.

Black smoke is fuel.
White/blue smoke is oil.

If it is whiteish smoke...

Under acceleration is rings.
After long throttle off deceleration is probably guides.

I have owned a few "smokers" in my life.

Unless all the laws have changed, that is how it goes.
 

coastie

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Re: Puff of black smoke.

I was told it does it when I accelerated hard out of a corner and now I don't remember if they said it was a puff of smoke or puff of black smoke. Knock on wood, this motorcycle has run flawless for over 14k miles except for having to add a few ounces of oil between oil changes. Maybe the rings never got completely seated before switching to full synthetic. Would running some yamalube at the next oil change hurt anything?
 

avc8130

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Re: Puff of black smoke.

coastie said:
I was told it does it when I accelerated hard out of a corner and now I don't remember if they said it was a puff of smoke or puff of black smoke. Knock on wood, this motorcycle has run flawless for over 14k miles except for having to add a few ounces of oil between oil changes. Maybe the rings never got completely seated before switching to full synthetic. Would running some yamalube at the next oil change hurt anything?
Do you have any mods?

Black smoke under those conditions usually means unburned fuel.

I've seen Teneres consume oil. Twice on my trip to TX from NJ we had to stop and add oil to Swampy's as the level got so low the light came on.

ac
 

RED CAT

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Doubt you are burning much oil. The sight glass thing can vary. Check it the next day and its probably full again. Black smoke is not oil. Like they say unburned fuel. Quit babying it and hammer it more. Might be a carbon build up.
 

RIVA

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GrahamD said:
Does it puff after a period of deceleration?
Is the smoke really black or very light blue.

Black smoke is fuel.
White/blue smoke is oil.

If it is whiteish smoke...

Under acceleration is rings.
After long throttle off deceleration is probably guides.

::026::

I have owned a few "smokers" in my life.

Unless all the laws have changed, that is how it goes.
 

coastie

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Re: Re: Puff of black smoke.

RED CAT said:
Doubt you are burning much oil. The sight glass thing can vary. Check it the next day and its probably full again. Black smoke is not oil. Like they say unburned fuel. Quit babying it and hammer it more. Might be a carbon build up.
It does burn oil. Approx 8oz of oil every 4k miles. 3 consecutive days of 200+ mile days in the smokies running between 5k rpm and read line on tight mountain roads with a bunch of sport bikes is FAR from babying it.

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Ollie

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Mine has a thirst for oil too. Especially on 400 mi, high speed runs in the summer. Haven't noticed smoke yet, though.
 

RED CAT

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Wow. Thats a lot of oil. Mine doesn't burn a drop anytime, no matter what type of riding in 30,000kms. Personally, I'd sell the bike and get a new one.
 

Don in Lodi

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On the oil vs fuel smoke color... what's your fuel economy like?
 

snakebitten

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Coastie, I don't trust your sight glass.

But I would believe the smoke. And I wouldn't be shocked at oil consumption while riding the horse hard.

But the sight glass reading is implying the issue is worse than it might be.

If the site glass reading is the real thing, you just might have the first real S10 worn valve guide or rings I know of. But even so, you have a Yami. With a warranty. It will get fixed.

Mine did consume a bit of oil when new. It was surely the way I rode. But it just got less and less as the miles stacked up.
I didn't change how I rode.

By the way, mine has had only Yamalube dino style it's whole 26,000 mile life. And my dealer always over fills it at service. (above the sight glass)
Drives me crazy. He just ignores my whining with a smile. (I drained some the first time to see how overfilled it was. Maybe 8 ounces over the window)
 

coastie

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Re: Re: Puff of black smoke.

Don in Lodi said:
On the oil vs fuel smoke color... what's your fuel economy like?
~40 although it goes up quite a bit if I run ethanol free super, boy does she love that stuff!

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Don in Lodi

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That eliminates several problems over fueling can cause...
 

avc8130

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I believe it is a dry sump system...therefore you cannot "trust" the site glass.

Put oil in the bike when you change it. Then ride it until the light comes on or it is time for the next change. Whichever comes first.

ac
 

coastie

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Re: Re: Puff of black smoke.

snakebitten said:
Coastie, I don't trust your sight glass.

But I would believe the smoke. And I wouldn't be shocked at oil consumption while riding the horse hard.

But the sight glass reading is implying the issue is worse than it might be.

If the site glass reading is the real thing, you just might have the first real S10 worn valve guide or rings I know of. But even so, you have a Yami. With a warranty. It will get fixed.

Mine did consume a bit of oil when new. It was surely the way I rode. But it just got less and less as the miles stacked up.
I didn't change how I rode.

By the way, mine has had only Yamalube dino style it's whole 26,000 mile life. And my dealer always over fills it at service. (above the sight glass)
Drives me crazy. He just ignores my whining with a smile. (I drained some the first time to see how overfilled it was. Maybe 8 ounces over the window)
I was told it was only a small puff of smoke and the only time the rider behind me saw it was when we were climbing some pretty steep switchbacks on the way up the the Blueridge Parkway. I was riding her VERY hard. The abs light pretty much flashed at me the entire time.

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snakebitten

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Yea, that yellow blinky correlates to the grin in my helmet.

More blink, more grin.
Uncanny how the ecu knows I'm having a ball.
 

coastie

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snakebitten said:
Yea, that yellow blinky correlates to the grin in my helmet.

More blink, more grin.
Uncanny how the ecu knows I'm having a ball.
That damn light was just trying to save my K60's life. LOL!
 

twinrider

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I had a ZRX1100 that consumed oil when I was running synthetic. Switching to dino oil solved the problem.
 
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