'08 XRL smoking on decel

WestCoast Rider

WestCoast Rider

Member
3500km on the odo now, just did an oil change about a week ago. was smoking on decel before, talked to the dealer and recommended doing an early oil change (last was at 1500km, about 2 months ago). running motul 5100. changed the filter as well.

seems to smoke on deceleration after a long slow ride (noticed when I was following my brother riding yesterday)

haven't checked oil level today, but in the morning I will check if it is down significantly since filling (only a day of dirt riding and some street).

any ideas? it's still under warranty if this is a warrant-able issue... not sure if I'll be on the hook for a diag charge or not... haven't checked valve adjustment since 1500km first service, will that cause smoking? new to honda service, coming from cars....
 
C

cactusreid

Active member
find a long downhill and try this-get up to a speed that you can carry down the hill,close the throttle and coast at a med speed for 15 20 seconds or so,then wack the throttle open,and watch the exhaust. if you get a puff of blue smoke,oil is getting by the rings into the combustion chamber. i would call on warranty if that's the case, because it's not going to fix itself. i doubt that oil would be dripping down the valves when it's running and getting that much into the combustion chamber.
 
Bones

Bones

Member
Ian,
It's a little young to be smoking, are you being a little hard on the Red Beast?
Cheers
Bones
 
Island Hopper

Island Hopper

New member
The most likely cause would be an overfilled sump....Are you following the manual to a tee when checking the oil level?
 
Aquafire

Aquafire

New member
Is the '08 in your thread title a typo? I thought your XR was an '09; or is that a typo on your bio-page? Or a new bike, perhaps? :)
 
O

old trials guy

Guest
My experience with Hondas tells me they need a brisk aggressive break in. A big mistake is to baby a new bike for a thousand kilometers and then take it out and ride like it was intended. Honda cylinder liners and rings are typically very hard and I have seen bikes where the rings didn't seat and the cylinder "glazed". Take them apart and many still show factory cross hatches.

I think the best diagnostic is still the old fashion compression test. Test the engine dry and then add a few drops of oil and test again wet. If you get a big jump in compression that is a sign you have either ring wear or poor ring sealing. Valve guide oil seals never seemed to be a big issue on Honda singles from my experience, especially at low hours.

If you have good compression wet and dry just go ride the wheels off of it, it just needs more abuse!

My 2 cents....good luck....otg
 
bajaman

bajaman

New member
old trials guy said:
My experience with Hondas tells me they need a brisk aggressive break in. A big mistake is to baby a new bike for a thousand kilometers and then take it out and ride like it was intended. Honda cylinder liners and rings are typically very hard and I have seen bikes where the rings didn't seat and the cylinder "glazed". Take them apart and many still show factory cross hatches.

I think the best diagnostic is still the old fashion compression test. Test the engine dry and then add a few drops of oil and test again wet. If you get a big jump in compression that is a sign you have either ring wear or poor ring sealing. Valve guide oil seals never seemed to be a big issue on Honda singles from my experience, especially at low hours.

If you have good compression wet and dry just go ride the wheels off of it, it just needs more abuse!

My 2 cents....good luck....otg
Click to expand...

Exactly what I was thinking..
 
Mad Max

Mad Max

New member
I have had my bike overfull of oil and not had any issues. The sump is is the neck of the frame. The big question is... When you lay the bike down either accidentally or going under gates, do you shut it down right away? I ask this because I was told that the XR650L starves the top end when it is on its side which can equal problems.

Just a thought

Max
 
mudPie

mudPie

New member
Hows it for starting?
I just re-did top end (valves and rings)07 XR550L. Had bad conpretion leak down on the valves from over heating from privous owner. They have to be replace becouse they can't be re ground.
 
dirtrider

dirtrider

Member
look into the air filter for being over oiled or dirty..... also if the engine breather vents into the air box see if it is dumping oil into there
 
zokalr13

zokalr13

Member
i just did my oil change yesterday and i just put in one 1 litre bottle of oil of honda synthetic,run it for a min or so THEN put in the other 1 litre bottle- but leave an inch of oil in the bottom of the container-it is slightly less than 2 litres so it wont be over filled..the rest will be used for top up before change out at 2K. try that next time...
 
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