GS500f white smoke on startup

[mrdrprof]

Hi, my 06 GS500f smokes a bit on cold starts and it goes away when the engine is hot. It doesn't look blue at all and doesn't smell oily, but it sits around for a little before dissipating. Also, I went to start it today after almost a week of sitting, and it cranked like normal and went to start and heard a "pop" sound. Then, the bike wouldn't crank. The lights would go dim or out but it wouldn't crank. After letting it sit for about 30 seconds or so, it cranked again and started right up. Could this mean anything? I recently adjusted the floats and added a 20 pilot jet if that helps at all. I have the stock exhaust and airbox/filter.

[Suzuki Stevo]

"White Smoke" is Condensation, only worry if it "pops" when warm 

[Watcher]

There's no coolant to burn so I concur with Stevo.


As for the "pop" and no-crank,

Perhaps check your float levels?  I'm imagining fuel overflow into the cylinders causing a backfire for the pop but the no-crank is a bit of a mystery to me.
Maybe triple check your fuel system, since you were in there recently.

[mrdrprof]

There's no coolant to burn so I concur with Stevo.


As for the "pop" and no-crank,

Perhaps check your float levels?  I'm imagining fuel overflow into the cylinders causing a backfire for the pop but the no-crank is a bit of a mystery to me.
Maybe triple check your fuel system, since you were in there recently.

I just checked the float levels again and I think I measured them wrong the first time. In the manual it says to measure it when the float arm just comes into contact with the needle valve, but from doing some research people say to measure it when the float arm seats the needle valve, but doesn't put tension on the spring. So I guess my float heights were too high and the engine flooded.

That probably explains why it's smoking a lot on cold starts, too much unburnt fuel in the exhaust perhaps. The spark plugs were pretty brown and a little wet so it was definitely running rich. I don't think it's burning oil because it only started smoking like that after I messed with the floats. I will do another cold start later today and see if it smokes some more

[Numewsm]

I would say definately float levels. White smoke  indicates fuel overflow into the cylinders and the pop is excess fuel igniting in the exhaust.
Check your oil to see if it smells of fuel. The no creek could of been a small hydro-lock in the cylinder due to excess fuel in there, and it then drained in to the crank case. If the oil smells of fuel it's a oil change asap as the petrol with eat away at the internal bearings if left  alone.
Have experience of this.... 

[mrdrprof]

I would say definately float levels. White smoke  indicates fuel overflow into the cylinders and the pop is excess fuel igniting in the exhaust.
Check your oil to see if it smells of fuel. The no creek could of been a small hydro-lock in the cylinder due to excess fuel in there, and it then drained in to the crank case. If the oil smells of fuel it's a oil change asap as the petrol with eat away at the internal bearings if left  alone.
Have experience of this.... 

Yeah, I adjusted the float levels and now it doesn't smoke anymore. But I will definitely check the oil. Thanks for the heads up!

[mrdrprof]

Question: how prominent will the gas smell be? I smelled into the crankcase and the smell is pretty faint so I can't tell if there's gas in it.

[Watcher]

You'll know.


Another way to tell is to put a drop of oil on the back of your hand.

If it stays pretty much in one nice blob you've got oil.  If it "fills in the cracks" it's diluted with fuel.

[Kilted1]

Glad to hear you got the smoke sorted!  As far as the oil, it breaks down over time as well as miles.  So unless you're on a severely restricted budget or have changed the oil since winter started, it wouldn't hurt to just change it and not chance it.

[mrdrprof]

The oil in it only has 73 miles on it so I really don't wanna change it. But I think I will anyways just to be on the safe side. The engine in my previous GS started to go because of neglected oil changes by the previous owner, I really don't want this one to go, too! The oil has been sitting in the bike for about almost a week and I rode for about half an hour the other day, would that be enough time to do some serious damage or will it be fine? Like I said, It didn't really smell of anything other than faint oil smell when I stuck my nose in the dipstick hole, so there might not be any gas in it but I'd rather not take the chances. I have drained the oil and taken the filter out till I get more oil and a new filter

[Numewsm]

If you can't smell any petrol by sniffing the oil there will be very little or no petrol in it at all.  No need to change.
You will know if you can smell petrol in it!!  As "watcher" stated place a drop of the oil on the back of your hand is a good test if your sense of smell isn't that good like mine.
Petrol will rot away the internals if you leave it for quite a while circulating around the engine, a small amount of petrol will not have the capacity of wreaking the bearings/seals only to water down the oil viscosity a minimal amount.
If unsure just change the oil.

[ActionJackson]

I think it's condensation for sure. Live in Seattle, so a fair number of cold morning startups on my 04 GS500f. IF it rained the day before or if it's raining when i start her  up, there's white smoke. No rain for days, or little moisture, i never see the smoke.

[Numewsm]

If it is extra fuel leaking through, then when you start it will smell a lot more of petrol than a normal full choke start.

[roxxer69]

Very similar to my current issue, to an extent. I ended up changing the oil and the old oil definitely smelt like gas. My "white smoke" issue seems to have been cleared up.

I believe my left carb float has an issue because the problem keeps occurring if the bike sits. I see a gas leak coming out of the fuel mixture screw (I think) after a day or two sitting. Any advice here? I never adjusted the float, is there a good video "floating" around that I can use as a reference? (ha...haha...hahaha...)


Here's my issue if anyone is interested, your input is appreciated: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=72935.0

[mr72]

I see a gas leak coming out of the fuel mixture screw (I think) after a day or two sitting. Any advice here?

Yes, in your other thread. easier to follow if we keep the issues all in one thread at a time. hint: it's likely not [only] a float problem.