engine smokes on start up

[yechave]

We just got a 99 LT with 41k. Only had this a few days, but twice now it has smoked quite a bit (excessively IMO) on the initial start up. The dealer warranted the drive train and motor for six weeks. I would say it put out a 10' diameter cloud of smoke, maybe bigger.

If I can get this fixed, and prove it needs it, I would like to have them take care of it under warranty.

I haven't seen any smoke during use the rest of the day.

What causes the oil to leak where in the motor to cause the smoke, and how is that fixed?

Thanks!

[petevandyke]

if you're parking it on the sidestand instead of the centerstand, your "smokescreen" is annoying but normal (a bit of oil collects when parked that way after shutdown, you'll see the smokin' on start-up for a minute, then it'll be fine).

Two solutions.

Park it on the centerstand (best option)

or

after shutting it off, keep it completely vertical for about a minute before putting it on the sidestand (although you might still get a puff or two.


Nothin' to worry about, enjoy the new ride.

Pete

[michman]

Has it been on the sidestand before starting? If so, welcome to the traditional LT smoke after start-up.... I will let one of the motor junkies tell you why and how. They all do it and I imagine most of us worried about it when we were new to the LT.

Hope it helps.

[petevandyke]

Has it been on the sidestand before starting? If so, welcome to the traditional LT smoke after start-up.... I will let one of the motor junkies tell you why and how. They all do it and we have all wondered why at one point.

Hope it helps.


motor junkie? Have I been insulted?

Cool!

[michman]

motor junkie? Have I been insulted?

Cool!


No insult from me, but I am no mechanic.... I know the reasoning why it happens, but it wouldn't make sense coming from me!!!

[petevandyke]

well, I don't make sense...just ask anyone

[yechave]

I haven't yet used the center stand. Had very serious medial issues to deal with leaving me with about 25% of the strength I would otherwise have, had cancer, back and neck surgery among too many other problems, and did not want to use it if not really needed. I may try just sitting with it upright for a few minutes before letting it set for the night. It really smoked a lot first day after it sat at the house. Day two, nothing. Day three, smoked but not as bad as the first day. Just wanted to make sure I didn't end up with a repair that otherwise would have been covered with the warranty. Absolutely love this bike!!!

Thanks!

[petevandyke]

Hope your challenges are behind you, friend. A minute is plenty...and a puff or two from the pipe won't hurt anything.

When that warranty runs out, you'll find lots of new friends on the forum here willing to teach you about caring for your new baby, too. If a retarded chimp with all thumbs like me can learn how to do basic maintenance, you'll be a master wrench in no time.

Welcome to the madhouse...

Pete

[yechave]

After almost nine years of pain and suffering and doing damn near nothing but going to doctors and hospitals, having spent over $100k on out of pocket health expense just to survive, $14k just this year. The bike was a deal in comparison.

It's just about all I can do to sit and wait for the next day to get this bike on the road. This bike is more comfortable than any vehicle or piece of furniture we own. Its going in for some significant repairs under warranty next week, but I do believe we are taking it on the road for two or three days this weekend, if all goes well. Been working on cold weather layering, which I think is now good to go.

I owe my ability to have this opportunity to once again not only ride, but really enjoy doing so, first, to my SO, who was the driving force behind getting a bike to begin with, which is pretty ballsy for someone who has never had been on any bike, and just started at 60. She just got her license a week ago.

Second, to Dr. H. Clark, and her book and DVD, "The Cure for All Diseases", which has provided the information I needed to start to recover from all the damage caused by treatment from the medical profession. Lost 35 lbs in 8 weeks in July, passed about 800 liver stones in one weekend, painlessly, and started working out at a gym for two months, prior to even attempting to ride anything.

Rented a Harley Heritage for three days, which got us started. Didn't want to waste $500 a week for another rental so, we went to look at a used BMW.

Started on a 99 R1100RT a month ago, and thankfully, came across this LT just when we needed it. The license plate on the RT we traded for this, was VLT04!

Just a coincidence, or not?

[rglassma]

Congratulations on your new (for you) bike. I hope you love every minute riding it as I do.

You may want to consider putting some bg 44K in the engine. If there is carbon buildup, that will clean it out good. What everyone has said about the side stand is absolutely a fact. I just ignore it when it happens. But since putting some of that stuff through the engine, haven't experienced much of that.

Welcome to the forum.

[big_ed]

We just got a 99 LT with 41k. Only had this a few days, but twice now it has smoked quite a bit (excessively IMO) on the initial start up. The dealer warranted the drive train and motor for six weeks. I would say it put out a 10' diameter cloud of smoke, maybe bigger.

If I can get this fixed, and prove it needs it, I would like to have them take care of it under warranty.

I haven't seen any smoke during use the rest of the day.

What causes the oil to leak where in the motor to cause the smoke, and how is that fixed?

Thanks!

Here dude, read this!
http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24183

[pushin9s]

I know you really don't want to hear it; but they really all do that. Or most do anyway. My new (to me) 2000 that I got this past April does and a couple of times it was so bad that it smoked heavily for a mile down the road. Other than initial start, it doesn't do it the rest of the day and I find that if I keep it upright, or even lean it slightly to the right, while I remove my gloves, helmet and the like it greatly reduces the amount of smoking.

If it helps ease the pain any, I was at the dealer the other day and they were getting a new 08 LT ready for a test drive. The salesman put the key in it and fired it up in the showroom and the thing started smoking like crazy. It wasn't long until it nearly filled the showroom with heavy blue oil smoke. It isn't funny, but it was then.

You've got a great bike. Don't worry about it, keep a keen eye on the oil level and ride the bejabbers out of it. As long as it isn't using oil, don't worry about it. Just a drop of oil in the cylinder can cause a great deal of smoke.

[MickS]

Another option if you have problem that keeps you from using center stand is a wheel chock.
http://www.baxleycompanies.com/Sportchock.html

[billybiker]

I try to put it on the centre stand but on holiday with the luggage at full capacity I'm usually stuck with the side stand only. How embarrasing when a small crowd of locals gather to admire your lovely shiny motorcycle and you cover them in smoke as you leave! They probably smile and say should have bought Japenese!.

[murray]

We just got a 99 LT with 41k.
What causes the oil to leak where in the motor to cause the smoke, and how is that fixed?

Thanks!
Congrats on the new bike!
When parked on the side stand the oil can seep past the piston ring end gaps and into the combustion chamber . Shoot me a email if you have any questions.I am close by Neola Pa.
Good Luck!

[RiderRay]

Hey Wayne, welcome to the family. My sister lives in E. Stroudsburg, how far are you from there? Maybe we can get together for a lunch RTE some day as I live in Brewster, NY, about 2 hours from her. I'm retiring the end of this month and if we have a good day, who knows?

By the way, I need to lose some weight and you stated that you lost 32 pounds in 8 weeks in July! Which July was it that had 8 weeks??? :rotf: :rotf: :histerica :histerica

Safe Riding - Ray

[petevandyke]

I try to put it on the centre stand but on holiday with the luggage at full capacity I'm usually stuck with the side stand only. How embarrasing when a small crowd of locals gather to admire your lovely shiny motorcycle and you cover them in smoke as you leave! They probably smile and say should have bought Japenese!.



actually, I consider that a bonus!

[yechave]

First, thanks for the replies. Those that wrote with interest for a ride, I did attempt to PM, still trying to figure how the forum functions. Bare with me.

Since this is a significant issue, I wondered if there is a link to say the five most asked questions by new LT owners, so people don't have to spend time replying time and again to every person that comes on board.

Leaving shortly for a ride. Thanks again for the information. Glad to hear the smoke is nothing to worry about. I actually like this Silver 99 better than any newer models we saw, including the brand new one in the showroom.

Looking forward to meeting some of you next season!

Wayne & Megan
Lehighton, Pa

[bowlesj]

First, thanks for the replies. Those that wrote with interest for a ride, I did attempt to PM, still trying to figure how the forum functions. Bare with me.

Since this is a significant issue, I wondered if there is a link to say the five most asked questions by new LT owners, so people don't have to spend time replying time and again to every person that comes on board.

Leaving shortly for a ride. Thanks again for the information. Glad to hear the smoke is nothing to worry about. I actually like this Silver 99 better than any newer models we saw, including the brand new one in the showroom.

Looking forward to meeting some of you next season!

Wayne & Megan
Lehighton, Pa

Oh yes, go HERE (http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/faq.php?faq=k1200lt_faq#faq_k1200lt_faq_common) look at #3 in the new owners questions section. This is our great Hall of Wisdom.

Have fun!

[Texas42]

Good that means there is oil in her, and the oil is being pumped. It is normal.

[Caper11]

I very seldom put my bike on the center stand other than to service it. At times it does smoke alot on startup which can be down right embarrassing. I would rather see the bike smoke than giving myself a hernia. :dance:

[Vince_nj1]

I too have back problems and putting my LT on the centerstand is a royal pain in the ass and back.. ( I think I bent the center stand bottoming out on a few turns. My friends LT is much easier to pull up on the stand)

Anyway, I learned a neat trick on this forum. I put a 2x4 behind the back wheel then use reverse to back the rear tire up on to it. Then I put it on the center stand... Much easier.

Good luck.

[Texas42]

After I replace my shocks it is much easier, and I don't seem to scrape the center stand, but I can scrape other parts now. The LT is now as easy as my GS.

[gfrankum]

I've noticed it tends to smoke more, when it's parked around other motorcycles (non LT)

While riding with a group of Harleys, they asked me why it does this...


With a totally strait face, I told them that it pre oils the cylinders on start up, for longer engine life (always heard start ups were the hardest on engines


Glen Frankum
Phoenix AZ

[gary frankum]

what wt. of oil do you use in the pre-oiler?

[big_ed]

Oh yes, go HERE (http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/faq.php?faq=k1200lt_faq#faq_k1200lt_faq_common) look at #3 in the new owners questions section. This is our great Hall of Wisdom.

Have fun!

I think that the Hall of Wisdom needs to be updated. There is another option available other than the coy suggestion "just park it on the centerstand".
As I learned from others when I posted my concern about the smoking, there is an even easier solution that is 100% effective and has been tested by many of us thousands of times.

The solution I would ask to have added onto the H. of W. statement?
"After killing the engine remain seated on the bike in an upright position for 15 to 20 seconds to allow the hot oil to drip from the rods and crankshaft before tilting it on the sidestand. Tilt your bike sooner and this oil will drain into the cylinders virtually ensuring a smokey start up."

[petevandyke]

This thread reminds me of an old joke...

Guy at his doc's for his annual checkup, going through the run-down of the usual health questions. Doc asks him "do you smoke after sex?" Guy replies, "I don't know, I never looked..."

bah dum bum!!!

[KIC]

I too had the problem and question when I first arrived on this site. Couldn't get it on the center stand due to shoulder injury/surgery. I did find out that making sure it is in neutral instead of pulling in the clutch made a big difference in pulling backwards for the center stand.

I have found that the cutting engine cruising in to the parking spot/garage, sitting upright while taking off helmet, disconnecting intercom etc. before putting on side stand helps alot

On another BMW forum when I posted the question, the top responses were:


#3 - Tell em' your practicing for the next James Bond movie

#2 - Tell em' it's a mosquito abatement program

#1 - Tell em' it's a diesel !

[Mike_H]

I always park in a No Smoking Zone. That solved the problem.