Blue smoke and loss of power
 

I'm going to do an oil change later today and I hope that is going to sort it but...

Was riding to Bournemouth yesterday morning for a job interview. I got about 25-30 miles in to my journey then noticed the bike playing up. I had the throttle all the way back but it was stuck on about 80mph and going up about a mile every second - definitely not right. Then I got it up to 90 only for it to suddenly lose a bit of power and drop to 80 again. I then saw lots of blue / white smoke coming from the exhaust

I pulled over but had to get to the interview so had no choice but to keep riding. After the interview, the bike was fine for quite a while until I slowed down to about 30-40 then it would start smoking a lot again

Anyone got any ideas? I did top it up with oil before the journey so maybe there is too much in there? But what about the loss of power?

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers

Re: Please help - blue smoke and loss of power
 

I'm not sure but blue smoke from the exhaust isnt to clever.

How much oil does it have in it now ?

It might be you've over filled it and its blown the oil back up into the airbox and then its got sucked down into the carbs again. So lift the tank, pop the air filter out and take the top of the airbox off and see if theres any oil in the airbox. Its normal to get a drop or two in there but if theres loads that might be what it is.

I'm not sure what would cause the power loss though. Are you getting any knocking or banging from the bottom end of the engine ?

Re: Please help - blue smoke and loss of power
 

Its a pointy by the way

Not sure about any banging? Although before I had topped up the oil, I thought I could hear a slight clunking noise coming from the engine when I was going slowly but wasnt too sure?

Re: Please help - blue smoke and loss of power
 

Which SV do you have; carbs, or fuel injection?

I have had instances of loss of power, which I think has been carb icing - with symptoms infact very similar to you - struggle to 80 mph, but after 6000 rpm the bike took off like normal. Very odd, only happened once.

Blue smoke is generally oil, which - as Fizz said, could be oil blown back into the airbox and then taken back into the engine and burnt off. Did you fill right to the top line?

Matt

[edit] you posted before I did. Ok, so not carb icing. So now we worry a bit....whats the oil consumption like with your SV? How many miles has it done?

Re: Blue smoke and loss of power
 

sound like engine is bout to go BANG same thing happened to me whislt riding

Re: Blue smoke and loss of power
 

Double check the oil level, measured with the bike not on a paddock or side stand, is it overfilled?

Re: Blue smoke and loss of power
 

You appear to have blown one or both head gaskets. The blue smoke is burning oil and the white smoke is burning coolant.










Possibly. Or not.

Re: Blue smoke and loss of power
 

if theres no oil in the air box, then i agree with the head gasket thoery, or it could be one or more of the piston or oil control rings.

a few simple checks are to see if theres oil in the water or water in the oil.
Another test is to do a compression test. Do a first conpression test with the engine warmed up and as normal. Do a second test with the engine warm, but squirt a couple of squirts of oil into the cyclinder, if there is an increse between the two tests then you can be sure the rings have gone.

If you want to go into even more detail then do a leak back test, but u need very expensive equiptment for that and it'd be easier to get yourself to a local machanic.

Re: Blue smoke and loss of power
 

Leak down kit is not that pricey.

I reckon overfilled oil.

Re: Blue smoke and loss of power
 

Depends really but you can bodge one up with a gas bottle regualtor and a few bits of pipe.
But too much oil does seem to ring bells