white smoke?
White smoke = water, (head gasket etc)
Blue smoke = oil (rings, valve seals etc)
Black smoke = fuel (injectors etc)
If its white smoke from an air cooled motor, its likely to be just clearing the condensation from inside the exhaust, and should dissappear after a few minutes.
Blue smoke = oil (rings, valve seals etc)
Black smoke = fuel (injectors etc)
If its white smoke from an air cooled motor, its likely to be just clearing the condensation from inside the exhaust, and should dissappear after a few minutes.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,675
Likes: 95
From: Billings,Mt.
Oil could also look like white and will not disappear quickly.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 8,051
Likes: 50
From: Florence, MT (Bitterroot Valley)
If it's white and it continues after heated up to operating temperature, you've got some kind of leak allowing moisture to get into the engine, and/or exhaust. If it goes away after warming it up to temp and riding a while, probably just had some condensation buildup inside from your previous ride. Did you maybe just go for a short haul on your last ride before you noticed this? Engine may not have come up to temp, and the condensation was trapped until you ran it this time. Just a thought.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 410
Likes: 0
For some reason I believ that a little white smoke is the sign of a tuned motor.It is actually trying burning the fillers in the fuel.
Trending Topics
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 866
Likes: 1
From: FT BRAGG, NC
Did you notice this on start up? Or after you've been riding for ahile? or all throught your ride! Easier to figure from there!
Ride safe, Mike
Ride safe, Mike
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 8,051
Likes: 50
From: Florence, MT (Bitterroot Valley)
Hey Wolfshead, this is a new one on me. Where did you come up with that info? I've never done any professional tuning, but I've NEVER heard that before. Not sayin' I'm too old to learn something, but.....help me understand where this came from....
Last edited by bigskyhd; Mar 30, 2009 at 12:32 PM.
