Burning sensation!

[arachnoblaster]

Oi fellas, why is it that after some more robust riding does my srx chuck a load of minging smoke up at me when I stop? Is it burning it or just leaking all over my sodding downpipes? There is oil leaking, but it always does on anything I've ridden & I've never disappeared in a puff of smoke before. The smoke seems to be coming up from the downpipe area tho & I don't see any smoke in my mirror when I pull away, even at night when it would be obvious in the headlamp glare of the cars behind me. Am I just overfilling it? I dip my oil by just resting the thread of the dipstick on the oil tank. Is this correct or should I screw it in all the way? (Sorry!) My old mule has done millions of miles but she's never let me down & I must admit that I'd be utterly lost without her.

[guest27]

Sounds like oil getting on to the down pipes to me, but where from is the question - remember when looking the airflow can do funny things around the front of the engine and the oil could be coming from places other than above the pipes.

R

[arachnoblaster]

Sounds like oil getting on to the down pipes to me, but where from is the question - remember when looking the airflow can do funny things around the front of the engine and the oil could be coming from places other than above the pipes.

R
Thanks Rog, after checking the forums & not finding any relevant posts it seems likely you're right. I'll tip it over & check for cracks but I'm pretty sure that oil is being forced out under pressure somehow, especially when decelerating & going down thru the 'box because the oil seems to be leaking from everywhere like a mist. The engines a sieve. Its done 120,000 miles tho so I'm considering trying to find a replacement rather than fix mine...

[Steve Lake]

well, if you fill your oil up to the top of the level mark with the dip resting on the thread, it should be fine, i've never had a problem doing it like this.....bit do dip it after a good run, and let the bike stand for 10 minutes first, you get a fairly accurate reading then.

Check both your breathers are clear and the pipes arn't cracked or split etc, both pipes leave the engine adjacent to the cluctch actuating arm...a small one goes to the top of the oil tank (i've had this come off in the past) and a larger one goes to the airbox. (if there is excessive amounts of oil getting into the airbox, then possibly it is leaking down onto the exhaust), but in any event it is oil leaking from somewhere and landing on a hot downpipe or  silencer bow which is causing the smoke.
You'll need to clean the engine thoroughly, then go for a run, leave the engine running and look to see where it is coming from......the pipes to and from the oil tank are worth an extra careful inspection.....in my experience srx engines are pretty oil tight and any oil leaks tend to be from external connections....the oil tank is a 2 piece item...it is feasable that the joint is leaking....i've not heard of anyone having a proble with that...but you never know

good luck

[Mart]

I had something like this on my SRX prior to it not selling on ebay. Turned out to be a deteriorating gasket on the right hand side crankcase cover. Fitted a new gasket, problem solved. Finding the source of the leak was the hard bit, as although it was a very minor weep it did not take long to run to the other side of the bike when it was on its sidestand creating a red herring. Mart

[J Hop]

I had a breather pipe between the crankcase and oiltank that was perished and sprayed oil out.

[Steve H]

The engines a sieve. Its done 120,000 miles tho so I'm considering trying to find a replacement rather than fix mine...

Thats a pretty good mileage on an SRX. Have you had any engine work done ?

[arachnoblaster]

Thanks for the tips gentlemen. I've noticed there is a good balance between useful information & humour on this site. It was both interesting & fun trawling thru the forums & it made me feel that life still exists after you hang up your courier spurs & rediscover that bikes are actually there to be enjoyed. As far as my bike goes no pipes were shot after cleaning off the filth, however, the base & head gaskets are blowing & although the crankcase isn't cracked I'm convinced oil is seeping from between the mating surfaces where the crankcases meet. Obviously its happening all the time & not just when I ride briskly. Scary stuff, & a bit smelly & embarrassing too. If a bike plod sees me he's going to want a word with me for sure. As for your question Steve H, I must apologise as I should have put kilometers instead of miles-its a Japanese import, but yes, I have had a bit of top end work done about two & a half years ago at Two Wheels in SE16. The bike just wouldn't start & a piece of air filter sponge was found to have lodged itself under a valve. Peter alleged he changed all the relevant gaskets- he certainly charged me for them, but there have been many despatch miles between then & now so I think I've had a good innings all in all. Especially as she came from the scrappy in Penge originally...

[Steve H]

I should have put kilometers instead of miles-its a Japanese import, but yes, I have had a bit of top end work done about two & a half years ago at Two Wheels in SE16. The bike just wouldn't start & a piece of air filter sponge was found to have lodged itself under a valve. Peter alleged he changed all the relevant gaskets- he certainly charged me for them, but there have been many despatch miles between then & now so I think I've had a good innings all in all. Especially as she came from the scrappy in Penge originally...

Interesting, the SRX has a reputation for gearbox problems, fifth gears can go in around 20-30,000miles. However some bikes dont seem to suffer, the early imports had a different fifth gear ratio so I wonder if that was more reliable.

[arachnoblaster]

Interesting, the SRX has a reputation for gearbox problems, fifth gears can go in around 20-30,000miles. However some bikes dont seem to suffer, the early imports had a different fifth gear ratio so I wonder if that was more reliable.
[/quote]


Its true, I have heard that often, but being that most of the mileage has been in & around town - I hardly ever get into fifth gear. Although, this logic is flawed too e.g. why hasn't third gear gone in my case? The even weirder thing is that during my entire length of ownership, I have never changed the crankcase oil. Until I read thru the forums I didn't even know you could!

[OMEGAMAN]

Its true, I have heard that often, but being that most of the mileage has been in & around town - I hardly ever get into fifth gear. Although, this logic is flawed too e.g. why hasn't third gear gone in my case? The even weirder thing is that during my entire length of ownership, I have never changed the crankcase oil. Until I read thru the forums I didn't even know you could!

Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, but you mentioned "changing the crankcase oil"

On the SRX (as most Jap 4 stroke bikes) the engine oil is the only lubrication (all round the engine & gearbox + clutch!) as opposed to seperate eng./gearbox! (ie. bmw's), or just gearbox (crankcase) as in two strokes.

I'm no expert, so if anybody knows different, speak up!

[andy230]

....there have been many despatch miles between then & now ....

Hello mate-

Is it silver??  I think I had a conversation with you at the lights in Hapstead, near the Royal Free???

There cant be too many guys dispatching on a (twinshock) SRX.  I was on an ugly black skorpion.

Cheers

a

ps.  If it wasn't you, then Hello! I ride round london, on an ugly black skorpion.....

[Steve H]

Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, but you mentioned "changing the crankcase oil"

At a guess this refers to having two drain plugs.