Smoke on Start

[bswihart]

Today after work, I started my 2002 R1150R (21K Miles) and had a huge amount of oil smoke that lasted about 15 sec. Bike was sitting for 11 hours on the side stand on level ground. (First question, why am I working 11 hours).

I have had the bike for about 6 weeks and purchased it from a BMW dealer so it was professionally serviced. I did not get an owners manual so the posts on oil levels is good. the sales guy briefly told me how but it was not as detailed as it needs to be. I have observed no oil in the sight glass and that is freaky. Returns to normal after letting it sit.

At times during start up, the bike sounds like the bearings or valves are not getting lubrication. Sounds like a knocking and then it goes away after a few seconds. Is all this normal?

[MANICMECHANIC]

OK, Reader's Digest version - it'll do that sometimes, especially if you leave it parked on the sidestand. Any oil that may accumulate in the left(down) cylinder can work its way past the rings and get burned on the subsequent startup, producing smoke.

Best way to check oil level is to ride the bike and get it warm, then park it on the sidestand for maybe 15 minutes, then put it on the centerstand and check the oil level. The level should be somewhere in the sightglass, but preferably in the lower half. This process permits the oil in the oil cooler to drain into the sump. If you just put the bike on the centerstand, then by siphon effect the oil cooler may not drain quickly. But you may find the correct level in the morning.

As far as the noise on startup, could be a few things, not fatal. Cam chain tensioner comes to mind, left side, but your bike should be new enough to have the newer design.

As far as 11-hour-days, I don't understand your problem, as I'm doing 6-12's on nights. Somebody has to keep the lights on.

[ragtoplvr]

my 2002 R1150RS has done this 2 times now. Out of over 30K miles of my driving it, 60K total

I think several things have to happen, rings rotate on piston, I think some end gaps have to line up. And i think a bit of oil needs to be in the liner.

I always shut down now with the bike upright, lean it both ways a second, then side stand, no problem since i have been doing this, this includes on sidestand for days.

As to the tensoner, you have the old style. Change it you will like it. Pretty easy.

rod

[OfficerImpersonator]

My 2002 RTP belches smoke about 30% of all starts when cold, first thing in the morning. It's simply a result of keeping the bike on the side-stand, where oil trickles down in to the left combustion chamber. The clouds of smoke on start-up is simply this tiny amount of oil (less than a teaspoon, according to my mechanic) burning off. The lesson I've learned is to never start the bike in the garage, and to always be upwind of the bike's exhaust when starting

The rattle does indeed sound like the cam tensioner rattle that BMW cured with the redesigned part for the Hexhead motors that IS backwards-compatible to Oilhead motors. My bike makes this sound when it's getting a bit low on oil, so I've learned to use this sound as my "oil sight glass". When the engine rattles slightly at idle, I know I need to top off the oil level.

[cycleman2]

Any boxer style motor be it a BMW or an older Goldwing will ocassionally smoke on start up depending on were the piston stops in the cylinder, when the bike is on the sidestand.

One thing to watch is that when you start up make sure the oil light goes out and stays out. If the idle goes too slow ( below 1000 rpm ) the oil light can come on. I have to watch mine & use the choke as if the idle goes too slow the light will come on which means that the oil pressure is too low.

[osbornk]

Anything with a horizontal piston will blow smoke on startup occasionally. They can puff smoke occasionally on startup and not use oil. I've had it happen on VW bugs, Subarus, mowing equipment with Briggs& Stratton, Onan and Kawasaki enginesas well as airheads, oilheads and K bikes. Nothing would outsmoke an early K-bike left on the sidestand (and still not use enough oil to add between changes).

The noise you hear is probably the cam chain tensioner. Many oilheads do it to regardless of year. My 03 does it as did my friend's 1150GS.

Ken

[cjack]

Viki's '86 K100RS used to often smoke for 8 blocks after she started it. Once on a 7K trip to CA and back, it appeared not to use even an ounce of oil. So a little oil can make a lot of smoke. It never was a problem.

[JIMVONBADEN]

I think several things have to happen, rings rotate on piston, I think some end gaps have to line up.

This!

Jim

[bubbagazoo]

One trick I found that reduced (not completely eliminate) the smoking on start up was to turn the engine off and then wait 30 seconds to a minute before putting the bike (in my case an R1200CL with no centre stand) on the side stand. While this is not enough time to drain the oil cooler to the sump, it seemed to be enough to let anything in the cylinders themselves to drain.

[osbornk]

One trick I found that reduced (not completely eliminate) the smoking on start up was to turn the engine off and then wait 30 seconds to a minute before putting the bike (in my case an R1200CL with no centre stand) on the side stand. While this is not enough time to drain the oil cooler to the sump, it seemed to be enough to let anything in the cylinders themselves to drain.

I don't have enough patience to wait when I'm ready to get off of my CLC. If my R1200CLC had a center stand, I don't think I would ever be able to get my bike up on it. It is one heavy sucker. Mine may go for weeks without smoking and then it will smoke frequently for a short while. My R80RT has never smoked regardless of how I park it (and I've had it 11+ years).

Ken

[deanwoolsey]

Your RT has the old style chain tensioner from the factory. This can be confirmed in that it has a 17mm hex. The new style is a 15mm hex. It's under a hundred bucks for the new parts (housing, piston, and copper ring). I just did mine. No more start-up noise at all. Worth every penny. Adjust your valves and sync the TBs at the same time. I think you'll be pleased with the results.

By the way........ RTs just puff a little. Real smoke comes from an LT left on the sidestand and lasts for miles. Scared the crap out of myself (almost).

[PGlaves]

Any boxer style motor be it a BMW or an older Goldwing will ocassionally smoke on start up depending on were the piston stops in the cylinder, when the bike is on the sidestand.

Specifically, when the engine stops with the piston on the downward side near the start of its compression stroke - both valves closed - oil will collect on the crankshaft side of the piston rings. As the cylinder cools down a vacuum will be created which draws a slight amount of oil past the piston rings. Then, upon startup it will smoke either a little or a lot, depending ...

[cjcs]

I don't know if the R1150 is the same as the R1100, but the airbox on the R1100 has a drain plug on the bottom to drain excess oil out. My 98 started smoking when on the sidestand. I pulled the plug in the airbox and about 1/2 quart of oil drained out. The smoking stopped. I think overfilling the crankcase after an oil change pushes the exess oil into the airbox.

[JIMVONBADEN]

I don't know if the R1150 is the same as the R1100, but the airbox on the R1100 has a drain plug on the bottom to drain excess oil out. My 98 started smoking when on the sidestand. I pulled the plug in the airbox and about 1/2 quart of oil drained out. The smoking stopped. I think overfilling the crankcase after an oil change pushes the exess oil into the airbox.

You are correct. Overfilling will cause some of the excess oil to be drawn into the airbox. It can then be pulled into the motor causing smoke.

Jim