leaky Valve-Stem Seal?

[mattnx650]

dominator 1988 first start up when cold its smokes but when runing for about 1min it cleares theres no slapping noise with the piston so is it valve stem seal? what you guys think

thanks matt

[Rubberchicken]

Could be.

I've been told my valve stem seals leak. When I put it on a dyno, the bike would smoke on throttle close at high revs. This was valve stem seals according to the guy who runs the dyno, and it wasn't really a big deal he said.

In practice, in regular use the oil consumption is quite allright (about half a liter per oil change, so that makes 1 liter per 6000 km) except when I'm doing extended motorway runs and the oil temperature goes over 120 degrees C, then it can gobble up as much as half a liter in 100 km.

I probably should have fixed it, but I know the symptoms and when it occurs, so I just don't do that.

Bike's done 85000 km total, and about half that since I've been told the above. Still running well.

[Rubberchicken]

Oh hang on, is it white smoke?

White smoke on cold start is pretty much normal condensation, that's no big deal.

[mattnx650]

its an oil smell but then burns clean after about 1min

[Rubberchicken]

Hmm, if it's only when cold, and you don't see any spectacular oil consumption, then I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[mattnx650]

yer i think your right worth asking tho thanks for the info Rubberchicken

matt

[Scott]

Hmm, if it's only when cold, and you don't see any spectacular oil consumption, then I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Mine drinks oil like an alchoholic at a beer festival!
I reckon it uses half of it's capacity in a week of use (about 120 miles)

My weekly top up of oil is like a religious ceremony now.

[Rubberchicken]

How hot does it usually get? And is that mainly motorway use, or does it drink that much when putting around on country roads as well when you're not constantly near redline?

(And just out of curiosity: Have you rejetted for that sport pipe yet, or have you burned out your valves by now?)

[Scott]

How hot does it usually get? And is that mainly motorway use, or does it drink that much when putting around on country roads as well when you're not constantly near redline?

Back in the height of "summer" it was over 110 degrees
Now the ambient temp is dropping, it doesn't get much over 100, in fact when I got home last night it was just over 80!

(And just out of curiosity: Have you rejetted for that sport pipe yet, or have you burned out your valves by now?)

Errr.... .....not yet...it's something I keep putting off, and off and off.