Black Liquid Spitting From Exhaust

[Alemayehu]

Hi every one,I have done quiet a few thousand km traveling around North Island of New Zealand and having black spitted liquid staff coming from the exhost. I hope I will get an answer and " how to " to get read off this Black Liquid Spitting From Exhaust which I am seeing in the morning while I am warming up.Thank you and God bless!

[Aussie81Interstate]

More than likely a bit of carbon and condensation mixed.

Stick a clean cloth over the exhaust and give it a rev - if it smells or looks oily could be an issue - but I suspect only some water vapour washing out the exhaust on startup or warm up.

[tom84std]

I didn't have a clue until I got to the part about morning and warming up. Yes, as was mentioned. Moisture in the form of condensation mixing with the carbon soot inside the mufflers and tubes being blown out. Automobiles do it as well.

[Mh434]

This will be reduced after a long ride, sufficient to get all the moisture out of the exhaust. As the others have said, carbon soot is deposited in your exhaust system while running - you'll get more deposits if you're running a little on the rich side, or use your choke for longer than necessary.

As the bike cools, moisture in the air condenses inside the exhaust system, and pools at the low spots, where it dissolves carbon deposits, acids, etc. On startup, exhaust pressure blows it out the back and, until the exhaust is good & hot (and dry), spatters of carbon will fall at the exhaust tips.

Many motorcycles over the years have had small holes designed into their exhaust systems at the lowest point, so that pooling can't occur. Some (mostly 2-strokes) even had small cotter pins that would rattle around in the drain holes, to keep them clear. Pooled liquid in the exhaust is highly acidic, and rots out systems eventually.

[tom84std]

When I was a kid, I drove a 64 Fairlane with a 289 V8. I had a new muffler installed and later I noticed a small hole in one end. I took it to the muffler shop to ask and they guy told me that it was a "weep hole" and explained how it worked.

[WingAdmin]

A considerable amount of the exhaust gases are in fact just vaporized water. When this vaporized water hits the inside of the cold exhaust, it condenses into liquid water, where it mixes with the soot, and the result is what you are seeing.

Once the exhaust heats up enough that the condensation no longer occurs, you won't see it anymore. Nothing to worry about.

Incidentally, this is one of the main reasons why it's a really bad idea to "start the bike up" occasionally during the winter months. The exhaust never heats up enough to stop the condensation, and the water ends up just sitting inside the exhaust, where it rusts and rots it away from the inside.

[HawkeyeGL1200]

You may (and I'm only saying it because it is a possibility) want to balance your carbs or make sure they're not running a little richer than needed. If it makes you feel any better both mine do the same thing.

[Alemayehu]

Thank you so much for quick reply,now I got relief nothing to worry about.I will clean the exhaust when ever I got time soon and balance the carb as well if needed.God bless everyone.

[golden highway]

I would check the oil for gas. You get the same thing if you have a stuck float in one of the carbs. Gas will also end up in the exhaust.

[Alemayehu]

Hi,there is no gas as such in the exhaust or no gas in the oil but it is just black soot with condensed water vapor.Thank you for your concern.
God bless!

[PastoT]

I'm not sure you're year Wing has catalytic converters on it but if so then when the burn is less than efficient the converters will kick in and create a mixture of water and carbon soot. Most recent cars do the same when warming up in a cold, humid environment; its why some cars n truck drip water out the exhaust pipes that leaves a black sooty puddle when parked. If it dries up and is no oily its just a side effect of poor fuel burn in a cold engine. My GL1800 has drip holes but the right side doesn't drip clear and thus the first couple miles ridden on a sub freezing day blows steam out the right pipe. At first I thought the I had a bad plug or O2 sensor issue. If what you capture from the exhaust dries out to a dry black smudge mark its probably all fine as long as weather is cold and wet. If it happens in warm dry weather then I'd start checking spark plugs for fouling or other ignition / fuel issue leading to an inefficient fuel burn, or too rich a fuel mixture.

[Alemayehu]

Thank you PastoT for your comment,my one is 1983 quiet oldie but goodie,but it was unbalanced mixture of fuel and now it is fine no more spitting black soot and water.Thank you every one for your help.
God bless!

[redial]

And I was going to suggest to get some detergent and put it in your exhaust pipes, and let the Shakey Isles do the work for you. For Northerners, Ozzies and NewZealanders (NZ) have this love-hate relationship, at Rugby, we hate them. As cousins, we love them, but feel free to tackle each other like in a Rugby game. The Shakey Isles refers to the likelihood of an earthquake regularly occurring in NZ, and Christchurch, in the far south of NZ, was hit by a particularly nasty earthquake about 4 years ago.

It is a beautiful place to visit, and I would go for another holiday to NZ in a heartbeat. The people are very friendly, and speak reasonable English - NZ style

[PastoT]

Thank you PastoT for your comment,my one is 1983 quiet oldie but goodie,but it was unbalanced mixture of fuel and now it is fine no more spitting black soot and water.Thank you every one for your help.
God bless!

Our weather (temp and humidity) have turned to Spring like and my morning drip stopped overnight. I was surprised to learn only 1 of 3 tubes on my 1800 pipes are real, . I guess they're pretty though. I rode a Yamaha Turbo Seca decades ago on which only one pipe worked for exhaust and the other was only turbo blow by, that used to confuse the emissions testing folks in Arizona (they thought that was the cleanest running machine they'd ever seen).

[Alemayehu]

Thank you every one I have balanced the carburetor and synchronize all 4 carbs and now no more black spitting liquid it shows me that it use to be more richer in fuel mixture before.
God bless!