1986 GL1200 White smoke and oil under the bike

Brian Fairchild · Post by **Brian Fairchild** » Mon Nov 01, 2021 12:54 pm

I started my 1986 GL1200 after sitting for a few months and it was smoking like a freight train. It was a thick white smoke. I kept it running for close to 5 minutes then shut it off. After about 15 minutes there was a large puddle of oil in front of the back tire and oil that blew through the left side exhaust. Does anyone know what might have happened? Looks pretty bad to me. Thanks

BillyIrvin · Post by **BillyIrvin** » Sat Nov 06, 2021 9:13 am

Hello I had the problem with the oil leak, I found out that it was the engine oil leaking from the rear output seal where the drive shaft connects to the engine. Yours maybe something different. I hope this helped it will give you a starting point.

Brian Fairchild · Post by **Brian Fairchild** » Sat Nov 06, 2021 9:31 am

Thanks for your help!

jboughto70 · Post by **jboughto70** » Mon Dec 27, 2021 12:37 pm

white smoke is usually water, which usually means a cracked block or cracked head or head gasket.

Brian Fairchild · Post by **Brian Fairchild** » Mon Dec 27, 2021 1:48 pm

Thanks for the reply. I was kind of concerned that it could be a head gasket. I may start tearing the bike down just to try to find out.

Rambozo · Post by **Rambozo** » Tue Dec 28, 2021 3:28 am

There are tests you can do to verify that without a teardown.

joecoolsuncle · Post by **joecoolsuncle** » Tue Dec 28, 2021 6:43 am

no mention of engine miss? how are the coolant and oil levels? im with rambozo, i wouldnt jump to conclusions before a few simple tests. depending on the light and oil used, oil smoke can look very white.

pull plugs on left side and send pictures of all the oil that is covering the ceramic!

Brian Fairchild · Post by **Brian Fairchild** » Tue Dec 28, 2021 9:38 am

I'll pull the plugs. The oil level is good I'm not sure on the coolant but I'll make sure to check it. It was leaning on the side stand for several months. I've had it on the center stand now for a while. When it started it was running a little rough but would start and run. Now the battery won't take a charge so I'm going to have to get a new one. Thanks for your advice any help is really appreciated.

jboughto70 · Post by **jboughto70** » Fri Jan 07, 2022 1:43 pm

yeah, the water could be in the gas, and like rambozo said, smoke can look white when its light blue or whatever.

Brian Fairchild · Post by **Brian Fairchild** » Fri Jan 07, 2022 3:38 pm

Thanks, I haven't pulled the plugs yet. I'll post some pictures when I do.

1986 GL1200 White smoke and oil under the bike

1986 GL1200 White smoke and oil under the bike

Re: 1986 GL1200 White smoke and oil under the bike

Re: 1986 GL1200 White smoke and oil under the bike

Re: 1986 GL1200 White smoke and oil under the bike

Re: 1986 GL1200 White smoke and oil under the bike

Re: 1986 GL1200 White smoke and oil under the bike

Re: 1986 GL1200 White smoke and oil under the bike

Re: 1986 GL1200 White smoke and oil under the bike

Re: 1986 GL1200 White smoke and oil under the bike

Re: 1986 GL1200 White smoke and oil under the bike