Newly acquired kz750 oil leak, white smoke

  • biwithse7en
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Newly acquired kz750 oil leak, white smoke

08 May 2017 10:30 - 08 May 2017 11:06
#761471
I just bought this beautiful girl and so thrilled to get her tip top.
There are major problems with this bike.
First, the oil leaks near head gasket. I have the video to show the exact location where it leaks.
Second, whie smoke is coming out of exhaust pipe when starting up about 5'.

Hopefully it's not a blown head gasket.

Any feedbacks and advices are welcome.

Thank you.

Last edit: 08 May 2017 11:06 by biwithse7en. Reason: Proof read

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  • Z1Driver
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Re: Newly acquired kz750 oil leak, white smoke

08 May 2017 11:44 - 08 May 2017 11:45
#761480
Certainly looks like a head gasket. But I'm sure others will chime in.
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Last edit: 08 May 2017 11:45 by Z1Driver.
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Re: Newly acquired kz750 oil leak, white smoke

08 May 2017 12:49
#761488
If white smoke clears up then I would say valve seals.
Kawasaki KZ 750/4 LTD 1981
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Re: Newly acquired kz750 oil leak, white smoke

08 May 2017 13:55 - 08 May 2017 14:02
#761493
.....or a worst case scenario, a crack in the cylinder head.
Never seen such a lot of oil coming out of a head, caused by a leaking head gasket or valve seals.
I may be wrong but oil is coming out off a non gasket area ( Oil gallery bore ).
The head gasket is located 20 mm deeper.
Remove the head and do a closer look inside.

Michael
Last edit: 08 May 2017 14:02 by Scirocco.
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Re: Newly acquired kz750 oil leak, white smoke

08 May 2017 14:15 - 08 May 2017 14:15
#761494
Some observations –

That engine is idling WAY high.

That "oil" doesn’t look like any oil I’ve ever seen – it looks white and oil isn’t white. However, since there are no other liquids in the engine whatever it is it is where the oil should be.

That “oil” appears to be steaming at various times, for example at time 0:30, which makes me think it is contaminated with water.

It appears that the leak is coming from somewhere above the cylinder head / cylinder block joint.

If mine I would pull the cylinder head and carefully check it for cracks before reassembling things.

Ed
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
Last edit: 08 May 2017 14:15 by 650ed.
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Re: Newly acquired kz750 oil leak, white smoke

08 May 2017 14:18 - 08 May 2017 14:25
#761495
My Dr. Frankenstein autopsy



Oil that is under pressure coming out of a little hole or thin crack sprayed out foam like.
Last edit: 08 May 2017 14:25 by Scirocco.
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Re: Newly acquired kz750 oil leak, white smoke

08 May 2017 14:59
#761501
650ed wrote: That "oil" doesn’t look like any oil I’ve ever seen – it looks white and oil isn’t white. However, since there are no other liquids in the engine whatever it is it is where the oil should be.

That “oil” appears to be steaming at various times, for example at time 0:30, which makes me think it is contaminated with water.

That was my thought as well. If oil can get out through a bad gasket, water can get in - especially if someone cleaned it with a power washer.

(I suppose that given water's lower viscosity, it might be able to get in even if oil can't get out.)
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Re: Newly acquired kz750 oil leak, white smoke

08 May 2017 15:26
#761505
This could be caused by a few different things. Your leak is above the head gasket, so it's not that - however, it could be a cracked head. The mayonnaise that you see is very common in cars/bikes with a blown head gasket, but that's because it's the oil mixing with coolant. You have no coolant, so it's not that. It's likely to be water from rain or washing the bike.

It could be something as simple as a mixture of oil from washing/rain and a leaking valve cover gasket running in between the cams, and that running the engine results in the water boiling and being pushed out the front like you see here. You can hope that that's the problem.

I would inspect the top of the engine as best as you can to find the source. Might be best to take the tank off (which is quite easy).
1981 KZ750 LTD
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Re: Newly acquired kz750 oil leak, white smoke

08 May 2017 15:33
#761506
Thank you for all the feedback. And yes the oil was being mixed with water due to some mysterious reasons the previous owner told me. I have changed the new oil and the old oil looked like that.
Irish Yobbo is right, the leak is above head gasket. I might have to take out the engine and inspect furthermore.

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Re: Newly acquired kz750 oil leak, white smoke

08 May 2017 15:51
#761507
biwithse7en wrote: I might have to take out the engine and inspect furthermore.

Before you do that, set the fuel tank to 'prime' (to fill up the carb bowls), then switch it back to 'on' and remove the tank, and run the bike again. You probably don't need to take the engine out, but it will either be the valve cover gasket or something wrong with the head. If you find something wrong with the valve cover gasket with the tank off, then great, get a new gasket, replace it, and away you go. If not, hopefully you will still get some idea where it is coming from.
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Re: Newly acquired kz750 oil leak, white smoke

08 May 2017 16:48
#761510
Blown head gasket allowing combustion pressure and oil to escape. Water that has collected down inside the stud passage is boiling up too.

Time to pull the head. Age old question now becomes: how far to go? Replace just the head gasket? Or replace head gasket, valve stem seals, base gasket, rings, etc., all at the same time. I vote for the later.
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Re: Newly acquired kz750 oil leak, white smoke

08 May 2017 16:58 - 08 May 2017 16:59
#761511
biwithse7en wrote: ............ I might have to take out the engine and inspect furthermore.

WHY?

Here's my very best advice - before touching anything - get the Kawasaki Service Manual for your exact model. In it you will find instructions on how to do everything needed. You will also find that you do not need to pull the engine from the bike to fix the problem your bike has. Do yourself a HUGE favor - buy and read the manual before attempting to repair the bike. It will save you money, blood, and tears. Ed
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
Last edit: 08 May 2017 16:59 by 650ed.
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