Burning oil smell just on start up... Concern?

[Draeger]

Hey everyone,

So I just got my 98 Standard back from having heated grips installed. (by the time I got home, they were both almost falling off as the glue either melted or wasn't put on properly... AUGH!) 

The mechanic said they noticed that on startup, the Valk burns a bit of oil. I never noticed that, nor have I noticed any oil level changes between oil changes. But I don't really pay that much attention either.

It was sitting for a week and I just started it up before riding it home... it doesn't smell like oil once it's running at all, nor is there blue smoke ... might be a bit of oil smell & blue on startup though...

Is this normal? I've got 75,000 KM on it, so it's not that much for these bikes. Do these bikes burn a bit of oil, or is that unusual?

Anything I should be looking into aside from just checking my oil levels more thoroughly?

Thanks for all your help, guys.

Draeger

[Harryc]

Normal. If it doesn't burn any oil you are good to go. Check your plugs if you are concerned. Should be a tan color (not dark and not white). As far as heated grips I'd be willing to bet the shop used regular grip glue. Bad mojo there because once it heats up it liquefies. You need to remove the grips, clean the bars up completely, and use a good amount of crazy glue on the bars before you slip the grips back on. Just be quick because it dries almost instantly. It's the only thing that works with heated grips. Take my word for it. (Oxford Heated grips ships (2) tubes of crazy glue with their products) . I have a couple of stories about heated grips coming off in my hands at very bad times before I learned this lesson ... for another time/thread.

[Fazer]

Draeger--you can get thick CA (cyanoacrylate) glue at any hobby shop that sells RC airplanes.  Use the thick, not the medium or thin and you should have enough time to slip the grips on after cleaning as Harry suggests. 

BTW--my 98 smokes a bit on start up.  As I choke and let it run while I put on my helmet and gloves, it pumps out some pretty thick white smoke.  Oil level on the dip stick has never changed.

[Savago]

Mine I/S with near 80K miles started to smell at startup. It was leaking from the clutch shifter o-ring:
https://goo.gl/photos/cfKd7XyBKcZ7c3rk9

It is an easy fix:
https://goo.gl/photos/e2RQb1TfPGUmJgv97

[WintrSol]

Double-check the oil fill level - a little too much and oil will seep past the rings on the LH side. Otherwise, valve guide seals, but you don't have that many miles in her.

[Draeger]

Thank you all! Great tips on the glue for the grips too.

I'm not much of a mechanic, but this forum has helped me so many times just looking things up... MUCH APPRECIATION

Draeger

[gordonv]

I was thinking of seepage past the intake O-rings. Should show up on the top of the engine.

I would start by inspecting the usual points of oil. The shifter seal, dip stick, oil filler, and the lowest point of the motor.

[Jess from VA]

A little left (low) side white smoke/vapor is normal, but I never smell oil, I smell burned corn gas (esp with the choke).  A dark smoke would not be good.

[Hooter]

Mine will smoke just a touch on startup but not for long. Until I get this tank full of winter gas full of Sea Foam out of there it always does.

[Draeger]

Good... I gather this isn't a big issue I need to deal with. I will check the plugs as suggested and keep an eye on things.

You guys are awesome.