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Smoking Engine

Joined May 2014
46 Posts | 0+
California
In need of tech help here - just go back from work driving my hyperstrada, and on the way back, every time I came to a stop at the red lights, or stop signs for more than 5/10 seconds, the bike starts spewing smoke like crazy from the front of the bike (seems like the whole front of engine/radiator is generating lots of smoke). I've ridden my fair share of the bikes in the pouring rain and this has never happened. What's going on here!?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8je0daRIVbg

Anyone got any clues? My oil level is in the clear, no oil leaks spotted. Coolant level looks normal in the overflow container. Nothing obviously broken, no loose hoses visible at first sight.:confused::mad:
 
Check the hose on the left side that mounts to the bottom of the radiator if its a tiny bit loose smoke will pour out but not cooolant. Did you smell anything sweet also whats the outside temp?
 
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Check the hose on the left side that mounts to the bottom of the radiator if its a tiny bit loose smoke will pour out but not cooolant. Did you smell anything sweet also whats the outside temp?

Will check tomorrow morning. If you could send me a picture of what I'm looking for that would be awesome, I didn't see loose hoses when I checked earlier.

I did smell something, not quite sure how to identify, some sort of burning swell. Maybe on the sweet side.

Outside temp is 13C, which has been typical for the past few weeks here.
 
I had troubles with coolant leakage at one time.
When the engine got real hot, the coolant came out the bottom drain hose.
There was some air trapped in the hose between the coolant cannester and the radiator.
Remedy was to put the bike on the side stand with the front wheel on a ramp.
Use someone to hold the bike preventing ot to tip over.
Run the bike real hot, fans should come on a few times.
The trapped air is then released.
Didn't have the trouble since then.

Maybe the drain hose is sheared or blocked at some point above a hot spot and coolant is poored on it and starts smoking.
Do you have a wet coolant area on the floor after riding the bike?

Maybe above will help solving it.
 
@vincentgurle

when you drive through the rain the radiator is collects water sometimes a lot of water and then it's start to smoke!

A good example is when you wash your bike and you but it on the side stand a lot of water, I mine really lot of water is coming out of the radiator right!

That's also happened to me, when i was driving through the rain and the temperature was identical the Bike was really smoking when I stopped for a break. The bike was on the side stand and a lot of water came out at the bottom of the radiator!
The smell is most likely a mix of condensing rain water with dirt what's on the road.

The Hyperstrada don't like water and low temperature ;) Maybe water for cleaning :)

Gruss Steffen
 
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Weren't the radiator hose clamps part of an early recall inspection? Could be wrong.

The radiator does hold a lot of water in the fins, which is good because that means it displaces a lot of air when doing it's job. Never seen smoke on mine but it's been a while since I've run it in the rain and I usually let it dry after a bath.

I shoot the radiator with compressed air or a leaf blower after washing to get the water out. Then I hop on and take a quick lap around the neighborhood, bouncing the bike up and down. I hate it when I get her all waxed up after a bath and the next morning water streams out of the radiator all over the screen and plastics.