Apollo115

Hello,
I'm new to the forum and new to riding my Rebel.
The other day when started my Rebel in the morning I noticed some smoking from the right exhaust. It only appears on cold engine shortly after start-up (not right away) and lasts for about a minute or so.
The smoke is blue, not heavy, smells of oil and after warm-up it disappears. The oil level doesn't noticably change.

What could that be?

The Rebel is 2007 with 6000 kilometers on the odometer.

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shadetree

Sticky rings. Time for oil change, possibly higher viscosity. I use 20w50 motorcycle oil.

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maxweljames

Possibly valve seals, nothing to worry about as long as it only happens on cold starts and goes away fairly quickly. A couple drops of oil will cause quite a bit of smoke.

Like shadetree suggested, try stepping up the viscosity, just give it a little extra warm up time if you so.

If it gets worse I'd have it checked out though.

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Maxwel James
2003 Honda Rebel

flitecontrol

Welcome to the forum. You can add a few ounces of Sea Foam to the oil and ride for an hour or so before changing the oil. Helps remove deposits and keep the engine clean. May or may not help with the smoke.

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I'm keepin' all the left over parts. I'm gonna use 'em to build another bike!

2001 Rebel 250, 1989 Vulcan 750
Putting your bike info in your signature helps others help you!

PhilipJ

... when I do a cold start with the choke on a bit (which always seems to be needed to start) sometimes there's a bit of faint bluish smoke from the exhausts ... but clears up in about a minute ... I hope my '09 (1700 miles) is normal!

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maxweljames

I apologize up front if I am steering off topic slightly. Never been a big fan of additives but everybody here raves about seafoam. When using it in a manner as you describe it loosens deposits which you remove by draining the oil. Has anybody used this product regularly prior to cleaning their oil screen? I'm just wondering if by breaking up deposits throughout the engine are you causing those deposits to get sucked up into the screen, thereby reducing the oil pump efficency. I just did my first screen cleaning, 1000 miles later than recommended, and it was very clean, however I have done regular oil changes, but never used seafoam in it.

Back to topic, what is being described sounds normal to me as far as a little blue smoke on start-up of a cold engine.

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Maxwel James
2003 Honda Rebel

Guba

I agree, regular start up. If your not using up any oil.

One of the quirks of the Rebel is that one side will run a little richer than the other. Until the cylinder gets warmed up, that could be what your seeing.

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Some days beer tastes good...other days beer tastes better!

'07 Rebel 250 26,000 miles

flitecontrol

I used Sea Foam once in the Rebel before cleaning the screen. Screen was clean as a whistle. FWIW, I think it would take a pretty big piece of crud or metal for that screen to catch it. But I change the oil about every 1,000 miles too.

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I'm keepin' all the left over parts. I'm gonna use 'em to build another bike!

2001 Rebel 250, 1989 Vulcan 750
Putting your bike info in your signature helps others help you!

Soul Searcher

Greetings Apollo115,

Welcome to the Forum. A question on your first start up of the day on the Rebel engine. Are you using the SEV (choke), if so, how far is the lever opened and the position of the throttle when starting the engine ?

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Apollo115

Thanks to all for your input

The choke is 1/3 to half closed and the throttle is at idle when I start it the first time. When the engine fires I close the choke so the engine stays on steady low RPM for about a minute.

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