Is this normal?

[Ex-Rocket]

I recently purchased a 2012 RT-S new from a dealer back in March. My question to all Rt owners, is it normal after the bike maybe sits a week or more when I start the bike there is some blue smoke, probably oil burning, coming out the exhaust pipe. After a few moments the blue smoke quits and everything is fine. I hope this is a normal thing and not a problem coming up down the road. If the bike has been running and turn it off like when your getting gas or refreshments and go and start the bike back up, there is no blue smoke on restart. The bike has over 2000 miles on it and I don't run it hard but I am shifting at the correct RPM's, around 5000. Should I be concerned or is this just normal burn off of oil after sitting for a week or more? Thanks for all reply's.

[Mexican]

Hope not, mine is an 09 with 30k on the clock, no smoke at any time.

[Spyder4Tess]

No smoking on my wife's 2011 with 1800 miles.Only condensation when could.

[BajaRon]

Nope...

[Bob Ledford]

If the engine only has 2,000 miles it should not smoke (to young) I would mention it to your servicing dealer at first chance. What is telling you that when it is setting that your having minor oil seeping into the cylinders during the sitting period.

This could be indicative of leaking piston rings (no seated in yet, or one maybe broken during the engine assembly procedure. A third option could be leaky valve guides or valve guide seals.

Keep a close eye on your oil levels in the interim. I would almost be willing to bet the dealer says keep track of your oil levels and continue to ride and enjoy for another 1,000 miles or so giving all the components longer to seat themselves.

[happyspyder2039]

I recently purchased a 2012 RT-S new from a dealer back in March. My question to all Rt owners, is it normal after the bike maybe sits a week or more when I start the bike there is some blue smoke, probably oil burning, coming out the exhaust pipe. After a few moments the blue smoke quits and everything is fine. I hope this is a normal thing and not a problem coming up down the road. If the bike has been running and turn it off like when your getting gas or refreshments and go and start the bike back up, there is no blue smoke on restart. The bike has over 2000 miles on it and I don't run it hard but I am shifting at the correct RPM's, around 5000. Should I be concerned or is this just normal burn off of oil after sitting for a week or more? Thanks for all reply's.

Nope not normal...you need to RYde it more

[grumpybob]

Nope, not with my 2012 RT, Probably only have 2K on it.

[ARtraveler]

Will keep watching. Can't add more here except no smoke on four different 's.

[NancysToy]

Are you sure it is blue smoke and not just steam? It isn't uncommon to see a little steam from condensed moisure in the exhaust system immediately after startup under some climatic conditions. If it truly is smoke, it indicates that you have a problem (like valve guides).....or someone has stuffed a BMR boxer motor in your chassis.

[Bob Denman]

Blue smoke... not the best thing to see upon startup.
Bob and Roger have you covered for suggestions to give the dealer...
Good Luck; please let us know what is found!

[Ex-Rocket]

Are you sure it is blue smoke and not just steam? It isn't uncommon to see a little steam from condensed moisure in the exhaust system immediately after startup under some climatic conditions. If it truly is smoke, it indicates that you have a problem (like valve guides).....or someone has stuffed a BMR boxer motor in your chassis.

Yes it is blue smoke for sure. I have own many bikes over the years and I know the difference between condensation and blue smoke. The blue smoke will stay blue in the air for awhile and then slowly disappear when it mixes with normal air. I did check the oil level and did have to add maybe a 1/4 quart to bring it back up to full. I have put right around 1500 miles on the bike since the dealership did my 600 mile service. I have read here that isn't excessive amount for these bikes as they do consume some oil. Does that amount of oil sound out of line or not?

[NancysToy]

Yes it is blue smoke for sure. I have own many bikes over the years and I know the difference between condensation and blue smoke. The blue smoke will stay blue in the air for awhile and then slowly disappear when it mixes with normal air. I did check the oil level and did have to add maybe a 1/4 quart to bring it back up to full. I have put right around 1500 miles on the bike since the dealership did my 600 mile service. I have read here that isn't excessive amount for these bikes as they do consume some oil. Does that amount of oil sound out of line or not?

That's not unusual oil usage for a Spyder, I'm afraid. Shouldn't be seeing the oil smoke on startup unless oil is being pulled into the cylinders on shutdown. That is usually a result of bad valve guides/seals or bad oil drainage from the heads. I'd run it by the dealer. It might be easiest to video it happening, otherwise you would have to leave it at the dealer overnight. Be sure to stress that it is persistent and lingering. I wouldn't have asked had I known.

[DR Buck]

Conjecture:
If you were over the line on oil the blue smoke might be residual oil in the airbox burning off.

[BajaRon]

Most likely valve guides, though that is not normal with the mileage that you have.

Oil in the air box does not usually get to the throttle bodies and certainly wouldn't get there overnight as the Spyder sat parked.

It could be something else, even stuck oil ring, but you won't know till you take it to the dealership and get it sorted out. Chances are it will only get worse if you don't do anything.

Let us know what you find.

[Tim Pringle]

I recently purchased a 2012 RT-S new from a dealer back in March. My question to all Rt owners, is it normal after the bike maybe sits a week or more when I start the bike there is some blue smoke, probably oil burning, coming out the exhaust pipe. After a few moments the blue smoke quits and everything is fine. I hope this is a normal thing and not a problem coming up down the road. If the bike has been running and turn it off like when your getting gas or refreshments and go and start the bike back up, there is no blue smoke on restart. The bike has over 2000 miles on it and I don't run it hard but I am shifting at the correct RPM's, around 5000. Should I be concerned or is this just normal burn off of oil after sitting for a week or more? Thanks for all reply's.

Sounds to me like too much fuel was dumped in the cylinders on start up since the blue smoke cleared up. The same thing will happen when you hold the throttle wide open to clear a flooded carburetor. I've seen this occur on several older bikes I have owned.

[Ex-Rocket]

I will be taking the Spyder to the dealership this weekend. Right now I'm not a happy camper.

[Grandpa Spyder]

I don't know, mine has never sat that long.

[doublenaughtspy]

Purchased my spyder in April 13 now have 4800 miles no smoke. Have dealer check it ASAP or it may cost you big time>

[Bob Denman]

I don't know, mine has never sat that long.

Oh... now that's just bragging!

[Ex-Rocket]

Well this morning I took a short video with my camera of the bike starting up and some blue smoke upon start up. The bike hasn't been started since last weekend. I then rode to my dealership which is probably about 40 miles away. Talked to the service manager about the blue smoke concern and also mentioned about the flopping gas gauge. I offered to show him the video of my bike starting up but he didn't want to see it. What he did say though was to email the video showing the blue smoke on start up and to also video the gas gauge flopping to him. He said he would then contract BRP and get a case #. Does this all sound to be the correct procedure in getting a case # from BRP? Or is he just trying to blow this off or what? Or should I be looking for another dealership? I'm going to send the video of both items to him and see if I get a case # or not, and see if he even gets in contact with me. Time will tell what the outcome will be. Just need some reassurance if this is correct procedure or not. Thanks

[ARtraveler]

Well this morning I took a short video with my camera of the bike starting up and some blue smoke upon start up. The bike hasn't been started since last weekend. I then rode to my dealership which is probably about 40 miles away. Talked to the service manager about the blue smoke concern and also mentioned about the flopping gas gauge. I offered to show him the video of my bike starting up but he didn't want to see it. What he did say though was to email the video showing the blue smoke on start up and to also video the gas gauge flopping to him. He said he would then contract BRP and get a case #. Does this all sound to be the correct procedure in getting a case # from BRP? Or is he just trying to blow this off or what? Or should I be looking for another dealership? I'm going to send the video of both items to him and see if I get a case # or not, and see if he even gets in contact with me. Time will tell what the outcome will be. Just need some reassurance if this is correct procedure or not. Thanks

The procedure sounds right. Work through dealer, dealer works through BRP to solve it. If you do not get good results, then you contact BRP. I am surprised that the dealer does not appear to want to look at and work on the to try to determine what the heck is going on.

[Bob Denman]

He gave you the correct info for this... BRP is called, and they assign the case #...
The video was a GREAT idea!
Then the fun of sorting out what happened, how it happened, and who's going to pay for it starts!

[lookerjdc]

after 9000 miles I dont think I ever turned around to look at what was coming out of the pipe (if anything) when I was starting up the bike so............

[lookerjdc]

Well this morning I took a short video with my camera of the bike starting up and some blue smoke upon start up. The bike hasn't been started since last weekend. I then rode to my dealership which is probably about 40 miles away. Talked to the service manager about the blue smoke concern and also mentioned about the flopping gas gauge. I offered to show him the video of my bike starting up but he didn't want to see it. What he did say though was to email the video showing the blue smoke on start up and to also video the gas gauge flopping to him. He said he would then contract BRP and get a case #. Does this all sound to be the correct procedure in getting a case # from BRP? Or is he just trying to blow this off or what? Or should I be looking for another dealership? I'm going to send the video of both items to him and see if I get a case # or not, and see if he even gets in contact with me. Time will tell what the outcome will be. Just need some reassurance if this is correct procedure or not. Thanks

as to the bouncing gas gauge..... there was a notice sent out by BRP late last year or early this year and the dealer should replace the existing gauge with a NEW gauge for NO CHARGE

[Ex-Rocket]

Well today the dealership called me regarding the 2 videos that I made. One was of the blue smoke coming out the exhaust pipe when I started it and the other was a video of the bouncing gas gauge. They said they would order a new gauge and call me when it comes in. Covered under warranty. As far as the blue smoke goes , this is what the dealership told me that BRP said about the situation. My bike only has 2100 miles and BRP said that the piston rings hasn't sealed the cylinder walls as yet. Does that sounds correct? Well at least they have my complaint on file so we will see what the final outcome of this will be. Just how long does it take the piston rings to smooth out the cylinder walls, mileage wise? I would of figured that 2100 miles would of been enough miles to smooth out the walls but I'm not that smart to figure that out. Let me know if this all sounds correct to everybody.