still coolent in exh after replacing head gaskets

I have a feeling I'm not going to like the answers I get but here's my
problem. My 1984 Honda GL1200 started blowing white smoke out of the
exhaust and overheating during some city riding. I shut it down and had
someone come and pick me up so I wouldn't warp the heads. Well I just
finished replacing the head gaskets and the problem is still here. The
bad feeling started after pulling the heads and not seeing any damage to
the existing gaskets. This bike sat for 2 1/2 years before I got it but
it ran fine for 3 months. I did not at any time beat the bike or ride it
hard. Anyone have any suggestions on what may have happened. Thank You

 

First thing I would try is a Vacuum test. This would eliminate a leak
of any kind from the top end if it passes. I assume you checked the
cylinder wall for taper or barreling, and checked the clearance between
the piston and the cylinder wall. Just replacing a gasket would not
help if oil were getting past your rings. You may need to replace the
piston rings.

Also check to see if there is oil in your air filter. You could be
sucking oil into your cylinders from the top as it draws in air through
the air filter. I suspect you have blow piston rings. Without any more
details its hard to tell. I assume you have also checked your oil
pressure to make sure the lamp is not burnt out and that you are getting
enough oil through your engine.

If you have done all that then you need to do a pressure test to see if
there is a crack somewhere in the case between the cylinder and the
crakecase.

Good luck, hope this helps get you started. Pardon the pun.

 

The guy is refering to coolant, not oil.
Sounds like a cracked head.
B

 

Does the cloud of white "smoke" dissapear into the air quickly, or does it
linger?


--

Later,

Charlie

fix the e-mail address and it will get to me

 

It is a correct assumption, and the nose knows, You can't mistake the
sickening sweet smell of coolant. Not to mention the rad emptying out
very quickly.

 

Still, a pressure test should confirm a crack in the cylinder regardless
if it is oil or coolant.

 

Completly useless, keep up the good work, lol.

 

problem. My 1984 Honda GL1200 started blowing white smoke out of the
exhaust and overheating during some city riding. I shut it down and had
someone come and pick me up so I wouldn't warp the heads. Well I just
finished replacing the head gaskets and the problem is still here. The
bad feeling started after pulling the heads and not seeing any damage to
the existing gaskets. This bike sat for 2 1/2 years before I got it but
it ran fine for 3 months. I did not at any time beat the bike or ride it
hard. Anyone have any suggestions on what may have happened. Thank You

Good question ........

Well ??????

It does not linger long but it is very moist

 

That, combined with the really obvious one of coolant level going down
every day you told us about after I posted, says it's going somewhere. I
had a problem with my V45 where some of the head bolts had been heli-coiled
during a previous teardown. The threads cut into the block for the
heli-coils were stripping out, but I didn't know at the time that's why I
was loosing coolant. I was also thinking head gasket, and I didn't realize
until I was re-assembling it after burning a valve that the heli-coil was
coming apart in one hole. The screws all torqued 1/3 and 2/3's, but the one
wouldn't hold full torque. It was fun taking it all apart again to fix that
one.
Try re-torquing your heads. Here's an obvious one, unless you miss it.
Did you lay a straight edge across the heads at various angles and check for
any gap between the straight edge and head with feeler gages? If it ain't
flat, it's tough to seal. You can check the deck on the block the same way.
If the heads torque properly, and the surface is flat, you should probably
have the heads pressure checked.


--

Later,

Charlie

fix the e-mail address and it will get to me