Xt 600 2003 Smoke Problem
 

HI,

LAST MONTH I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY XT PRODUCES THICK SMOKE
FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE AND SMELLS BURNT OIL.
i HAVE CHANGED THE CYLINDER GASKET AND THE OIL COOLER IS OK.
STILL I HAVE THIS PROBLEM
RECENTLY I CHANGED OILS BUT NOT BECAUSE IT NEEDED OIL CHANGE.
THE BURNT OIL SMELL HAS BEEN REDUCED ALMOST DISSAPEARED, AND THE SMOKE PROBLEM OCCURS MAINLY WHEN I START THE BIKE FOR THE FIRST MINUTE.
SHOULD I PROCEED ON CHECKING THE ENGINE THOROULLY AS I INTEDED BEFORE OR IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING ELSE SIMPLER AND
DOESH`T NEED TO "OPEN" THE ENGINE?
THANK YOU

ANTONIS

Valve stem seals sound shot mate.

Does it smoke when you decellerate? If so, maybe oil ring too.

Smokers
 

Check your air filter. If it is dry and crusty rebore the cylinder and replace your piston, rings and do the valves. I have seen bikes go from nice running to smokers in one weekend riding in dusty conditions with a bad air filter. On the other hand oil is cheap and you can kill a few mosquitoes as well.

Do a dry/wet compression test. If the compression is within specifications, then I would suspect the valve stem seals. You might be able to replace them without taking the engine out of the bike (but it will be much easier if you remove the engine). You can replace the valve stem seals by only removing the valve cover and cam. Feed a lenth of small-diameter cotton rope (i.e., clothesline) into the spark plug hole leaving a couple inches hanging out; turn the engine by hand until the piston compresses the rope into the head. This way the valves will not fall into the cylinder when you compress and remove the valve springs (or you can use an air compressor and fitting to pressurize the cylinder).