Smoking engine

[Land Master]

I have a side by side that came with a Honda 395 engine which I have replaced with a predator 420! I probably didn’t have it a year till it started smoking pretty bad. I tried things like cleaning the carburetor, changing and checking oil level. I thought maybe it was just a dud so bought another…. 6 months later and probably no more than 20 hours the new one is smoking again!! Any thoughts???

 

[Darren]

Did you bed in the rings with 'bedding in oil' it's a specific high ZDDP additive oil.
Are you using the correct oil for a splash feed system.
Is the pcv getting blocked (it's in the rocker cover)
If not oil based is it running rich? check plug colour, aim for a tan colour around the tip ceramic

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

Smoking like blue/black exhaust smoke?

 

[Karttekk]

Ezcome-ezgo has a good question about the color of the smoke. Black exhaust smoke is a rich fuel condition, blue exhaust smoke is from oil being burned. White smoke is coolant being burned in the cylinder. An external oil leak will cause smoke from hot oil hitting the muffler or engine block. Since this engine isn't water cooled it's one of the other possibilities. Can you provide more information about the smoke?

 

[Land Master]

 

[Land Master]

I’d say the smoke is blue.. it’s not black!! Also this plug looks pretty bad! It’s just kinda strange that it was running fine and then my grandkids use it and it’s smoking bad!! And I don’t know anything about bedding in the rings!! If that was the issue would it not have the smoking not have started right off the bat??

 

[Land Master]

You guys are good!! Lots of questions to answer. As far as the oil I’m using.. it’s just a 10-30wt oil as the instructions said! If the pcv is connected to the hose running back to air intake, then I’m pretty sure it’s not blocked. Does it have a check valve so that air flow is only one way??

 

[Karttekk]

The plug is fouled either from excessive oil being burned or too rich of a fuel mixture. I would double check the oil level or better yet change to oil to a good 30 weight oil. Make sure the air filter isn't oil soaked causing a rich condition and check the oil level cold on a flat surface. Don't thread the dipstick in when checking the oil level, sit it on top of the threaded area when checking. Oil could have gotten into the muffler and needs burned out after a few minutes of running the engine. Use top-tier gas too. Check at the station pumps.

Fuel Stations - TOP TIER™

TOP TIER™ Licensed Brands prominently display the TOP TIER™ logo on the pump, pump handle, canopy or in a station window.

www.toptiergas.com

 

[Karttekk]

I would toss the Torch spark plug that shipped with the engine and use an NGK plug. Those Taiwan spark plugs don't seem to hold up very well.

 

[Land Master]

As for as the fuel mixture.. I find no adjustment for change!! I can change to a 30 wt oil. The air filter on the new predator is crap but that’s all I got!! I was finding a Top Tier gas station and turns out that’s what I’ve been using!! However just regular…should I be using the premium?? And will definitely change out the plug! Thanks for all the info!

 

[Denny]

It’s never a good idea to smoke your engine. It will screw up your lungs. You kind of need those to live.

 

[Karttekk]

As for as the fuel mixture.. I find no adjustment for change!! I can change to a 30 wt oil. The air filter on the new predator is crap but that’s all I got!! I was finding a Top Tier gas station and turns out that’s what I’ve been using!! However just regular…should I be using the premium?? And will definitely change out the plug! Thanks for all the info!

No need for premium fuel, regular is fine. There's probably nothing wrong with the engine, more than likely the Torch plug wasn't up for the task. I think 30 weight oil protects these air cooled engines better than multi-vis oil. Report back with results.

 

[Land Master]

I would have never thought that the spark plug would cause that much smoke!! But I’ll definitely try it!!! Thank all of you for the advice!! I’ll let y’all know what happens!

 

[Edwin Spangler]

It’s never a good idea to smoke your engine. It will screw up your lungs. You kind of need those to live.

What about if youre smoking it with mesquite?

 

[Denny]

That’s even worse for you.