White smoke on startup and burning oil

[VFRkieran]

Hello, ive just recently been topping up the oil on my nc30 every 2-300kms or so, and i was wondering if this was usual or if its a bit too often? And also when im starting the bike up i have a fair bit of white smoke and i wasnt sure if this has anything to do with it possibly burning oil?
The smoke stops after the bike is warmed up past 70c and it allways seems to be worse when its cold or wet outside, the bike is running spot on and im never having trouble starting it so i dont really have a clue what it could be. Any help will be greatly apreciated.

[Hadies]

The white smoke at start up could be condensation. I get it on mine.
You should not have to top up oil that often though. Have you checked for oil leaks around the bike?

[lizard821000]

id do a compression test mate, worn piston rings, burning too much oil maybe. ^^ or as said, check for minor leaks.

[skinnydog0_0]

id do a compression test mate, worn piston rings, burning too much oil maybe. ^^ or as said, check for minor leaks.

How many miles has teh bike done?

[phil x]

Are you overfilling it with oil by checking it incorrectly?

Phil

[Neosophist]

Are you overfilling it with oil by checking it incorrectly?

Phil

Going by the symptoms it sounds like worn bores / piston rings.

Until it gets really hot theres a bad-seal causing oil-leakage.

Between changes on my NC24 (roughly 2000km) I don't have to add any oil....

[VFRkieran]

Ive had a look around the bike for any leaks and the only thing i can see at the minute is at the rear of the bike the sump gasket seems to have a small amount of oil around it just like its coming through a little bit however the front is bone dry. Seems like this could be the cause so im going to wipe away any oil and check for leaks after another 300 km.
Also if the bike was burning oil would i be getting more blueish coloured smoke? The white smoke i have been getting is very white and it does only seem to be when its wet outside or when its colder air temp, for instance yesterday afternoon when it was quite sunny there was no smoke at all and this morning when it had been pissing it down there was quite alot so that would make me think its condensation like hadies said.

The bike has done 51000 km and the last oil change was at around about 47k when i bought the bike. When ive been checking the oil ive taken the bike on a short ride to warm it up then checking and topping up if necessary with the bike stood upright, how much am i looking at cost wise to replace piston rings/worn bores? oh and ive just checked the oil level now after about 250km since i last added any and the level hasnt moved at all so either im going mad and imagining things or something fishy is going on.

[lizard821000]

could well be condensation as hadies says then, if your checking your oil like that then thats prob why you think its low, after youv taken it for a spin lots of oil will be on the internals , let it stand for 10 mins before checking the oil. not teaching you to suck eggs mate just thats how it reads. do as you said too mate, wipe off the area and re-check again in few hundred kms for the leak again. as for the rings be cheaper to buy a tester first off mate, they might not need doing.

[VFRkieran]

Ok cheers mate, tbh it did seem strange checking my way but i was just following what the haynes manual said. Im gunna get a compression test done after ive thoroughly checked for any leaks and fingers crossed it wont actually be burning oil Thanks for all the help though guys, really apreciate it.

[Joey23]

Found this thread from a while back and wondered if VFRKieran had resolved the issue...I'm experiencing similar symptoms - cold/wet mornings and white smoke/steam on start up - about 20-30 min journey to work and this all the way - admittedly it is through London so no high speeds. Smoke doesn't look blue - and oil level's are OK... I take it NC30's aren't morning people?!