What I believe to be oil is spraying from exhaust pipes... Help please...

[jimmygomk3]

Hello all...

This weekend I noticed that I had a black liquid (I believe oil) spraying from my exhaust pipes while revving.  I took her for a long ride last weekend with no problems.  She sat all last week then when I started her up on Sunday I noticed black spots on the wooden fence she is parked in front of.  Closer examination and a flick of the throttle showed a mist of oil spraying out of the pipes onto my hand.  I shut her off and came here for answers.  The bike is a 2001 M750 with 20k miles.  I did top her off before my long ride last weekend (oil is level in sight glass).  She is not known to burn oil and I change it every 3-4k. I fear a gasket broke but I have also read that I could be running rich and what I see out the back is dirty oily gas?  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Rock Store]

Their is carbon & black soot build up in the headers & mufflers,it lines the inner walls,from running a lil rich,the spitting is condensation on start up ,that condensation is taking the black soot with it which is normal.SAfter shes warmed up the black spewing of carbom & gases should be gone. Oil emits blue & white smoke,all the time ,especially if rings are worn,valve stem seals & guides are worn.
check your spark plugs ,clean & gap them,they may be a bit sooty as well.
later..RS

[Slide Panda]

Put a sheet of printer paper back there and fire it up. Rev a bit and stop.

Take that sheet of paper and let it sit for a bit. If the wet spots go away, leaving only dark deposits - it's just water with some carbon soot that you're seeing. Which is much more likely than oil spray.

If after a sufficient amount of time, the wets spots are not diminished or totally gone, and the paper looks waxy where they are... then it's oil.

Based on your description of the situation - I'd no fret. It's most likely some condensation in the headers that pooled and mixed with a bit of grime.

Running rich would not be cause for any oil in the exhaust - the two are unrelated. And if you think you're running rich - have you looked at your spark plugs? What do they look like? A tan/golden brown is good. Black and sooty is too rich. White and chalky is too lean.

[hadesducati848]

ummm when you topped off the oil last week did you do it with the bike on a center stand or on its side stand? i only ask cause my first time i didnt know any better and with the bike on the side stand i thought it was low so i "topped it off"  then when i started riding the bike it was bogging out a bit and the plugs were very fouled... lesson learned and a quick oil change later all better.

[jimmygomk3]

Thanks for all the input guys!

@ Rock Store and yuu- tonight I will check the plugs, collect a sample on paper and let her fully warm up to see if the spray changes/disappears.

@ hadesducati848 - The g/f always lends two cheeks and sits on the bike while I level.  Good suggestion though.  Many years ago I definitely topped off with the bike on its stand.

Thanks again everyone... I will post up what I find. 

[brent9632]

You Should also take an Exhaust Sample As well. How this work is you take a Clear or black Trash bag and place the end over the Exhast pipe. Make sure the Seal is tight, then start the bike and allow the bag to fill. If you have Dual exhaust make sure you take a sample from each Pipe and keep them seperate. Also be careful not to burn a hole in the bag on the hot pipe. the Bigger the sample the more " accurate" the test will be. Any Bike shop, Auto Shop, or a mechanically inclined friends should be able to test it for you real Cheap, More them likely for Free.

[avizpls]

yeah. that will tell you if the muffler bearings are any good still

[causeofkaos]

You Should also take an Exhaust Sample As well.