Brown soot...

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Rossgo
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Brown soot...

Post by Rossgo »

I've noticed brown soot in my end can on my bike. I'm unsure why this is. Is my bike running rich or lean, I've never noticed this before or not as brown as it is now.

Going to give it a full oil and filter change soon, parts arrived today.

Also will check my air filter to make sure it is clean.

Anything else I could check?

Any ideas of why?

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Re: Brown soot...

Post by Blade »

Best why to get an idea of how she is running without an analyser and a dyno is whip the plugs out and have a look at them.
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Re: Brown soot...

Post by Blade »

Plugs.jpg
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Re: Brown soot...

Post by StMarks »

The exhaust deposits on most healthy modern petrol engines seems to be pale beige these days.?
So if your tailpipe appears more like a deeper brown, that would suggest something being deposited in addition to the normal combustion residue.?
Imho the likely suspects would seem to be; too rich a mixture, or oil inclusion.
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Re: Brown soot...

Post by Deegee »

Too rich or a mod/faulty exup valve is causing fuel to be burnt in the exhaust would be my best guess without seeing it.
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Re: Brown soot...

Post by Rossgo »

All not.sounding too good.

I Will give it a full oil and filter change. Don't fancy having to take out the plugs to be honest as don't want to overtighten used ones, these only got changed last year plus don't have a gauge to measure the set distance for my bike plugs.



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Re: Brown soot...

Post by Rossgo »

This is just an image from.google but it looks like this. You can wipe it off but doesn't look good!Image

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Re: Brown soot...

Post by StMarks »

Rossgo wrote:This is just an image from.google but it looks like this. You can wipe it off but doesn't look good!
Does it feel greasy when you wipe it off, or dry & crusty.?
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Re: Brown soot...

Post by Rossgo »

StMarks wrote:
Rossgo wrote:This is just an image from.google but it looks like this. You can wipe it off but doesn't look good!
Does it feel greasy when you wipe it off, or dry & crusty.?
Just fingered my hole ImageImage

This is it. It's a dust. Not oily when wiped it goes back to normal colour. I did out some.red ex in it just before Wales ride out maybe I out too much in then I filled up with 99 shell. Could this be an issue? ImageImage

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Re: Brown soot...

Post by Blade »

Could well be the Redex. I use to put it in my car as a kid and rev it and it was like a smoke machine at the exhaust (giggle) . I would just clean it off and monitor. If you haven't made any mods and it's only just started doing it then a very good chance it could just be the Redex or possibly additives in the Shell VPower and nothing to worry about.
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Re: Brown soot...

Post by Rossgo »

I'm.really hoping that's it. I only just thought about the Redex as it's not a normal thing- my dad had some and I thought to myself, Wales, long ride, at times at speed, perfect opportunity!

Going to give new oil and filter change. And check my air filter. Hoping that's still as clean as the day it went in as it hasn't covered many miles and last time.it came out it was spotless!



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Re: Brown soot...

Post by kiwikrasher »

I’d its dry and light, it’s pretty much normal imo

If it’s oily or heavily crusty then that indicates unburnt components and a bigger problem.

Also in addition to the redex if you’ve moved onto Shell V-Power from a cheaper fuel, the cleaning agents in the V-Power will be removing some deposits.
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Re: Brown soot...

Post by Blade »

The oil and filter won't be related to the combustion process unless something major has gone wrong internally, like a ring has gone and then you would expect black colouring and an oily residue to be present which you don't have any evidence off.

Could run a little rich if air filter is blocked / dirty but if recently changed very unlikely tbh.

If no recent mods have be made that could effect the fuel ratio, I would be dismissing the Redex and use of VPower as the most likely causes first as ease none evasive tasks.
Last edited by Blade on 28 Apr 2019, 10:11, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Brown soot...

Post by Rossgo »

Yea, it's defo dry and light. It's like a layer of dust

Those pics I attached were taken this morning. Pics don't show just how bright it is though!

I usually use 97 BP Ulitmate. I'm.really hoping that's all it is. Just seems a strange colour. I understand a dark colour but not bright brown!

I shall take a little time and keep an eye on it

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Re: Brown soot...

Post by Rossgo »

Ok i was thinking that too. I can't see any evidence of oily deposits which is good. I'm expecting to see an EML on if it was bad like a piston ring or something letting in oil and a bad idol and piss poor acceleration, which I certainly don't feel!

That's for your comments.

Just took be back when I saw bright brown instead of a dark colour just looked strange lol!

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Re: Brown soot...

Post by Blade »

Wipe it off and fill with your regular fuel and monitor for a couple of hundred miles Rossgo and see if it comes back.

In my experience sometimes we can worry and look for problems that are not there (blush) been there don't that (giggle)
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Re: Brown soot...

Post by Deegee »

Iirc from back when I was an apprentice:

Black - too rich (carbons up engine & exhaust)
Biscuit brown - Correct mixture (running clean)
Light grey/white - too lean (can burn out valve seats and spark plugs)

I’d guess your bike has the usual exhaust sensor and catalytic converter Rossgo, if your engine management light isn’t on, the chances are there’s not much wrong with your bike and it’s just a side effect of the Redex.
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Re: Brown soot...

Post by Cav »

IMO it looks like oxidisation of the exhaust material given that it is only from the drilled/lasercut areas.

Am I right in thinking this is a standard car exhaust? ***EDIT*** I was looking at the image Roosgo got from the internet. They don't use the highest quality materials if they don't have to
Last edited by Cav on 28 Apr 2019, 10:40, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Brown soot...

Post by duke63 »

It's the damp in the Welsh air, rusting yur engine from the inside. :D
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Re: Brown soot...

Post by Deegee »

If you’re really worried nip over to the MOT station and get them to put the probe in the exhaust, compare the reading with your last MOT and you’ll see if there’s anything odd going on. If nothing else it’ll put your mind at rest.
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