Blue smoke? Yikes...

I changed the oil in my "new" '06 today, used Honda HP-4 without Moly and a factory filter. Once the engine got warmed up, my brother and I went out to ride around, visit people, etc.

At one stop light I got on it, wound up 1st to probably about 9000 or so and popped it up into 2nd. In doing so I screwed up a bit in my timing and spiked the engine a little much before the clutch was able to fully engage again. The revs didn't spike enough to hit the limiter, it maybe got to about 11000 (I'm estimating, can't imagine it got too much higher if it did). Anyway I thought nothing of it--it's a high revving engine with no inertia, right?

Later when we stopped, my brother (who was behind me) said he saw a very brief puff of blue-ish smoke from the tailpipes at the moment I shifted. Blue smoke usually means oil though I've seen cases where a rich mixture can sometimes show up as blue-ish smoke. He couldn't be any more specific than that.

What could've caused this? I might've slightly overfilled the crankcase. And when I say slight, I mean slight (oil level at top hash mark with engine cold). I know it's supposed to be between the marks when cold. Anyway I can't imagine spiking the revs would've caused this normally, unless the oil rings lose their talent when their speed changes radically?

I don't normally ride behind myself (obviously), or behind other VFRs for that matter, so I'm at a loss. However I am obsessing over it and would like to know if anyone has seen this or has any theories.

 

OK here goes; Repeat what you did under similar conditions,except dont miss a gear,and if it dosent puff blue smoke, forget about it! I have no proof of this,however after seeing countless drag race drivers miss a shift,most times you will see blue smoke come from the cars exhaust. My theory is when an engine is running under load and it suddenly is made to run free or over rev that everything in the valve train gets disoriented, you see smoke ,sometimes even flames. eddie

 

Not to worry. An engine with tight tolerances will sometimes smoke a little till the rings and valves get seated. Ride it hard, it will quit.
Or blow up?
Merry Christmas!

Mac

 

A little puff of smoke now and again, isn't a problem. I wouldn't worry a bout it.


Lane

 

I'd just keep a close check on the oil. If it doesn't use any (or very much), I wouldn't worry about it. When the engine came down from 11,000 very quickly, the vacuum went way up. This can cause it to suck a little oil into the cyls.