1982 xj 650 Maxim dripping gas out the exhaust when cold outside

It was 1 degree Celsius this morning, and I noticed some gas dripping out of the exhaust after I started the bike. Is this normal when it is this cold outside? I have everything color tuned and synced and the bike runs fine when it warms up.

 

Just checking you sure it wasn't water/ condensation. You shouldn't have fuel coming out of the exhaust. Hot exhaust gases on a cold pipe at startup.

 

Smells like gas. I noticed it as soon as I started it up.

 

It could be. Or is it water and you are smelling fuel vapour from a richer mixture. Any problems with the ignition system? You could put a tin or some container under the end of the silencer next cold morning you start it and check if it's fuel.

 

Soak up the questionable fluid with a tissue. Then light tissue. You will know quickly if it is gas or water.

 

It's not unusual for the condensation to smell like gasoline. If you did indeed have raw gas dripping out of the exhaust the bike would be backfiring and running like crap. The only way for raw fuel to make it out the exhaust if for the plug not igniting it in the combustion chamber. With it being THAT cold, condensation is what you see/smell. I bet it went away after the bike warmed up to operating temperature.

 

Shouldn't condensation go away after a little while? The drip continued until I left for work. Going to see what it does tomorrow morning. Supposed to be 3 degrees in the morning.

 

Yes it should go away but there is temperature difference in the exhaust system. Remember that the header pipes will get much hotter quicker than the silencers when you initially start the bike and it will take time for the silencers to heat up. I still think it's water. I could be wrong but if you have no ignition of unburnt fuel air mix in the exhaust system l doubt it is gasoline. Try the tissue test to ascertain what it is. How long was the engine idling before you left for work?

 

I let it idle for about 3-5 minutes. Supposed to rain here this morning and for the rest of the week. Looks like I'll be testing in the garage.

 

So it turns out that when I start the bike with the choke on, there is a leak where the pipes connect to the engine at the middle right pipe, and where the exhaust joins the muffler on the other side. There is some slight backfiring with the choke on. When the bike warms up and the choke is off, there is no leak.

 

So when the engine and exhaust heat up the leaks stop through expansion of the metal l assume. Do you need to tighten the header pipe nuts slightly and pipe silencer clamps?

 

I'll give that a try.

 

That worked! Thank you Franz!!! I never would have thought to look at the header pipes to see if they needed tightening. Now to find a new washer for my color tune, so I can get things in line again. Any thoughts on where to get a new crush washer?

 

I haven't used a colour tune but if you take it to your local parts store surely they will have one in the correct size. I don't know if the old one can be annealed? I am assuming it is copper.

 

The liquid coming out of the silencers must have been cold air condensing in the exhaust then especially as you are going to colour tune now.