Its foc'ing boiled over...

[limax2]

For the white smoke to clear once everthing get warmed up is the normal thing to happen. Takes a bit longer to clear in cold and damp conditions. Running the engine with no load also takes longer to clear. I wouldn't be too hasty in changing the head gasket unless you are absolutly sure that's the problem. It probably isn't that.
The cap on the thermostat housing is spring loaded for the bottom seal, with another seal under the top of the cap. This allows the water, when it becomes pressurized due to expansion as it heats up, to escape through a small pipe to the expansion bottle. On cooling the water gets sucked back through a small valve in the cap. That's the silver disk at the bottom of the cap which you can see on your photo.  There isn't to my knowledge a cap on the radiator on the FZS600.
Lets hope it's just a split pipe. Good luck.

[Dave48]

As said check methodically complete cooling system. The idea of pressurising raises the boiling point of coolant. Dont assume the worst. It is common for exhaust to appear "white" on start up-this is only water vapour & poss some unburnt fuel. The rubber seal on your pressure cap looks past its best in the photo so maybe replace that for starters.. Check each hose & jubilee clip in system. Also drain hole @ base of  oil cooler lower front of engine as mentioned. Dont know if theres a coolant drain screw on lower hose (there is on Fazer thou)-if so check for leaks here as well. Once youre happy no leaks-flush system thoroughly-easier to remove rad to do this?. Drain & fill with proper motorcycle coolant eg Motul/Castrol whatever.  Run engine up to temperature & keep an eye on level of coolant in rad/reservoir. good luck :lol

[Dave48]

Forgot to say also check action of Thermostat!

[SteveH41]

Also, as we all know, one of the by product's of burning petrol is water, this would probably be your steam from exhaust as mine does the same until it's warmed up correctly. Today is quite foggy here so expect the steam to be greater when I go out in a bit.

[philshaq]

Good point Steve. I tried warming it up today after flushing the system as per the haynes manual and replacing with just water.


Could I see an obvious leak? Could I shite, so I got tired of trying to warm it up slowly as its so cold ooop north this morning... so i decided to take it out for a run around some local streets, never too far so that I couldn't get back if the fan kicked in again. stopped a couple of times and couldn't see anything so went home, got off and had a closer look again and found a tiny hose leading from the thermostat housing that was spraying water out of what appears to be a crack in the pipe! RESULT!!


the photo points out which pipe it is does anyone know where I could get hold of one? is it a standard diameter that I could procure from a misc. autofactor?


I'd love to get it sorted today so I don't have to get the train to work tomorrow!


Also, what oil do people use? I think its burning a small amount, not anything to worry about but it could do with a top up.


Thanks for all the comments and suggestions, I'd have been stuck without ya'll!

[philshaq]

no photo again!  :rolleyes

[philshaq]

oh and it looks like it leads to the carbs...

[darrsi]

Well at least you didn't start messing with the head gasket, that could've been painful! 


Unless you are fortunate enough to have one of the few Yamaha dealers left near you, and by a million to one chance they have your part in stock then i doubt very much you'll get your hose today! Alternatively if you have a bike breakers nearby they may have one if you're very lucky!


I can't tell by the photo whereabouts that hose is but try this site:  http://www.yamahascooterspares.co.uk/spares/epc2.asp?modelID=9655&PageiD=7&m=YAMAHA+FZS600+Fazer+RADIATOR%2E+HOSE&uID=0


Or maybe this one:  http://www.yamahascooterspares.co.uk/spa...ETOR&uID=0


If it's not there, go back to the main page and enter your bike again and look through the menu. 


I just thought, if it leads to the carbs it might be the pipe for the carb heater circuit. There are some small hoses that go around the carbs to try and keep them a little warmer in winter to avoid carb icing. They get blocked with crap very easily because they are so narrow though.


Also, when you've sorted the pipe, do what i said earlier and leave Rad Flush in for 2 or 3 days of riding. If you have a clogged up system it works so much better over a few days rather than the suggested 10 minutes ticking over or 10/20 mile ride, or whatever it says on the bottle. It will heat up and circulate when riding, but then just sit and soak overnight, then when you ride again the next day and circulate the fluid any crap will break down much easier. But be sure to flush the system with a hosepipe when you're done to get rid of any loosened debris.

[His Dudeness]

if its split right at the end you might get away with just trimming the end off the hose as a temporary fix

[limax2]

Good result  :thumbup . In case you have not already sorted it I can tell you that pipe does indeed go to the carbs. It is 230mm long with a bore of 3.5 or possibly 4mm. You might be able to get a length of pipe from a car accessary place, (i.e. Halfords, etc.), as a lot of cars use a similar size pipe to control such things as egr valves. Not sure because they are sometimes only about 2mm bore. A vacuum pipe in those cases but if it's the right bore it would do the job. 
Another temporary fix would be to use good pieces of your split pipe to block of the connection at each end, but remember it gets pressurised in use. The purpose of the pipe is to provide some warmth to the carbs to stop them freezing up. You probably wouldn't notice it till the weather gets a bit colder.

[philshaq]

again fellas, thanks for all the comments, I did what was suggested by his dudeness and cut the bit off the end, about a quarter of an inch, and re-attached... after much tugging (and pulling the pipes, wahey!) the coolant pipes came off the thermostat and once everything was unclipped it was an easy fix.


I filled the system with water to check for leaks, nothing apparent so took it for a spin around some local streets, gradually to start with and stopping regularly to check the fan hadn't kicked in and that it wasn't pissing water out, then getting a bit quicker and revving harder. white smoke has gone from the exhaust and all is good!


good tip darrsi, I'll put Rad flush in and run it for a few days, I'll sort that after work tomorrow I think, should be ok on just water till then, provided it doesn't freeze tonight!


I'm also going to order a replacement pipe to fit at the weekend, the disadvantage of not having a garage and needing to work late in the winter


CHeers for the tip limax, I was thinking it must be a standard size so may have a look at just buying a piece of hose depending on the cost of the genuine part.


Thanks again everyone


Phil