KZ440 LTD... Help! White smoke, oil on spark plug

recheck your oil levels and take off the filler cap and give it a sniff if it smells like gas what is probably happening is that your petcock is leaking into the carb's and your needles and seats arent in the best shape so it fills the bottom end up . fouls the sparkplug and the white smoke your seeing is unburnt fuel vapours coming out of the pipe. just like a diesel on a cool morning when your first starting it.

Thanks for all the replys!!! One of the best forums for sure..

I checked the oil when I replaced and I filled it to the top of the looking glass (the full line)

Reading some post on here is seems that the oil should be half way up on the looking glass?

Also, when I let it idle my eyes dont water, not sure why they would?

This sucks, it's almost like I shouldn't have changed the damn oil and let well enough alone.. hahah it was running fine with old burnt oil. As soon as I put new oil in this shit happens. (Not synthetic, just 4 stroke oil)

82KZ440*801 wrote:

Thanks for all the replys!!! One of the best forums for sure..

I checked the oil when I replaced and I filled it to the top of the looking glass (the full line)

Run it and then let it sit for about 10 minutes and recheck it. It does sound like an overfill.

yea, it's at the top of the window.. Where should the oil be? I effing hate this Clymer manual!

It says the bike needs 3.1qt when replacing the oil and filter. I put in 3.

Should the oil fall in the middle of the glass?

I'd syphon a little oil out through the filler until it was midway between the lines on the glass. Then I would clean or replace the plugs (making sure I had the correct heat range) and run it 10 miles or so then see if it still smokes. Also, you may want to consider getting the Kawasaki factory manual. Ed

82KZ440*801 wrote:

yea, it's at the top of the window.. Where should the oil be? I effing hate this Clymer manual!

It says the bike needs 3.1qt when replacing the oil and filter. I put in 3.

Should the oil fall in the middle of the glass?

Center is optimal, but just to the top is OK. Problem is when the glass is full you don't know how much above full it is. If you put in the right amount, it's probably OK.

You said that you pulled the carbs and cleaned them. There could possibly be a blockage in one of the passages that you cant see or maybe an adjustment that is out of whack. That would explain the rough idle..... one carb may need a little more attention. This is very common with a bike that has sat for a while. My .02 cents

Also, when I let it idle my eyes dont water, not sure why they would?
If your bike was running rich or not burning the gas you would know why..

"If your bike was running rich or not burning the gas you would know why.. "

:laugh: hahaha ahhhh.. i see.. that makes sense

Also, i tried to check the valve clearances and found that the carbs really should be out to do this cause it was impossible to loosen the lock nut on the rocker arm with the carb in. Not to mention the exhaust side. I still need to figure a way to get my gauge down in there.

On the trouble side (left cylinder) there didn't seem to be any clearance on the intake valve, and again, the exhaust is really hard to get a gauge down in there, so I need to adjust that, so when I do that i'll clean the carbs again.


The first time I did everything was clean and clear, floats good, float needle was good, all jets etc. But considering that there is still a little rust in the gas tank, old fuel lines etc. i'm sure they are dirty again. I'll have to clean a few more times while working out all the old ish