Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Hi all, I'm new to site and bikes so bare with me haha

I've just bought my first bike a 1991 ZZR250, iv'e took it it for a few rides now but just the other day I notice my exhaust pipes had white spots on it, what wasn't there before. iv'e now taken a better look around my bike it seems to be over the frame too, and looks like its leaked from somewhere but I can tell where from. Its like a white oily powder, just wondering what this might be?

Wasn't too sure if this was the place to post this sorry if its in the wrong place. Cheers

Coolant leak ?

Oh, and welcome ...

I look forward to the comments on your thread title .............

Yep sounds like coolant

yep could be coolant, but on a side note it could aslo be battery acid from the overflow, my brothers gsxr had a white powder stain on the swing arm that was etched in an that was battery overflow.. especially if battery has just been replaced

TONY-J wrote:yep could be coolant, but on a side note it could aslo be battery acid from the overflow, my brothers gsxr had a white powder stain on the swing arm that was etched in an that was battery overflow.. especially if battery has just been replaced

Wouldn't be "oily" though ??

It can either be oily, or a powder - but it can't be both

sounds to me like battery fluid overflow. Which is a bad sign, means the battery has been boiling - using fluid and creating a lot of gas - which also means the reg/rectifier is probably shot.

Algeemo - check the fluid level in your battery ASAP, and then get an auto-electrician to test the charging voltage - should be no more than 14V at around 4,000rpm on your bike.

If it stays oily, then it's probably radiator coolant. It's either leaking from the cooling system, or being pumped out from a gasket leak. Check the radiator, overflow bottle, water pump and hoses as well as thermostat and housing.

Where on the exhaust & frame are the "white" spots ?

i.e. ... headers/mufflers ? front frame tubes/swing arm ?

Pics ??

Hey guys cheers for all the replies, yeah its a white powder just looked oily coz its mixed with grease from the chain. it has a irony smell like copper, I can't get the faring off due to a rounded nut ffs...but it looks like its came from the battery and coolant overflow area, the bloke I bought the bike from did say he just put a new battery in it, so my battery cooking? if so why does this happen is there a certain way you gotta put a new battery in a bike?

Oh I checked the coolant overflow theres coolant in it.

First things first...

Do you run a meth-lab in your garage?

If so it could be meth residue..

its happening because your regulator/rectifier unit is not working properly, the battery is over-charging and boiling itself dry - instead of fixing the problem and replacing the reg/rec unit, the previous owner just fitted a new battery.

This new battery will be fried quickly unless you replace the reg/rec unit.

Thanks for all the help guys, looks like i'll be forkin out a bit more to get it running properly cheers

hoffy wrote:First things first...

Do you run a meth-lab in your garage?

If so it could be meth residue..

He's not from
Windsor Downs mate...

before you replace anything first figure out if there is a fualt, and check battery fluid levels becuase where i buy my battery's from they are dry and you get a bottle of acid with it.
someone could have overfilled the battery to start with.

good luck

TONY-J wrote:before you replace anything first figure out if there is a fualt, and check battery fluid levels becuase where i buy my battery's from they are dry and you get a bottle of acid with it.
someone could have overfilled the battery to start with.

good luck

Yeah will do, I got a mate who been around bikes for years, going to ask him to come around and take a look at it for me. just make sure im doing the right thing.