Topic: White smoke all over engine area

[obnoxshuz]

Hello to everyone from a NOOB . Wondering if anyone can shed some light to my engine smoking issue. Recently acquired a 1978 CB750 and been trying to establish the health of the engine.
Things I have done:

Compression test with cold engine (using kick starter 16 times)
140 - 140 - 130 - 140

Changed oil
Changed oil filter
93 Octane gas
Changed spark plugs (NGK)

I did notice an oil leak from the tachometer cable (need new seal?)
I also noticed smoke coming from the bottome adjoing pipe where the exhaust down tube meets the mufflers(?) Not sure if I am using the right terminology.

Engine starts to smoke at idle around 7 minutes.

Please see video clip here:

Thank you for all your help.

Angelo

[medic09]

I didn't have time to see the video, BUT, did you by any chance wash or spray something on the engine?  It would take until the engine warms up for it to start steaming/evaporating/etc.

[Cvillechopper]

Looks like you've got an oil leak somewhere.  How long have you run it for?  Also sounds like the cam and valves need to be adjusted.  Might not be getting oil to the top end if there's a significant oil leak (pressure loss).  That would account for much of that top end noise.  
I'd give her a really good cleaning with some degreaser then see where the oil is coming from.  Also, get the cam adjusted and check the valve clearances.  She idles very smooth so that's a good sign.

Ride safe.

[TwoTired]

The engine will eventually overheat if you don't pass air over cooling fins.  Any oil or water on the outside will vaporize.
If you run it stationary for a significant amout of time, place a big fan in front of it.

Also, an engine that cools down with humid air in the crankcase, condenses water on the inside walls.  This vaporises when the engine heats and exits as white vapor, some refer to as smoke.  The crankcase is vented to the atomosphere where it sucks in and breathes out.  This is call and engine breather tube.  Depending on the outside temps and the amount of condensation, it can take 20 minutes for the engine assembly to achieve full operating temp and vaporize the condensation.

The same thing happens in the exhaust system.  Stock bikes have a low point drain, but exhaust pressure can push it out any place that is not sealed.

If your engine still has the stock compression ratio, you need only use low grade regular gasoline.

I could not tell from your video where the smoke is that you refer to.

Cheers,