Hello, I am new on here and more than likely not doing something right, so feel free to set me straight, anyhow i got a 400 kodiak, it has been a good machine and the other day i done the regular oil change, it seemed to be running hotter than normal, anyhow today i fired it up and it was puffing white looking smoke, didn't like seeing that, anyhow the smoke stopped, but did it again when i fired it up later on, i looked to see about coolant, it was full, the fan works, question is where is the thermostat located, took the water pump cover off, the impeller looked OK, I seen where a water hose went to the back of the motor, is that where the stat is located ? also what do you think might been the issue with the smoke ? also noticed that fuel comes out of the overflow tube while it is sitting ? What is the heating issue, and the location for the stat, and anyone know where you can download a manual for the 400 kodiak, thanks alot in advance for any input, because i sure need it

 

With small engines, when smoke is seen it usually is a sign that there could be a little too much oil. Do you have the choke on when starting? Choking while starting could cause smoke issues, but is normal. If you are seeing the smoke while riding, and ofcoarse the choke is off like it should be, then I would check to see if there is too much oil in the engine. Other then that, seeing smoke when you first start up a small engine with the choke on is normal.

 

thankyou for your input, it has baffeled me, i went with lucas oil this time and never used it before and the guy sold me on it, i have always used castor oil for my other oil changes

 

i just noticed that the carb will leak fuel if the gas isn't turned off, it will run out the overflow tube, and when i had started up the motor that day the choke was on half way and i had forgot to shut the fuel off the nite before, i am just worried that there might be something else wrong, it runs good and doesnt seem to smoke when riding it,, weird

 

if it runs alright otherwise it sounds like your needle and seat needs replaced in the carb. or just have some dirts or foreign object in the floatbowl maybe preventing the float needle from shuttin the fuel inlet off.this could also result in gas flooding into your crankcase past the rings and making your oil level too high"hence the smoking"