[Corran]

Hi!

I am a new member here and i have a que. about the e90 330iM 2007 that I am driving.

I have noticed that when i start the car...a big cloud of white smoke comes out of my exhaust. But after just 2-3 seconds....it stops. And if i rev the engine in N...there is no more smoke coming out.

I can go full throttle up to 5000 revs, and the car works 100% fine. But after that...a big cloud of smoke appears behind me.

And twice when I have done that...the car has started to run really bad. But when i shut down the engine, and then started it again. The problem was gone.

The oil level is perfect, and I dont need to fill up. The same thing with the coolingwater. Any ideas??

It´s white thick smok.

[fdriller9]

Sounds like oil is burning up inside your exhaust.

[Volasko]

White smoke doesn't sound like oil. Maybe antifreeze is leaking somewhere into the combustion chamber.

[LaLakers91tc]

+1 ^^
sounds like a bit of coolant is getting in the exhaust
I would get it looked at soon

[///M3NACE]

Head gasket? My e30 did this

[Corran]

But aint it strange that it doesnt smoke at lower revs?

And how can a headgasket go allready :-/ After only 116000km.

I can stand still and rev it up without any smoke coming out of it.

[micah_675]

Are you possitive the smoke is white and not blueish (which is a common mistake)?


http://autorepair.about.com/od/troub...TS_exhaust.htm

Here is some info on what colors of smoke MIGHT mean what. (the color is not always clearly defined depending on the seriousness of the problem, meaning a little bit of oil isnt going to make a really gray/blueish cloud it can LOOK whitish).

[Corran]

Originally Posted by micah_675

Are you possitive the smoke is white and not blueish (which is a common mistake)?


http://autorepair.about.com/od/troub...TS_exhaust.htm

Here is some info on what colors of smoke MIGHT mean what. (the color is not always clearly defined depending on the seriousness of the problem, meaning a little bit of oil isnt going to make a really gray/blueish cloud it can LOOK whitish).

It looks white...but sure, I can be wrong. But it really smokes alot....but then again...under 5000rpm Nothing.

The two times the engine has continued to run bad afterwards...it sounds like it is misfiring.

Maybe some sort of ignition problem? For about 3-4 months, the enginecomputer was replaced. And they had to tune in the new one. I am just thinking now....maybe it is a long shot, but maybe something went wrong there? Even if I didnt notice anything then.

I work as a truckdriver...and our mechanic is going to have a look at it tomorrow.

Sorry for bad english

[LaLakers91tc]

Originally Posted by Corran

But aint it strange that it doesnt smoke at lower revs?

And how can a headgasket go allready :-/ After only 116000km.

I can stand still and rev it up without any smoke coming out of it.

it could also be a leak on the gasket, and then only at high enough revs under load is there enough pressure on the weak section of the seal and leak...
This is pure speculation, and I'm sure a mechanic can give you a better idea, once they see the car in person.

[Corran]

Last night I started my car...it was cold outside. And...there was no smoke at all when i started. Strange that it is a lot of smoke....or no smoke at all?

[micah_675]

Originally Posted by Corran

Last night I started my car...it was cold outside. And...there was no smoke at all when i started. Strange that it is a lot of smoke....or no smoke at all?

Did you read the info in the link? Not set in stone for every instance but still pretty good. If you were burning coolant it would definitely happen at start up.

I am willing to bet your issue is piston ring related. Go get a compression test done.

[Corran]

Originally Posted by micah_675

Did you read the info in the link? Not set in stone for every instance but still pretty good. If you were burning coolant it would definitely happen at start up.

I am willing to bet your issue is piston ring related. Go get a compression test done.

Yes I did read it. At start up, it is smoking for about 2-3 seconds. And then BAM, stops. It seems to be very "on or off".

[Corran]

A little update. Started the car twice today, without any smoke. After 10min. of driving I did some heavy acceleration past 5000rpm. There was a little smoke then, but not so much as it used to be.

On my way back home...after 10min of driving....I did the same thing again, and there was no smoke. So I tried again...3 times in second and third gear, without any smoke. The car runs perfect today.

And when I am looking at the oil, it looks much better. Before it looked like some moist had come in. But the last days I have driven much longer and harder then I usally do.

[Corran]

Another update

When i starded the car for the third time today, it was still a little bit warm. Since I had been driving 1,5h earlier.

I had my camera ready and took a pic of the smoke.


This is on idle...so when I am at 5000+ rpm...its really a lot of smoke

But it was the only smoke that came today. I have been drving alot today....with several 5000+ rpms. And it never came any smoke. And the car runs perfect now....just the smoke on the pic. that gets me down today....

[micah_675]

Originally Posted by Corran

Another update

When i starded the car for the third time today, it was still a little bit warm. Since I had been driving 1,5h earlier.

I had my camera ready and took a pic of the smoke.


This is on idle...so when I am at 5000+ rpm...its really a lot of smoke

But it was the only smoke that came today. I have been drving alot today....with several 5000+ rpms. And it never came any smoke. And the car runs perfect now....just the smoke on the pic. that gets me down today....

How cold has it been there? As well, I still think you should go get a compression test.....

As for the comment about moisture in your oil, what do you mean, do you mean you drained your oil and there was water mixed in with it?

[Corran]

Originally Posted by micah_675

How cold has it been there? As well, I still think you should go get a compression test.....

As for the comment about moisture in your oil, what do you mean, do you mean you drained your oil and there was water mixed in with it?

Today not so cold....abow freezing. It has been much worse.

I have not drained it...but if I open the oil lid...i could see some miss colouring. Thats gone now...after I have driven more.

[micah_675]

That coloring (American spelling of the word), is carbon build up. Would it be safe to assume you do not drive very far on a daily basis?

As well, I am begining to think that your "smoke" is actually just a large about of condensation built up from heating and cooling cycle, ie. light driving and excessive cold.

[e90pilot]

What does it smell like? Oil stink pretty bad. But coolant actually smells nice and sweet. Its not surprising that it's intermittent if it's coolant. My friend's E39 540i has a leaky valley pan gasket and used to drink a lot of coolant, but then stopped.

[Corran]

I really must thank you all for all the help you are giving me

It´s right that I dont drive so very far. Most to work, that is 10min. away. Since I have been sick for a long time, I havent had the energi to do anything else then work.

Yesterday I started the car cold...and my computer could read the oil-level first when i was 500 meters from work :-/

We have had a very cold winter here aswell I cant say that it smells bad....but not good either, hehe. So I guess thats alright.

The strange thing is that it comes and goes...and that my enginelight went on....the car started to misfire. But after restart...all that went away.

But since the car has gone much better the last day...after I have been driving a lot longer and harder....then maybe it isent so bad that I thought first?

[micah_675]

Corran, go to a shop and have them do a compression test on your cyclinders. If it checks out, I would get a tune up done (change your spark plugs, oil, and air filter) when you get the oil changed have them check the oil for water. If all that checks out, I wouldn't worry about it.

As I said, it seems an exess amount of moisture has built up in your exhaust. Chances are you need to just drive it for an hour or 2 one day. When you do, open her up and push it as hard as you can.

[Gregxi]

It sounds more like a leaking valve guide seal, what happens is while the car is sitting oil will get past the seal and drip down the valve into the combustion chamber, when you start the car it ignites and causes a quick burst or white/ blueish smoke and then goes away rather quickly.
this can be confirmed by inspecting your your spark plugs, one or possibly two will have a lot of oil on them, also would explain while car runs rough until it burns off
At higher rpms the worn seal will let more oil in the combustion chamber causing more smoke.
A compression test will not show you this nor will a cylinder leakdown test.
I would pull the plugs and examine them and if you see oil fouling on one of them, if you do then it is time to have all of the valve guide seals replaced

[Corran]

Hi again. Two starts and no smoke today.

It´s much warmer today. When I am at work, the car is parked outside. Today it was +7,5C when I was finished at work...and it came no smoke at all. Will still have my car checked tomorrow, what it did indicate before.