[mtndog]

I was driving home from work yesterday, took off pretty aggressively from a stop sign and a buddy of mine who was behind me, said that a puff of blue smoke came out of the tail pipes. Is this normal for a TT, has anyone else experienced this? I was down a quart of oil at about 2300 miles. I’m now at 2600. It seems like the lower half of my tail pipes always have a black film on them. Any help would be appreciated. I’ve been searching all day to find an answer.

[Mikes12985]

I think I remembered reading that blue smoke is really bad, white smoke is perfectly normal....Some one else will chime in with help for you. Mike.

[mayanh8]

Blue smoke means you are burning oil. You can be down oil for a number of reasons but when you are burning it, that usually means there is a leak in the cylinder. Piston rings, scored walls, etc... Not sure if there is any blow-by in our cars. Could be something wrong with the oil process of the turbos?

I don't know much so these are all just guesses.

[DanMardik]

So what's with the black crap that gets all over the bottom of the exhaust tip? I know it's normal, i've had it on all my cars but i'm curious as to what it is.

[DanMardik]

Also, dont worry. I'm sure your friend saw wrong.

[CASHBY]

blue is burning oil.....white and syrup smelling smoke is coolant usually.

[stressdoc]

See if it does it when the engine is warm -- have someone else drive it while you watch. A lot of white 'smoke' is usually steam, which is bad news if its hot outside because it indicates a potential head gasket or other leak of the coolant system. Blue smoke indicates oil.

[merritt]

As others have said, blue smoke = oil, white smoke = coolant and black smoke = fuel. Coolant and oil can sometimes be hard to distingush though. The smell of it can also point you in the right direction.

Burning oil could indicate a blown seal in the turbo. If there is oil burning it is most likely due to the turbo and not the engine.

[CASHBY]

Originally Posted by merritt

As others have said, blue smoke = oil, white smoke = coolant and black smoke = fuel. Coolant and oil can sometimes be hard to distingush though. The smell of it can also point you in the right direction.

Burning oil could indicate a blown seal in the turbo. If there is oil burning it is most likely due to the turbo and not the engine.

yep.... smell of syrup is coolant for sure!

hope everything is alright though.

[imolazhp_ci]

Originally Posted by DanMardik

So what's with the black crap that gets all over the bottom of the exhaust tip? I know it's normal, i've had it on all my cars but i'm curious as to what it is.

that's unburnt fuel.... cars that run rich leave black soot on the tail pipe. cars that run lean leave white soot on the tail pipe.

[thealbert]

I don't mean to scare you but BLUE SMOKE IS BAD!!! You've most likely blown a seal and if you keep getting blue smoke and you keep using your car, your car WILL break on you. Best to bring your car in for a check up as SOON as humanly possible. I suggest for you not to drive the car much until you have it checked out. Best of luck!

[madkimchi]

blue is oil check your oil again and bring it to dealer for a check up.

[eringo2659]

blue smoke from a 335 is normal, despite what everyone says. I am a master tech and the car has a crankcase vent system that release oil vapors into the intake when under boost. so yes a puff of blue smoke is normal. As the only person in here that no the intricacies of the n54 engine i assure you I am right.
Aaron

[BoostedBMW]

Originally Posted by Mikes12985

I think I remembered reading that blue smoke is really bad, white smoke is perfectly normal....Some one else will chime in with help for you. Mike.

The only time that white smoke is perfectly normal is if its 20 degrees outside and your car is cold. Blue smoke is burning oil, and white smoke is burning coolant. The only smoke that is normal when you are beating on your car is black smoke, which is fuel.

[BoostedBMW]

Originally Posted by eringo2659

blue smoke from a 335 is normal, despite what everyone says. I am a master tech and the car has a crankcase vent system that release oil vapors into the intake when under boost. so yes a puff of blue smoke is normal. As the only person in here that no the intricacies of the n54 engine i assure you I am right.
Aaron

Why would the N54, being a FI motor, have this from the factory? On my s2k I had the same thing, but installed "krank vents" that didn't allow pressure inside the crankcase under boost, which reduced oil consumption (ie. blowback into the intake manifold) significantly. Hmmm.... My car went from consuming a quart of mobil1 every 3k miles to burning no oil at all. Maybe this is something to look into.

[mtndog]

Originally Posted by eringo2659

blue smoke from a 335 is normal, despite what everyone says. I am a master tech and the car has a crankcase vent system that release oil vapors into the intake when under boost. so yes a puff of blue smoke is normal. As the only person in here that no the intricacies of the n54 engine i assure you I am right.
Aaron

Thanks for the replies guys.

I should clarify a little more…..the “puff” of blue smoke was somewhat small and it came out just after I hit the opposite side of the street, which would make sense if it happens under boost. It has happened twice that I know of, once was the OP above and the other was a similar situation as I was leaving my office parking lot under heavy acceleration. (friend behind me) There wasn’t enough smoke for me to see it from the drivers seat so I’m wondering if it has happened to others without knowing it.

[OpenFlash]

Totally normal.

shiv

[FirstClass]

Originally Posted by shiv@vishnu

Totally normal.

shiv

Like your car is any comparison Doesn't it have like 15k and has been thrashed on the dyno from day 1? :rocks:

[BoostedBMW]

Do you think we could benefit from using something like this? Oil consumption isn't too ideal IMO.

http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php...&#entry9993576

http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php...ic=424678&st=0

In the boosted s2k world, these are a MUST have. The car use to burn oil like gasoline, but these krank vents solved the problem 100%.

[thealbert]

if its just a puff, then you should be alright, just like what the experts said above. just make sure its not constant blue smoke

[s420merc]

I saw the same thing on a Black Mettalic 335i E92 in brooklyn NY on Thursday the car had the Red leather. i was in my e4 330ci and he stomped on it pretty hard and there was a puff of blue smoke comin out of the pipes as he nailed it.

[BoostedBMW]

So no one has an opinion on the krank vents? I guess we all like to burn oil.