Smoking BMW 328i

ngribano · 12-03-2022, 07:03 PM

Hey! I'm reposting this on what I believe is the proper discussion board.

I have a 2009 BMW 328i E92 with an N51 engine. We just completed doing a DIY Radiator replacement and changing the upper radiator hose. After bleeding the coolant and turning the car on, in ran for 30 seconds and then steam started to appear and oil seeping from the oil filter and we turned it off.

We turned it on again to attempt to figure out where the smoke seems to be coming from, and when turning it on again, oil seeping slowly from the oil filter in the engine bay and the radiator fan became really loud and was spinning hard. It also made a sound where it sounded like the car was accelerating for two seconds then stopping, over and over again. As well as the smell of burning oil in the air. The steam was white with no blue tint.

The car has had all it's oil gaskets done roughly 20K miles ago. We're stuck, with no clue what to do and need some help.

e91Owner · 12-04-2022, 08:59 AM

If you do a bleed cycle with the cap off, can you see fluid returning to the reservoir? It sounds to me like you have a blockage in the system and it is forcing the remaining fluid through the weakest seals (OFHG for one based on your description)

ngribano · 12-04-2022, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e91Owner

If you do a bleed cycle with the cap off, can you see fluid returning to the reservoir? It sounds to me like you have a blockage in the system and it is forcing the remaining fluid through the weakest seals (OFHG for one based on your description)

When it's cycling there's a tiny stream in the reservoir at all times, it's a bit on and off but it continues either way

e91Owner · 12-07-2022, 08:10 AM

"Tiny stream" is a little ambiguous as the stream itself is a pretty small size, but also pretty strong. It should be a jet and be audible while cycling. Is there any oil in the reservoir?

In any case, if you've bled it several times and have no water pump/tstat codes, I'd be inclined to drain the system, pull the radiator, and see if you got a bum part.

12-03-2022, 07:03 PM	#1
ngribano Registered 1 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW 328i E92 Join Date: Dec 2022 Location: Portland, Oregon iTrader: (0)	Smoking BMW 328i Hey! I'm reposting this on what I believe is the proper discussion board. I have a 2009 BMW 328i E92 with an N51 engine. We just completed doing a DIY Radiator replacement and changing the upper radiator hose. After bleeding the coolant and turning the car on, in ran for 30 seconds and then steam started to appear and oil seeping from the oil filter and we turned it off. We turned it on again to attempt to figure out where the smoke seems to be coming from, and when turning it on again, oil seeping slowly from the oil filter in the engine bay and the radiator fan became really loud and was spinning hard. It also made a sound where it sounded like the car was accelerating for two seconds then stopping, over and over again. As well as the smell of burning oil in the air. The steam was white with no blue tint. The car has had all it's oil gaskets done roughly 20K miles ago. We're stuck, with no clue what to do and need some help.
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12-04-2022, 08:59 AM	#2
e91Owner e91Owner 425 Rep 1,129 Posts Drives: 2011 e91 & 2010 e60 Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Out of the Office iTrader: (0)	If you do a bleed cycle with the cap off, can you see fluid returning to the reservoir? It sounds to me like you have a blockage in the system and it is forcing the remaining fluid through the weakest seals (OFHG for one based on your description)
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12-07-2022, 08:10 AM	#4
e91Owner e91Owner 425 Rep 1,129 Posts Drives: 2011 e91 & 2010 e60 Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Out of the Office iTrader: (0)	"Tiny stream" is a little ambiguous as the stream itself is a pretty small size, but also pretty strong. It should be a jet and be audible while cycling. Is there any oil in the reservoir? In any case, if you've bled it several times and have no water pump/tstat codes, I'd be inclined to drain the system, pull the radiator, and see if you got a bum part.
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