[GrantB]

Hey everyone, first post here. Now before blaming me for not 'ing, I have read so many posts related to smoking issues and have not found one that is really similar to my situation.

The car is a 2007 E92 335i 6MT, I bought it about a month and a half ago. So far I've replaced the DCI's with new filters, done an oil change, coolant flush (prev. owner states he replaced the OFHG, I do not believe him/or he didn't do it right as the bolts look original and I found a white type sludge on the coolant resevoir cap before flushing, and a few thousand miles after), and replaced all 6 coils and plugs with Delphi coils and Bosch plugs. Car has catless downpipes.

My valve cover/VCG leaks and needs to be replaced as my number 3 spark plug tube was filled with oil and killed a coil, as well as a burning oil smell in the cabin and engine bay from oil dripping onto the exhaust. I wanted to ask and see if the valve cover/PCV system could be related to the exhaust smoke issue I'm having, or if this is a completely separate issue. I believe my OFHG also has a slight internal leak because I had the coolant flushed and a few thousand miles later found that white milky material on the cap from oil mixing with coolant. Previous owner stated he replaced it but the bolts look original.

I have no smoke at all on cold starts or when driving. The car runs fantastic except for a little stumbling on cold starts which could be due to oil getting back into the spark plug tube or possibly an injector starting to go, I'm not sure. The issue I'm having is when the car is hot after a drive and has been sitting for 30 minutes to an hour or so, I sometimes experience plumes of white smoke that lasts about 30 seconds to a minute and starts to lighten up over time. After 30 seconds of driving the smoke is gone completely. The smoke also seems to be more or less thick depending on if the car is parked on an angle or not. When the car is on flat ground it seems to be less, almost none at times.

My question is, can the valve cover/PCV system cause this issue? And if so, how is oil getting into the motor and coming out of the exhaust? Can oil get past the injectors? The turbos were "rebuilt" about 40k miles ago by a reputable shop by the previous owner, and I do not think it is valve stem seals or the smoke would be consistent when driving correct?

Any help is much appreciated! Even the dealer was at a loss and I do not want to throw money at them to help me diagnose this issue.

[mang.vang]

Following

[GrantB]

Originally Posted by mang.vang

Following

[dpaul]

Plumes of white smoke that last a couple of minutes could be from leaky injectors. Admittedly,it would be most common to see this from a cold start.

Examine the assumption that the white smoke is from oil - does it smell like oil? Examine the plugs - are they oil fouled or wet with fuel?

Probably best to first deal with the problems that you know exist i.e. valve cover and possibly OHFG. Should make it easier to trace other issues

[mattgu40]

One thing i found in my quest to stop the smoking.

when the car was starting to warm up and i was heading toward a stop sign and slowing down Huge plum of white smoke appeared (all 4 cat gone.)

after drilling small holes at the lowest point of my mufflers i have found that both of them had about a 1/2 gal of water sitting at the bottom from condensation.

[dpaul]

Water from condensation always accumulates in the muffler, particularly if you mostly use the vehicle for short trips. That's not pathological.

While smoke on deceleration often correlated with turbo oil seal failure

[Rob@RBTurbo]

Fix the stuff that you know needs fixed (ie. valve cover, valve cover gasket, injectors, etc); and then revisit. Poor PCV setups can actually cause crankcase pressure build up, poor oil draining, oil pushing passed seals, build up of oil on turbines thus degrading turbos, etc. So even if it is the turbos, you want all of that other stuff done right before refurbishing them. You also may want to make note of your oil consumption rate, this will give you an idea of how dire the scenario.

On the turbo rebuild scenario not all shops are equal. Nor all are today what they may have been "yesterday" either, so you may want to reach out to whoever that maybe for support on what they may had done to the turbos in question- in short sometimes there is some additional support to be found there.

Rob

[GrantB]

Originally Posted by dpaul

Plumes of white smoke that last a couple of minutes could be from leaky injectors. Admittedly,it would be most common to see this from a cold start.

Examine the assumption that the white smoke is from oil - does it smell like oil? Examine the plugs - are they oil fouled or wet with fuel?

Probably best to first deal with the problems that you know exist i.e. valve cover and possibly OHFG. Should make it easier to trace other issues

That's true, the smoke doesn't really have a super strong smell which is weird, but it does have a hint of oil smell. I'll try to get a better smell next time it happens. I'm going to be putting it away in the garage shortly to start working on it and replacing the valve cover and OFHG and I'll go from there. Appreciate the response. I'll be sure to keep this thread updated.

[GrantB]

Originally Posted by dpaul

Water from condensation always accumulates in the muffler, particularly if you mostly use the vehicle for short trips. That's not pathological.

While smoke on deceleration often correlated with turbo oil seal failure

Yeah, I rarely drive my car on short trips as my commute is around 25 miles. No white smoke on decel. Just warm starts after sitting.

[GrantB]

Originally Posted by Rob@RBTurbo

Fix the stuff that you know needs fixed (ie. valve cover, valve cover gasket, injectors, etc); and then revisit. Poor PCV setups can actually cause crankcase pressure build up, poor oil draining, oil pushing passed seals, build up of oil on turbines thus degrading turbos, etc. So even if it is the turbos, you want all of that other stuff done right before refurbishing them. You also may want to make note of your oil consumption rate, this will give you an idea of how dire the scenario.

On the turbo rebuild scenario not all shops are equal. Nor all are today what they may have been "yesterday" either, so you may want to reach out to whoever that maybe for support on what they may had done to the turbos in question- in short sometimes there is some additional support to be found there.

Rob

That's what I'm planning to do first, will just make it much easier to troubleshoot from there once I can eliminate those items as the problem if they don't end up resolving it. That's a little unsettling how many issues the PCV system can cause. I've had my eyes on your upgraded PCV valve for a while, will end up doing that along with the new valve cover for sure here in the next week or two. I am keeping an eye on oil consumption, over the past 3k miles or so I've added a quart but I think the consumption was a little under that. It's going somewhere it shouldn't be.

You are absolutely correct. This was just an indy shop in Philly, I'm not even sure what they did when they "rebuilt" them. Who knows. Might try giving them a call as I have the receipt. The wastegates already rattle at light throttle but I'm able to mask it with the tune. Maybe if the turbos really end up being bad I'll have all the more reason to order a set from you

Thanks Rob, much appreciated!

[badboy335i]

mines doing this its pecking my head long drive from cold no overheating oil or water ..no coolant loss after leaving the car after a good drive an hour restart it plumes of white smoke lasting a 5 or 6 revs then gone ...realy strange my oil housing gasket and the little pipe next to it done valve cover gasket done with upgrade pcv valve ( not rob beck.. ftw. i think proper pita turbos seem ok and done about 10k mile ago i know there is a posible seal leaking on the outside of the turbo cleaned for now as that could be the valve cover ..no siren noise from turbos or rattles

[Padinjath]

Originally Posted by badboy335i

mines doing this its pecking my head long drive from cold no overheating oil or water ..no coolant loss after leaving the car after a good drive an hour restart it plumes of white smoke lasting a 5 or 6 revs then gone ...realy strange my oil housing gasket and the little pipe next to it done valve cover gasket done with upgrade pcv valve ( not rob beck.. ftw. i think proper pita turbos seem ok and done about 10k mile ago i know there is a posible seal leaking on the outside of the turbo cleaned for now as that could be the valve cover ..no siren noise from turbos or rattles

Same issue here , How have u fixed it plssss.

[alpnwss]

Catless DP are known to smoke especially if you remove all cats. The condensation turns to steam and is pushed out.
But it wouldn't hurt to fix all those things Rob mentioned. I'm primary catless with Robs PCV valve and an OCC and I still smoke. Smells a little bit like burnt fuel (3 of 6 inj. are I-9, other 3 are 12)

[Andymyers]

Hi, I have the exact same issues as described in this post.💨💨🙄 Did anyone get to the bottom of what was causing it?
Valve cover and gasket done, index 12, new rb pcv, car runs spot on no issues just this occasional embarrassing plums,
It's got decat down pipes running stage 2+
Thanks 👍

[BSM n54iS]

Originally Posted by Andymyers

Hi, I have the exact same issues as described in this post.💨💨🙄 Did anyone get to the bottom of what was causing it?
Valve cover and gasket done, index 12, new rb pcv, car runs spot on no issues just this occasional embarrassing plums,
It's got decat down pipes running stage 2+
Thanks 👍

If it's on decel than leaking turbo seals

[Andymyers]

No not really just on tick over but only does it for like 1-2min after warm start then nothing and nothing from cold start ����*♂️

[Andymyers]

None from cold start

[vanjiggy]

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[nate54]

im having the same issue with my car has any body figured out the problem? ive changed my valve cover gasket and pcv valve.Im running catless dp's, no muffler and mhd stage 2

[E92fanboy]

I had this same problem for about a year. For me it turned out to be the heat shield above the turbos and right below the boost solenoid. Oil from previously fixed leaks can get trapped with dirt inside the pockets of the heat shield. So it takes a minute for the oil mixed with dirt to heat up and then splash on hot parts. I took mine off and gave it thorough cleaning and have not had the issue since. Hope this helps.