Burning oil - Heavy blue smoke - Please help

[b11nnl]

Hi,

I purchased a 2002 3.0D Sport X5 in Decemeber but since the snow its burning oil and can see a fog of blue smoke behind me.

The car idles fine, when reved the engine sounds fine, no loss of power however upon rev a smoke screen of blue smoke is coming out of the exhaust.

I also took the dipstick out and it started to push out oil so I put the oil dipstick back in.

It doesnt overheat either and if I didnt look behind me i wouldnt know anything was wrong. There are no engine management lights on.

The AA got me back and said it looks like the rings but I dont think its the case.

Anyone able to help or advise? I hear this could be a breather issue but should blue smoke excessivley be produced?

Thanks
Bin

[J_K]

Blue smoke is burning oil. White smoke is unburnt diesel.
I would check your oil level when the engine is cold just to make sure there is enough.
If it was pushing oil out of the dipstick then the crankcase is pressureising (sp) which would point to a blocked breather filter.
For the amount of work that it is (not a lot) I'd personally take the breather off to see if it's clogged. It's also a good opportunity to change to the newer type of seperating filter.
I wouldn't be driving the car very far in this state though.

[b11nnl]

Thanks J_K,
The oil level is fine when cold, where I woud expect it to be. I'm going to give the breather a bash tonight with instructions from x555. Looks straight forwards and hopefully does the job. If it is clogged, once changed I suppose I would have to let it run for a while to burn off any excess oil or would the change be very much instant?

[J_K]

It should be good within a few minutes.
The problem is, it won;t flush the oil out of the intake system on idle or by revving. Just go for a short drive and keep an eye open.

[b11nnl]

Nice one J_K,
Once changed I will take it for a spin. Fingers crossed it works

[J_K]

I don't want to depress you but if the breather doesn't fix it then it could be a piston ring problem.....

[b11nnl]

Changed the breather earlier today, good news is that the oil is not coming out of the dipstick.
Bad news is the car is still smoking like crazy. Went for a quick run, looked behind me and it's blue smoke
Everywhere.

J_K your suspicion of rings could be likely, as it smokes more under load.
How can I confirm it's the rings? Any idea of cost? Any other ideas what it maybe?

It hasn't lost power and idles fine and with no engine management lights on vary if it's rings.
Anyone else had rings go?

Still paying for Christmas....last thing I needed.

[Turks]

It doesn't take much oil to turn the fumes blue... how long did you run the car for? I would say you need to run it until fully warmed up to get the heat through the system and burn off any residues in the manifold etc..


Turks.

[b11nnl]

Turks, thats true, the car wasnt fully warm, I was worried I would do more damage to the engine. It was running for around 20mins, drove it up the road and back (do have to say the whole road was full of smoke). I thought that its still has an issue. The oil level is fine when checked, exactly where is should be. You think I should leave it running for a while and when fully warm go for a drive?

Should I put any if the stop smoking treatment? recommend any?

Thanks

[J_K]

Hmm,.
Well a wet and dry compression test is how you tell if the rings are gone.
It's gonna be 2-3 hours labour. I'll let you work the cost out but thats the only true way to tell.

Don't use any stop smoke treatments. They're like a treacly substance normally that gets in the gaps and bakes in. Not good.

[b11nnl]

Someone has suggested I check the plastic pipe that goes into the EGR valve. This could be blocked or heavily deposited with oil. Is this worth seeing?

I'm in denial its rings..maybe due to the cost but I may have to get a compression test as suggested by J_K this weekend.

Just one thought that if the rings where gone surely I would get a rough idle/loss of power or even an engine management light?

[X5Sport]

That pipe is certainly worth a check - cheaper than any other potential issue.

[J_K]

I just can't see that giving this symptom..

[stevox5]

The pressure pushing the dipstick was almost certainly due to the breather , these engines do not suffer with piston ring issues it could be residual oil in the inlet system burning off due to the blocked breather or another possibility is thevturbo oil seals / impeller shaft bearings.
To eliminate the turbo with the engine cold remove the pipe from the turbo end that feeds to the intercooler and check for oil in the pipe and play in the turbo impeller shaft this will prove or rule out the turbo.
Hope this helps.

[J_K]

Possible if the seal has gone o the inlet side.
The smoke would be a heavy white cloud if it was the exhaust side.
If the bearing has collapsed (as mine did) you would most definitely know about it. Massive loss of power and really loud grindy/whirring noise.