Blue Smoke in start up

Denis O · Post by **Denis O** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 8:50 am

My X has developed an ability to chuck out a cloud of blue smoke on start up first thing in the morning, when cold. Doesn't do it any other time on either start or running.

It had a vortex beather fitted around 5000 miles ago. These miles have been 2 x 1000 mile trips across Europe at high speed and the rest chuntering around Corfu without much opportunity for a blast. The breather was done to stop the cloud of brown/grey smoke on hard acceleration. It worked so no longer get that.

There is no loss of power and the cold oil level seems OK. I did get a message as I came across the Alps last week that oil level was low but it wasn't so maybe it was sloshing around on the steepish hairpins in the way up to Mont Blanc.

So what can it be.

Ubatoid · Post by **Ubatoid** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 9:17 am

In my book those symptoms usually point to worn valve stem oil seals or guides.

Denis O · Post by **Denis O** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 10:40 am

Do diesels have them bits then. Totally agree that these would be my first port of call with a petrol engine but as diesel is a complete mystery to me I needed to ask the question.

Bargain Bucket · Post by **Bargain Bucket** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 11:06 am

Are you sure it's blue? My 3.0d chucks out lots of grey at start-up

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 11:17 am

[quote=""Denis O""]Do diesels have them bits then. Totally agree that these would be my first port of call with a petrol engine but as diesel is a complete mystery to me I needed to ask the question.[/quote]

Diesel engines are still fundamentally mechanically the same as petrol, just higher compression and different ignition..

How is your oil consumption? My E53 used to produce a puff of blue smoke in colder weather which was diesel. Any sign of smoke if you slow down on engine braking and then apply power again - such as you would if going downhill?

In warmer weather there was little if any smoke.

Ubatoid · Post by **Ubatoid** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 3:42 pm

[quote=""Denis O""]Do diesels have them bits then. Totally agree that these would be my first port of call with a petrol engine but as diesel is a complete mystery to me I needed to ask the question.[/quote]
They sure do. Sure its not white unburnt diesel smoke ?

Sanj · Post by **Sanj** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 3:52 pm

Mine has a hue of blue smoke on start-up, then clears within 10 seconds (more so in colder climate). Has been since I got it almost 5 years now... normal.

ITBarbie · Post by **ITBarbie** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 5:35 pm

I said it was blue'ish with mine as well. I suppose it's just that we see it as blue/white and others see grey/white. Either way from what you explain seems normal in the cold

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 6:04 pm

+1 normal. You will have an amount of oil in the engine from previous running, a small amount of oil is taken In via the turbo, and a cold engine will not burn all this off efficiently. Once up a few degrees in temp, it will clear ( hopefully ).

Just my understanding of course.

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robo · Post by **robo** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 6:26 pm

mine same.i deal with lots of diesels all do it a bit from cold

shadrack · Post by **shadrack** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 6:56 pm

+1 to the above, normal

fenj66 · Post by **fenj66** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 7:40 pm

my 10 year old 330d never has and still doesnt smoke on start up even at 180k miles!
my x5 always does give white smoke though on first start up of the day.

maybe the x5's lack of the engine by-pass valves is connected?

Denis O · Post by **Denis O** » Sat Jan 07, 2012 6:06 am

Definitely blue and it does seem to have got worse since arriving back in chilly UK. A small amount on start up in Corfu has been replaced with quite a large amount since getting home.

It's in for Oil Service and MOT today so I'll have my indy take a look at other possible causes but will pass on the comments on here.

Here's hoping that it is completely normal.

Denis O · Post by **Denis O** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 10:36 am

My indy is in general agreement in that the cold weather is mostly to blame and it should go off as we warm up. It did have an EGR fault logged but he thinks that's to do with it spending most of it's life in hot temperatures in Corfu and the EGR is not needed so it shuts off and logs a fault.

MOT passed with one advisory on a front ball joint cover deteriorating but not letting in dust. A new one is going on anyway. Lovely new Castrol Edge going in and it will be ready for returning back across Europe in April; with less snow than we had on the way back I hope.

jaynana · Post by **jaynana** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 11:08 am

[quote=""Denis O""]My indy is in general agreement in that the cold weather is mostly to blame and it should go off as we warm up. It did have an EGR fault logged but he thinks that's to do with it spending most of it's life in hot temperatures in Corfu and the EGR is not needed so it shuts off and logs a fault.

MOT passed with one advisory on a front ball joint cover deteriorating but not letting in dust. A new one is going on anyway. Lovely new Castrol Edge going in and it will be ready for returning back across Europe in April; with less snow than we had on the way back I hope.[/quote]

thx, that's a relief

as even i have blueish/white smoke at start-up, plus a light smell. i of course (maybe stupidly) all this time assumed this was normal, after all it has 6 pots to discharge half-burnt diesel oil from on a cold start, plus a turbo along the way which wouldn't help.

bar the turbo, normal diesel consumption and normal engine oil level i think combined give a general indication of the 6-pot's health...

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