White smoke from my E53 4.8is 2005

[jackbauer]

Hello, can anyone help?

My X5 puts out white smoke on idle, more when its cold from start up but continues to do so after a 20-30 min run.

She doesnt smoke initially, but then does - more when the engine is revved.

The white smoke is like dry ice, I had noticed a blue tinge the day before but that does not seem to have reappeared. The majority of the smoke comes from the nearside (passenger) tailpipe?

I changed both breather valves (to my dismay the ones I replaced did not appear to be faulty).
I did notice black brown gunge when the membrane parts were out (not on the membrane itself but in the hole they were removed from).

The car was only serviced and MOT'd last week, no mention of this issue.

Any ideas are most welcome... :-[

[IanP]

Have a look at the US X sites, from what I have read this could be worn valve guides and seals

[Rusty]

White smoke is water vapour, blue is oil.
I would expect a blue tinge if the car had previously been started and run for a short time (moving on a drive for example) before resting for a while.  BMW's are known to use a bit of oil and it is not a problem.
Water vapour can be nothing more than condensation within the exhaust on a cold(er) day, but if it persists, I would start checking water levels as a warped head, blown head gasket etc will present the same  symptoms. 'Mayo' in the oil is the biggest.





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[jackbauer]

Thanks, I'll check the oil and other levels first thing in the morning.

I'm finding this a bit odd as it was fully serviced and mot'd on the 4/9/13.
I don't seem to be getting any smoke when on motorway journeys, I've driven nearly 600 miles in the last two weeks but only seem to get the smoke when on idle. After I changed the breather valves earlier tonight (for some reason it did not occur time to check the levels prob due to it being serviced last week) I took her out for a drive to see if it would clear. After about 5 mins and a few miles all was well, 20 mins later in the driveway all good for a few mins on idle then smoke again, mainly from near side tailpipe?


I hope it's not the valve guides and seals as this appears to be a major job!!

Thanks for your responses so far, I am way nervous about my car now!!

[IanP]

I know it says blue smoke, but some people seem to report white smoke as well.

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/ ... 4-8is.html

[X5Sport]

It depends upon the oil type, amount and temperature, so white smoke is certainly possible as above.

Richard

[jackbauer]

Thanks for the links to other threads, interesting reading.

Just a quick update, oil filler cap is clean as a whistle, coolant is about halfway to two thirds full when cold.

On starting her up this morning no smoke. Got stuck in roadworks near my house and there was a little white out of both exhausts but looked more like condensation.

When warmed up did an overtake with good throttle and nothing seemed to come out the rear.

No power loss.

Drove 80 miles with no problems. Parked up for 20 mins and checked oil level with the dipstick. I don't really know what the level is as when I cleaned the oil off initially then dipped the stick again and checked there was not a clear indication to what level the oil was at, the end of the stick seemed to be covered in a thin layer of oil.

Is this normal as the oil is new or has it just picked up the oil on the way down in the tube?
No oil low check light is on so I am presuming oil is ok, any ideas?

[X5Sport]

The dipstick can pick up oil in the tube - not one of BMWs best designs.  If everything else looks OK then it must be condensation.  It will recur as the exhaust cools down whilst idling - and the mornings are cooling now....   :cold:

[jackbauer]

Just drove the 80 miles back and let her idle on the driveway. Within 3 mins small plooms of off white blueish smoke from the near side tailpipe.

A wee rev to 2500 rpm for a couple of seconds both tailpipes putting out plooms but not pure white.

I'm hoping against hope that this is relatively normal?

Anyhoo, my Panasonic roof decided to stop in the vent position and thanks to this forum and YouTube and a guy called homeraas on there I'm about to do the DIY repair to permanently close the rear portion.

I think a trip to an Indy is in order to do some checks re the smoke to find out one way or other.

Thanks for your comments, I will update...

[Raj]

Hmm, deffo worth a trip to the indy if it's slightly blue'ish but mine does put out condensation quite a bit but with no loss of water from the tank.

[jackbauer]

Booked in to Indy on Thursday morning so will let you all know.

Thanks Raj for the comment, I'm hoping it is just the same as  yours and all is well!

[Steamyrotter]

Go for a drive, coast it down a long hill whilst in gear then when you level out boot it.
Valve stem oil seals wil show up with a significant plume from exhausts at that point...

If no significant change then that is less likely to be your problem.

[jackbauer]

A quick update

I had my car in at my local BMW specialist and he gave it a clean bill of health!

Yippee!!

I have to say though, since cleaning out the gunk and replacing the membranes as a precaution, the white smoke, which I presume now is only condensation, has not been anywhere near as prevalent.

I will be keeping a watchful eye on her in any case!

Thanks for your comments!

[shadrack]

now enjoy the power!

[kkx5]

Smoke will be back. Any "n" series engine will need to have valve seals job done. Its not a question of if, its just when....usually round 80.000-100.000 miles. I just did that job on my e46 n42 and e53 n62...