Cloud of White Smoke???? HELP!!!

[Rfitz25]

used:

1987 325is

Did auto cross. Awesome (new Bilstein sports and ST springs)
Had #1 rocker arm slide down shaft, fixed it.
Had vacume line to fuel pressure regulator crack, fixed it.
Throttle cable was loose, fixed it.
Car was running awesome again.
Two days later, stopped at a light, car chugged, red check engine light came on, stalled.
Parked it, Restarted it, poked around, limped home, big puffs of white smoke,
really really strong smell of fuel at air filter, and out of exhaust??

:

Checked cooland, no oil?
Checked oil, no coolant?
Checked all 6 plugs, all looked great and the same, but all stunk like fuel???


Called mechanic, suggested fuel pressure regulator, or temp sensor or, MAF.

Changed fuel pressure regulator.
Checked free play on MAF, OK?
I already just did the temp sensor.
Maybe its the other one? blue v orange??
Torqued head bolts. (some were out of spec)
adjusted some valves.
disconnected battery. (reset ecu)

restarted still huge white clouds of smoke screen.
Seems fuel smell went away.
seemed to suddenly idle and run fine except for huge cloud of smoke.
This time red light stayed out?? weird.
Coolant level still looks normal in overflow tank??
Maybe I should run it a while get thermostat to open then check coolant again?

Starmavin if your out there please help?
If anyone can help please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Any suggestions. no really anything...
I blew the budget on the suspension and now I'm stuck.
Is there a sure fire way to determine if head gasket is blown or head is cracked???

Could a timing problem cause the white smoke?????
How do you set the timing on theese things?? does distributor rotate. or does this electronic timing mean you dont set it?

Unburnt fuel?
Is it absolutely positively coolant?


Cheers,
Richard
'87 325is

[JoeMadoo]

White smoking usually means your burning coolant or oil, depending on the smell of it. If it smells, sweet, its probably coolant. You could have blown the head gasket between the cylinders and the coolant passages.

[Bear]

White smoke always scares me as I tend to think head gasket, what does the oil on dipstick look like, is it no rmal brown or black or more like a brown milk shake?

[Rfitz25]

Oil looks fine, normal clear brown.

Started it last night and it ran perfect for about 8 min.

Fuel smell was gone.

Then the big cloud arrived again.

ran it in garage got spatter on the floor.

Got brave and tasted it. Tasted like distilled water, or basicaly had no taste.

The concrete was kinda cold on my tongue but I wanted to lap it all up before it evaporated. Ok now I'm joking. LOL

Anyway. I also re tried the check engine code, which didnt work before, cuz my TPS was bad hence no WOT signal to ECU and no code feedback.

This time code was 1223???? I think. Is this temp sensor???
Have to look this up. Already replaced it but maybe its the wireing, have to borrow another probe for my DLM from work and check tonight maybe.

Tightened throttle body as well. I dont quite undertand the coolant routing around the throttel body. two hoses one from waterpump one to engine block. vacume hose to valve cover? Maybe water is leaking here?? or in the intake manifold? Is there a water jacket in the intake manifold?

Thanks again for any help.used:

[Starmavin]

Well, the first thing I would do is to do a warm cyl leak down test with a coolant pressure tester installed. This way you can see if the coolant pressure goes up per cyl being tested. Or if you can get a coolant pressure tester pump the coolant up to 16lbs pull all the plugs and come back 30 min later to see if the coolant droped, if it did, crank it. Coolant will spurt from the bad cyl. Another way of narrowing it down to where the smoke is comming from is to remove the exhaust test plugs from the manifolds, these are bolts that go down into the top of the manifold, and then run the car. (be carefull they may not want to come out) It'll make noise but you'll see if smoke comes from one or the other or from both, this test is usefull for finding cracks past the exhaust valve.

Good luck.

[Rfitz25]

Kool I'll try some more testing.

So thats what those two bolts are!

I saw smoke leaking out of the front one and tightened it back up, it was loose. I'll take a look at the rear one, and see what comes out.

I'll have to find a coolant pressure tester and or pump and try that.
That sounds like a definitive test. I'll try Autozone $$??

ahh ha thier web site says they have em for "loan-a-tool".

If all else fails maybe on my next payckeck I'll tow it to the shop.

Thanks again starmavin. You are a great help.

Next autocross is next wekend, I think Im gonna miss this one. :
ghead

[Starmavin]

Often times loan-a-tool kits are basic sets and won't have the adapter to fit a BMW, but its worth a try.

[Rfitz25]

Still trying.

drained some coolant from top hose.

Looks perfect.???

Looked at oil again.

looks perfect.

smells like fuel???
opend oil filler cap.
smells likefuel????used:
checked ERG bypass valve
I think its working?

could smoke just be water vapor from being too rich when warm???used:

exhaust doesnt smell like coolant????????


coolant is very very green.

What could make it run real rich once warmed up??

My truck isin autotrader today.
Maybe itwill sellthen I can get BMW towed toshop?

MY space bar isnt working right on keyboard.
What ashittyday.

cant find probe forDMM to test tempsensor...

Maybe I should retest MAF?

[Rfitz25]

OK the wife finally let me get the car towed to the shop.

$83, used a flat bed with special BMW strap, LOL, car did fine.

New Bosh Air flow meter made it run better but still white smoke once warmed up.

Shop said the compession was about 160psi all around.
WTF he wants to put a new head on it $1850. (new raw head rrom BMW then this other shop does the valve train etc.)
and new pistons and rings???
Ive read 142-156 psi is fine???
someone else said 140-150psi
7psi max difference between cylinders.
Is this correct???

The previous owner said he put new rings in it 2 years ago.
Only a few thousand miles ago.
I think the compression is fine?
He said he did the valves this past year?
The head looks like a brand new rebuild.
Looks really clean under the valve cover,sides, seams etc, with one rocker arm a slightly different color than the others. Like only one was replaced?
I dont want to replace good parts, I cant afford it.


I thik I just need a new head gasket? and valve adjust.


Estimate:

Total +_ $5500 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:
AAAARRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!

[Rfitz25]

Dang here I am posting to myself again...

ha ha

Just got back from the shop.

After a long talk with the Bimmer Doc.

A new BMW I motor, "long block"

costs $3750 and would likely be cheaper than rebuilding the head/block with 265K miles on it. sooooo...

If I can get it past the wife.....

I will post the results later.

Hate to spend close to $5K, but would love a whole brand new motor and head.

[DIRTE30]

Why not just ask him to do the head gasket if you think that's what's wrong? Just because it has miles on it doesn't mean you have to replace the whole motor! Is he a BMW mechanic? Why would you spend 5k on a car that's only worth maybe that much in perfect condition? Find a used motor with a 150K on it for $500 at a scrap yard and pay him another $500 to put it in! Makes alot more sen$e... don't you think? Most shops like to see BMW owners having their cars towed in to their shops... they see someone who is trapped not wanting to pay another tow bill to take it somewhere else and probably doesn't know enough to decern something feasable from some major BS and probably expects to pay too much because it's a Bimmer! Don't give him the satisfaction! Find a used motor or if you're bent on spending that kind of money... why not do a swap? I saw a 50k mile S52 M3 motor and harness go for $2500.00 on ebay last week! Another $2,500 would sure make for one bad ass E30 at 330HP!
Think it over man... don't get tunnel vision! I'd be glad to offer up any tech advise or sourcing help I can provide.

Good luck man!

[Rfitz25]

I when over it with him at lunch.

He services BMW's only, specializes in older model
So far hes been great.
Tends to lean toward original parts and specs. more than I do.

They read
160 psi +- on all 6 cylinders.

at 265K miles he recommends new pistons rings bore it etc. on bottom end, because of this. if we are going to pull the head anyway.

It had new rings from previous ownner but he said it shoul be putting out 200+ psi if rings were done new pistons should have been done but probably werent.

at 265K on the head, even though it might have been rebuilt once he suggests replace it.

at these costs its cheaper to just put in a whole new long block.

I'm still debating.

a newer M3 engine sounds good, I'll check these out first on ebay etc.

We talked about getting a super eta engine as well but more expensive.

have to keep looking

[Rfitz25]

1:00PM New Capitol One Platinum Visa card arrived
1:01PM Activated new card
1:02PM Maxed out said card, LOL
1:03PM new crate motor goin in

yyyyeeeeeeeeehhhhhhaaaaaaa !!!!!!

should be ready next week.

All new factory i motor from valve cover to oil pan!!
no stinkin rebuilt parts.

had to exchange water pump for older style, I guess 87 still used a type e water pump?? weird.

few new hoses
new clutch kit (no labor $)
new air flow meter ($$ ughh)
new wires
cap and rotor
no more cash, lol
good to go

....

come on everybody sing along



........

Here he comes
Her comes Speed Racer
He's a demon on wheels
He's a demon and he's gonna be chasin' after someone.

He's gainin' on you so you better look alive.
He's busy revvin' up the powerful Mach 5.

And when the odds are against him
And there's dangerous work to do
You bet your life Speed Racer
Will see it through.

Go Speed Racer
Go Speed Racer
Go Speed Racer, Go!

He's off and flyin' as he guns the car around the track
He's jammin' down the pedal like he's never comin' back
Adventure's waitin' just ahead.

Go Speed Racer
Go Speed Racer
Go Speed Racer, Go!

-----------

Old school baby!

Ha Ha , if you read all that I bet your smilin
If you sang along I bet your laughin :lol:

Now lets get out there and smoke some tires...



OK enough fun for now...