White Smoke - BMW Forum

zeidakiss · 08-07-2005, 08:19 PM

hey alll,

so i was outside reving my car and i notice white smoke coming out the exuast pipe and a watery liquid coming out so does anyone know what my problem is.

replys would be apreciated.

Dudesky_E36 · 08-07-2005, 08:22 PM

Stop driving the car. You have coolant leaking into your engine. Probably a blown head gasket. Get it checked out ASAP.

zeidakiss · 08-07-2005, 08:24 PM

FUCK!!!!!!!!!!

thank u for the reply

Kirks_E36 · 08-07-2005, 08:51 PM

It could be that coolant is leaking into your head or that your engine is just running on the lean side, meaning your engine is not getting enough fuel/air mixture in your combustion chamber.

zeidakiss · 08-07-2005, 08:59 PM

if i had a bad head gasket would i find oil on my spark plugs and would it still smoke if i did on oil change cause i havnt done one in a while like 12k km. i just didnt have time to change it but i will today anyway.

Dudesky_E36 · 08-07-2005, 10:05 PM

No, that would be a different issue. You can however check your oil and see if you see coolant mixed in. That would confirm my suspicions.

Kirks, I believe (but not sure) that a lean mixture would be indicated by grayish exhaust smoke. Black soot would indicate a rich mixture. But liquid coming out is definbitely not normal!

Rooz · 08-08-2005, 12:26 AM

Do an oil chagne and see what the oil looks like (really watery)

But yeah, don't drive the car bcs if you do have a blown head gasket, it can still be fixed as long as you don't mess anyhting else up

zeidakiss · 08-08-2005, 12:27 AM

yes i think the liquid is water and it only drips out when i exceed rmps of 5000, but could it be coolant and not water? i hope its only my "lean" mixture thats causing my problem.

thanks for replying

zeidakiss · 08-08-2005, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rooz@Aug 7 2005, 11:26 PM
Do an oil chagne and see what the oil looks like (really watery)

But yeah, don't drive the car bcs if you do have a blown head gasket, it can still be fixed as long as you don't mess anyhting else up

[snapback]368101[/snapback]

how could it be fixed?

93 325i · 08-08-2005, 02:02 PM

OK fist off dont worry just yet. Water out the exhaust is normal and I have witnessed it on my own car. Here is a free lesson:

"Water is a normal byproduct of combustion. When a hydrocarbon such as gasoline is burned with air, the main byproducts are water vapor and carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide remains a gas, but the water vapor cools and condenses as it exits the tailpipe, especially on a cold morning when the air is cool.

When the engine is shut off, much of the water vapor that's moving through the exhaust system condenses within the pipes and muffler. The further aft from the engine the muffler is located, the greater the amount of condensation. This water lays in the muffler until the next time the engine is started. Sometimes water will be blown out the tailpipe by the force of the exhaust. Other times, it may remain trapped in the low spots of the exhaust system until the system gets hot enough to boil it away.

All this water is what causes your muffler and pipes to eventually rust through from the inside out. There's no way to get rid of it, so many new vehicles have exhaust systems made of stainless steel. Aluminized pipes and galvanized mufflers are increase the corrosion resistance of the exhaust system. Even so, most original equipment exhaust systems won't last more than five or six years, and most aftermarket replacement systems only two to three years."

93 325i · 08-08-2005, 02:06 PM

And the "white smoke" can often be misconstrued to which is actaully water vapor. If it is really humid or cold out you'll notice this. IF the smoke really is smoke and has a sweet smell to it then it very well could be a blown headgasket. But lets not scare the guy just yet..

zeidakiss · 08-08-2005, 10:08 PM

thank u ill tell a friend to smell the cloud coming out the exuast to tell me if its just vapour or smoke. thanks for the replys

Rooz · 08-08-2005, 10:17 PM

Am not talking about water out of the exhaust.. I mean watery oil as in Engine oil....

Cruzin 323is · 08-09-2005, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 93 325i@Aug 8 2005, 03:06 PM
And the "white smoke" can often be misconstrued to which is actaully water vapor. If it is really humid or cold out you'll notice this. IF the smoke really is smoke and has a sweet smell to it then it very well could be a blown headgasket. But lets not scare the guy just yet..

[snapback]368219[/snapback]

exactly! don't flip just yet!

zeidakiss · 08-09-2005, 01:12 AM

their was alot of water sming out when i revved it high liek 7ml. and if my gasket was shot would i find oil on my spark plugs?

thanks