White Smoke

[mo_joe88]

My '95 318i is blowing alot of white smoke out the tail pipe...what is it?

[MiguelACA]

a big problem, youll get better help in the e36 forum...i think its a gasket problem thou, someone who really know will help

[gotKRAUT]

moved

white smoke is usually coolant...sometimes oil...black is fuel...

sounds like its a head gasket sorry

[jetpacman]

Yeah white smoke is usually water burning off.

It could a blown head gasket where the gasket has blown between a water jacket and a cylinder. Hence you are getting coolant (water) drawn into the combustion chamber.

[spicer]

Having the same problem with mine. Just got it back, noticed the coolant was low, topped it off, and it is still 'disappearing'. White residue on the inside of your exhaust tips, as well as on the electrodes of the spark plugs are a dead giveaway, but be sure to have it tested before your rip your engine apart. I'll be driving mine until I get some time/money saved.. If there is no oil leaking into the coolant or coolant leaking into the oil, and no overheating it won't force you to perform the repair immediately, it will just cause some performance issues... but the leak will worsen, so keep an eye on your coolant and engine oil for 'milkshake' or 'sludge'.

[mo_joe88]

Thanks for the reply's...I kinda figured thats what it was...but wanted to make sure. So does anyone know how hard it is to change.......?

[trev0006]

white smoke = water
blue smoke = Oil

[bimmerguy82]

Originally Posted by mo_joe88

Thanks for the reply's...I kinda figured thats what it was...but wanted to make sure. So does anyone know how hard it is to change.......?

unless you have a lot of tools and time it's probably easier to take it to a shop.

[mo_joe88]

do you konw what kinda tools i'll need??? Anything outta the ordinary???

[gotKRAUT]

the entire procedure is listed in the bentley, thats the first tool you need

[drz]

^^ Yup. You may be able to find something useful here: http://www.bimmerwerkz.com/forum/3-s...4-a-50762.html