Excess Smoking

[95M3032679]

It's an OBD II (1997 M3) AA Stage I kit in it, but now it's smoking (white) like crazy from the exhaust. Any suggestions to what it may be? I checked the engine bay and no oil leaking. I have no clue on what is going on with this thing. Any additional info is highly appreciated.

[M3TurboCa]

There is a good chance its your head gasket that is leaking.

Check your oil dip stick and see if you see any foaming milky color in there ?

How much boost were you running as the stock gasket should hold up to 10psi safely.

[ParadigmGuy]

Do a search for white smoke. It's been a while but I think white smoke means that coolant is leaking into your block. Did you overheat recently?

[Brian@POG]

There is a good chance its your head gasket that is leaking.

Check your oil dip stick and see if you see any foaming milky color in there ?

How much boost were you running as the stock gasket should hold up to 10psi safely.

agreed

[95M3032679]

No foamy substance in checking the oil with the dip stick and no over heating problems. I will perform an oil change; I'll check the condition of the oil and see if there is an oil/coolant mixture. Being that we know that it's coolant burning can I check something else?
Thanks for the help.

[M3TurboCa]

If its burning coolant it most likely the head gasket and a portion is leaking in the combustion chamber.

I am not sure if a compression test will show the loss maybe someone can answer that properly, will a blown head gasket show a loss ?

[trthrrt489]

It's an OBD II (1997 M3) AA Stage I kit in it, but now it's smoking (white) like crazy from the exhaust. Any suggestions to what it may be? I checked the engine bay and no oil leaking. I have no clue on what is going on with this thing. Any additional info is highly appreciated.
What kind of smoke is it? (this advice is cortesy of NickG). If you stand back from your tailpipe, does the white smoke evaporate a few feet from the tail pipe, or does it come out like marshmellows, and linger?
If its lingering thats good news, because its most likley a drain issue. This is what was wrong with my car. If you have a poor drain, and no restrictor in the oil inlet, the oil from the drain is leaking past the seals and being burned in your turbine. Solution: fix your drain, or do what I did and put a restrictor in.
If it evaporates, then its most likley a head gasket issue. Then you must look at the bright side and think about all the new boost you are going to have with the new headgasket.

[5mall5nail5]

If its burning coolant it most likely the head gasket and a portion is leaking in the combustion chamber.

I am not sure if a compression test will show the loss maybe someone can answer that properly, will a blown head gasket show a loss ?


You can leak coolant into the pass ways without finding it in the oil. compression tests may not find it either. good luck.

[jmc]

Is the smoke much worse with the intiall cold start up?

JMC

[BlownM3]

My headgasket went and it looked like a freaking nightclub fog machine had replaced my motor!! If it is the turbo leaking you can smeel the oil and it will leave a film on the tailpipes and bumper usually.

[e34m535t]

When my headgasket blew i had a good deal of coolant dripping out of the tailpipe,

But while it was slowing breaking apart, Everyonce ina while it wuld just start smoking white randoming, while sitting in traffic or wat not, then it wuld stop.

My Compression test was messed up in a few cylinders also, i wuld think the compression wuld have to be atleast a LITTLE less in the offending/leaking cylinders,

good luck, get a good headgasket and studs

PS: If your getting white smoke out ur tailpipe and its coolant, then it SHOULD SHOW UP On compresson test, otherwise, it may not.....(rite? ....makes sence to me....)

[BuddyDuddy]

I have smoke coming out of my exhaust and I am sure it's the oil type, my kit was just installed is it a turbo seal leak or a drainage issue? If it is a drainage issue what should I tell my mechanic to do?
Thank You

[BlownM3]

I have smoke coming out of my exhaust and I am sure it's the oil type, my kit was just installed is it a turbo seal leak or a drainage issue? If it is a drainage issue what should I tell my mechanic to do?
Thank You
Check that the drain is not kinked and it is angled downhill enough. It would not hurt to put a restricter in either.

[95M3032679]

Thanks I'll go over everything this weekend.

[BuddyDuddy]

Check that the drain is not kinked and it is angled downhill enough. It would not hurt to put a restricter in either.


My mechanic assessed this as a bad bearing seal in the turbo, is that incorrect or it could be either and check the cheap option first. What is this restrictor, wouldn't that lead to more oil left in the turbo I thought the issue was that it isn't draining the oil back out so some fins its way into the exhaust?
Thanks