Major Smoke from Exhaust after Valve Cover Gasket job

[halfwindows]

Hello all! I was hoping that my first post in this forum wouldn't be with a problem, but it seems to be going that direction. Rest assured, I'll post another thread to introduce myself and my e38. The car is a 2000 740iL.

Here's my problem. I got this car about a week ago, and all was fine with the engine. No smoke. Ran perfectly. I had noticed that the valve cover gaskets and upper timing cover gaskets were leaking externally, so I replaced both of these. Ever since doing the job, I have had MAJOR smoke from the exhaust. It's definitely large amounts of burning oil. It happens mostly when first starting the car, and it's especially bad if the car sits idling for any amount of time and then you take off. Based on everything I've read, I would certainly think it was the OSV, but it doesn't show any other OSV symptoms, and it started immediately following the valve cover gasket replacement. I did find another thread in the e39 forum where someone with a 540i had the exact same problem. However, they never posted their solution.

Any thoughts?

[slypher25aussie]

How many miles are on the car? I would definitely recommend the OSV replacement. Even if that's not the issue, if it's over 100k, you should replace it anyway.

Pull the dipstick and listen for a sucking noise. Put your thumb over the dipstick tube. If you feel sucking, your OSV is bad.

[bimmerfreak187]

did you pull the spark plugs when you did the vcg's, did they have oil on them?

[halfwindows]

It has 118k on it. There is absolutely no sucking from the dip stick tube with the engine running. I replaced the plugs when I did the vcgs, and the old plugs didnt have oil on them. There was absolutely no smoking prior to my replacing the valve cover gaskets.

[Mdsessine]

I replaced a set of gaskets for a friend with major smoke from oil hitting exhaust pipes. Someone had just replaced gaskets but they did not put silicone in corners for cam cut outs and once the car was warm and the rpm's increased smoke everywhere.

[slypher25aussie]

It has 118k on it. There is absolutely no sucking from the dip stick tube with the engine running. I replaced the plugs when I did the vcgs, and the old plugs didnt have oil on them. There was absolutely no smoking prior to my replacing the valve cover gaskets.

No, he means now... now that the car is smoking, pull out the plugs again and check for oil

[halfwindows]

No, he means now... now that the car is smoking, pull out the plugs again and check for oil

Will do. I'm also going to get an OSV and replace that just for good measure. I just can't figure out how OSV failure would coincide with my vcg replacement. It seems like quite a coincidence.

[slypher25aussie]

It's possible that since you replaced the VCG, you sealed a possible leak area, which put extra pressure/strain on the deteriorated OSV... which was probably hanging by it's last thread and gave out.

[halfwindows]

OK! Problem solved. I accidentally used the "nut" style grommets on the forward 6 bolts. They weren't allowing the valve cover to seal properly and caused a vacuum leak. I decided to go this direction after reading this thread:

edit: It won't let me post a link since I'm a n00b, but it's a thread in the e39 forum titled "Start smoke after vc replace."

[purplecty]

Glad its fixed!

[Alpine 7even]

Good job! I was just about to ask if you replaced those correctly.

[burninator]

Well that would definitely explain it



Welcome.

[halfwindows]

A bit of a heads up about this: The one how-to on e38.org for the valve cover gasket procedure states that the same grommets are used for all of the bolts and nuts. Whomever has access to these may want to consider amending the how-to.

[rb26dett240z]

half windows, I think I'm having the same issue.

Just to clarify, so are you saying you can't use all the same grommets for the valve covers?

The write up states to use:
• 11 12 1 437 395 Rubber Washers (22x)

[halfwindows]

half windows, I think I'm having the same issue.

Just to clarify, so are you saying you can't use all the same grommets for the valve covers?

The write up states to use:
• 11 12 1 437 395 Rubber Washers (22x)

Correct. The front 3 grommets on each side are different. These are the places where bolts are used and not nuts.

Just to clarify, though. This didn't actually solve my problem. I thought it had, but it was just a fluke that it didn't smoke for a couple of starts. It continued getting worse and worse. Then I developed a misfire on cylinder 2 that was due to compression, and I ended up having to replace the engine.

I have no idea why this started after doing valve cover gaskets. It never had a bit of smoke or any issues before I did those.

[kblaze325]

Correct. The front 3 grommets on each side are different. These are the places where bolts are used and not nuts.

Just to clarify, though. This didn't actually solve my problem. I thought it had, but it was just a fluke that it didn't smoke for a couple of starts. It continued getting worse and worse. Then I developed a misfire on cylinder 2 that was due to compression, and I ended up having to replace the engine.

I have no idea why this started after doing valve cover gaskets. It never had a bit of smoke or any issues before I did those.

How can you tell the difference between the grommets I am in the middle of replacing my vcgs as well there being painted right now

[halfwindows]

How can you tell the difference between the grommets I am in the middle of replacing my vcgs as well there being painted right now

The forward bolt type are quite a bit thicker.

[bmwbob89]

I can't find a different part number for grommets. I've always used the 395's on all of them and never had an issue.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...52&hg=11&fg=15

[halfwindows]

I can't find a different part number for grommets. I've always used the 395's on all of them and never had an issue.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...52&hg=11&fg=15

That diagram on realoem appears to be for an M62. The different grommets are only present on the M62TU.

[bmwbob89]

Ah ha, here they are.
Then I realized I don't usually replace those ones just the 8 others.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...53&hg=11&fg=15

[rb26dett240z]

.....ended up having to replace the engine.

I have no idea why this started after doing valve cover gaskets. It never had a bit of smoke or any issues before I did those.

Sorry to read this, odd compression would go after the valve cover gaskets change. Would you mind,.. how much did the replacement engine set you back?

[MyronMHouse]

This one is freaking me out! I changed my gaskets also and now it's smoking at start up. I just replaced my OSV so it couldn't be that.

I really hope my engine doesn't die!

[halfwindows]

Sorry to read this, odd compression would go after the valve cover gaskets change. Would you mind,.. how much did the replacement engine set you back?

I thought it was EXTREMELY odd too. The car ran perfectly and didnt smoke, and literally the first time i started it after doing the valve cover gaskets it smoked like crazy. I have no idea what the deal was. The engine was about 900 bucks from a local salvage yard. The bonus is that it has already had the timing guides done.

[M I C H A E L]

Just to clarify, though. This didn't actually solve my problem. I thought it had, but it was just a fluke that it didn't smoke for a couple of starts. It continued getting worse and worse. Then I developed a misfire on cylinder 2 that was due to compression, and I ended up having to replace the engine.

Couldn't you have just fixed it? or you just got fed up with it and decided to just go that route and swap an another TU..

[halfwindows]

Couldn't you have just fixed it? or you just got fed up with it and decided to just go that route and swap an another TU..

By the time my mechanic tore it apart to fix it, including buying the necessary timing tools, and all of the parts that would have needed to be replaced to remove the head and have the head rebuilt, it would have been much more costly to fix the original engine (parts and labor) than to just replace it.

We had the engine swapped in a little over a day. It would have been a week+ project to tear the old one apart and fix it.