3201 smoke from engline

[cabinessence]

Hi there,

I have a 2002 320i and am getting the check engine light with the code of P0128. I am familiar with what the issues could be from a google search.

Recently while driving there has been quite a bit of smoke emitting from the engine and it looks like it is oil from a valve cover leak. I am hoping it is nothing more serious (cracked gasket). Has anyone had similar occurrences?

Thanks for any help.

[whiskychaser]

P0128 isn't likely to cause a fire. A valve cover leaking oil onto a hot exhaust might though. I would put the code on the back burner for now.

[randy72877]

P0128 is thermostat failure. Smoke from the exhaust manifold area is valve cover gasket leak. Both are very common issues. If you replace the vcg you need to replace the 15 seals under the fasteners to get proper compression of the new gasket. Buy a whaler thermostat since it is oem. Fcp Euro has a lifetime warranty on everything they sell and it won't cost much more than a Chinese knockoff.

Sent from my S61 using Tapatalk

[cabinessence]

Thanks to both of you!

[RobertDenali]

Use brakleen to clean off all the oil.