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Thread: E36 328i Engine trouble - Running rough, burning oil?

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    E36 328i Engine trouble - Running rough, burning oil?

    Earlier this week I parked my 328i for lunch, and when I came back I heard the distinct sound of a stuck lifter. I turned it off and left it parked until I could diagnose it further. I checked compression, and cylinders 2 and 3 were low, but I believe this was due to cylinder wash even though I pulled the fuel pump fuse. Did a wet test on 2 and 3 and the compression was within 10% of the other cylinders. Checked and the oil was about a quart and a half low, oops. I check oil level regularly because it has a slow leak due to old gaskets, so it has not been running low on oil for very long, maybe a few miles at most. Added some oil, cranked it, lifter noise immediately went away. Now, when I try to start it it runs fine initially then starts running rough like it's down a cylinder and then starts smoking badly. Smells like oil, it's not losing coolant, but it's run long enough the little bit of oil I used for the wet test should have burned off.

    I have a leakdown tester on the way and I have a schwaben scanner, but I am not seeing any codes.

    What should I look at next to diagnose? I'm thinking about trying the compression test again but unplugging the injectors to prevent cylinder wash (is there any easy way to do this?)

    Dry: 1: 215, 2: 170, 3: 100, 4: 220, 5: 230, 6: 230
    Wet: 1: x 2: 245 , 3: 220
    Last edited by Aeko; 12-06-2019 at 05:47 PM.

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    The easiest way to clear the fuel rail and injectors before a compression test is to pull the fuse while the engine is running. It’ll idle for a few seconds and then stop.

    You engine has a crankcase ventilation system (CCV). Has that ever been replaced? If not I’d start by replacing that including hoses.

    Here’s the link to the diagram and part numbers: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=CD43-USA-01-1998-E36-BMW-328i&diagId=11_6076
    Last edited by MarcoZandrini; 12-07-2019 at 07:47 AM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by MarcoZandrini View Post
    The easiest way to clear the fuel rail and injectors before a compression test is to pull the fuse while the engine is running. It’ll idle for a few seconds and then stop.

    You engine has a crankcase ventilation system (CCV). Has that ever been replaced? If not I’d start by replacing that including hoses.

    Here’s the link to the diagram and part numbers: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=11_6076
    It seems to have magically cleared up on its own, and interestingly a friend suggested CCV as well. I don't know if it has been replaced. I noticed before there was some condensation in the dipstick tube so it's possible the CCV connection was blocked up slightly which was causing the rough running.

    I've tried that method to clear the injectors but I'm not certain it still doesn't wash the cylinders somewhat. It could be operator error.
    Last edited by Aeko; 12-07-2019 at 03:09 PM.

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    You could put a teaspoon of oil in each cylinder and then crank the engine for a few seconds.
    The CCV in the M52 has a much better rep that the CCV in the M54. The CCV in the M54 was designed by an engineer who’d been fired by Audi.

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