Puff of white smoke in hard throttle... Smells like oil...

skddmorse · 04-16-2009, 03:06 PM

Ok, I had a freind behind me today and he saw a puff of white smoke at WOT and he said it smelled like oil. The car runs great and has not CEL or codes in it.

List of mods:
AFE intake
Split Second Tuner
Ultimate Racing Down Pipes catless
O2 Sensor eliminator..

Any ideas? I think it is ok but want your opinions....

rcracer_tx · 04-16-2009, 03:12 PM

Catless downpipes can make your car have a slight odor under WOT conditions... The first set of cats are not their to help clean the exhaust gas before it goes out into the atmosphere.

frimmelnojerz · 04-16-2009, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skddmorse

Ok, I had a freind behind me today and he saw a puff of white smoke at WOT and he said it smelled like oil. The car runs great and has not CEL or codes in it.

List of mods:
AFE intake
Split Second Tuner
Ultimate Racing Down Pipes catless
O2 Sensor eliminator..

Any ideas? I think it is ok but want your opinions....

bluish white?

NYSLC93 · 04-16-2009, 05:18 PM

I was behind another 1er and saw this happen.

Alext · 04-16-2009, 05:44 PM

Pretty normal I would say as long as it isnt massive amounts. If it is blueish white it could be oil. Darker would be excess fuel burning (too rich).

MrRoboto · 04-16-2009, 05:50 PM

White smoke - coolant.

pit1 · 04-16-2009, 07:43 PM

my wife noticed the same thing last week. Could just be some buildup if you hadn't pushed it hard in a while.

frimmelnojerz · 04-16-2009, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrRoboto

White smoke - coolant.

but he said that he smelled oil which moved me to ask if it was pure white or white with a blue tinge.

skddmorse · 04-16-2009, 08:43 PM

Thanks for the input guys. I spoke with my freind again and he said it was a puff of light white smoke not a dark smoke.... If it is coolant, that would not be good at all. Wouldn't I have some kind of check engine?

He also said it didn't last long just a puff when it went to WOT...

frimmelnojerz · 04-16-2009, 09:02 PM

probably just exhaust fumes from your catless downpipes. nothing to worry about.

OverBoostinBimmers · 04-17-2009, 12:08 AM

piston rings, hmmmm interesting

ajshanny · 04-17-2009, 07:16 AM

I agree that if it's white smoke, it's probably coolant. The cause is likely a blown head gasket, which is allowing coolant from the water jackets around the cylinder to get into the combustion chamber. When the coolant burns, it emits white smoke from the exhaust.

DBFIU · 04-17-2009, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajshanny

I agree that if it's white smoke, it's probably coolant. The cause is likely a blown head gasket, which is allowing coolant from the water jackets around the cylinder to get into the combustion chamber. When the coolant burns, it emits white smoke from the exhaust.

Athough that is what causes white smoke, it should be continuous and not brief or intermittent in the case of a blown headgasket.

I doubt this is what's happening in this case. Don't scare the guy sh1tless for no reason.

Alext · 04-17-2009, 10:21 AM

I highly doubt it is HGF...check for mayo-like substance under oil & coolant caps...this is the result of oil & water mixing. MY bet is that it is just some oil burning off or its running rich.

Crowley · 04-17-2009, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrRoboto

White smoke - coolant.

skddmorse · 04-17-2009, 12:28 PM

Couple things....

1) it was a puff of smoke and he followed me for 10 miles without it happening again..

2) I have had a blown head gasket, it was not a BMW, but when I had the issue I could smell coolant.

I am pretty sure it would be running rough and have a different sound to it if it was a head gasket but my car is runnning great and sounds great.

My theory is that since I am running catless downpipes my car thinks that I need more gass causing it to be running rich. I am not a 100% sure but I think the o2 simulators only fix the check engine light and do not address the actual o2 reading.

If this is the case then I my engine is running safe with only a less MPG...

Do any of you think I am on the right track....

ennislaw · 04-17-2009, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skddmorse

Couple things....

My theory is that since I am running catless downpipes my car thinks that I need more gass causing it to be running rich ...

Personally, I think it's gasoline. If it were a head gasket, etc, there would be a lot more white smoke with a distinctive smell.

MrRoboto · 04-18-2009, 05:22 AM

Did you take it to the dealer to have it looked at?

Evolution Racewerks · 04-18-2009, 06:24 AM

There are 4 o2 sensors on the car. The front two (pre cat) are wideband o2 sensors. These monitor your a/f ratios. The rear two o2 sensors (which the o2 sims are for) are there to check to see if the cat is working. It does not affect a/f ratios.

I wouldn't worry about the smoke. It's probably condensation. If you're continously blowing smoke or blowing smoke everytime you go WOT, then it's something to worry about.

Quote:

Originally Posted by skddmorse

Couple things....

1) it was a puff of smoke and he followed me for 10 miles without it happening again..

2) I have had a blown head gasket, it was not a BMW, but when I had the issue I could smell coolant.

I am pretty sure it would be running rough and have a different sound to it if it was a head gasket but my car is runnning great and sounds great.

My theory is that since I am running catless downpipes my car thinks that I need more gass causing it to be running rich. I am not a 100% sure but I think the o2 simulators only fix the check engine light and do not address the actual o2 reading.

If this is the case then I my engine is running safe with only a less MPG...

Do any of you think I am on the right track....

04-16-2009, 03:06 PM	#1
skddmorse Second Lieutenant 16 Rep 204 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 135i Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: North Carolina iTrader: (0)	Puff of white smoke in hard throttle... Smells like oil... Ok, I had a freind behind me today and he saw a puff of white smoke at WOT and he said it smelled like oil. The car runs great and has not CEL or codes in it. List of mods: AFE intake Split Second Tuner Ultimate Racing Down Pipes catless O2 Sensor eliminator.. Any ideas? I think it is ok but want your opinions.... __________________ I am Sam, Sam I am 2008 BMW 135i- AFE, HKS, EFX, Ultimate Racing, Split Second, CryO2 and Riss Racing
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04-16-2009, 03:12 PM	#2
rcracer_tx Banned 55 Rep 2,013 Posts Drives: BSM 135i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Catless downpipes can make your car have a slight odor under WOT conditions... The first set of cats are not their to help clean the exhaust gas before it goes out into the atmosphere.
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04-16-2009, 05:18 PM	#4
NYSLC93 Private 4 Rep 60 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 1M & 2017 4Runner Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	I was behind another 1er and saw this happen.
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04-16-2009, 05:44 PM	#5
Alext Banned 138 Rep 2,042 Posts Drives: B M W Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Everest iTrader: (2)	Pretty normal I would say as long as it isnt massive amounts. If it is blueish white it could be oil. Darker would be excess fuel burning (too rich).
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04-16-2009, 05:50 PM	#6
MrRoboto Brigadier General 1846 Rep 4,836 Posts Drives: VO 1M Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	White smoke - coolant.
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04-16-2009, 07:43 PM	#7
pit1 Captain 239 Rep 790 Posts Drives: F87 M2 Join Date: May 2008 Location: It's always Sunny... iTrader: (1)	my wife noticed the same thing last week. Could just be some buildup if you hadn't pushed it hard in a while.
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04-16-2009, 08:43 PM	#9
skddmorse Second Lieutenant 16 Rep 204 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 135i Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: North Carolina iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the input guys. I spoke with my freind again and he said it was a puff of light white smoke not a dark smoke.... If it is coolant, that would not be good at all. Wouldn't I have some kind of check engine? He also said it didn't last long just a puff when it went to WOT... __________________ I am Sam, Sam I am 2008 BMW 135i- AFE, HKS, EFX, Ultimate Racing, Split Second, CryO2 and Riss Racing
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04-16-2009, 09:02 PM	#10
frimmelnojerz Captain 23 Rep 692 Posts Drives: Montego blue 135i Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Bayonne, NJ iTrader: (0)	probably just exhaust fumes from your catless downpipes. nothing to worry about.
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04-17-2009, 12:08 AM	#11
OverBoostinBimmers Banned 3 Rep 33 Posts Drives: 08 335i 09 135i Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: East Coast iTrader: (0)	piston rings, hmmmm interesting
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04-17-2009, 07:16 AM	#12
ajshanny First Lieutenant 111 Rep 365 Posts Drives: 1M Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	I agree that if it's white smoke, it's probably coolant. The cause is likely a blown head gasket, which is allowing coolant from the water jackets around the cylinder to get into the combustion chamber. When the coolant burns, it emits white smoke from the exhaust.
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04-17-2009, 10:21 AM	#14
Alext Banned 138 Rep 2,042 Posts Drives: B M W Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Everest iTrader: (2)	I highly doubt it is HGF...check for mayo-like substance under oil & coolant caps...this is the result of oil & water mixing. MY bet is that it is just some oil burning off or its running rich.
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04-17-2009, 12:28 PM	#16
skddmorse Second Lieutenant 16 Rep 204 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 135i Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: North Carolina iTrader: (0)	Couple things.... 1) it was a puff of smoke and he followed me for 10 miles without it happening again.. 2) I have had a blown head gasket, it was not a BMW, but when I had the issue I could smell coolant. I am pretty sure it would be running rough and have a different sound to it if it was a head gasket but my car is runnning great and sounds great. My theory is that since I am running catless downpipes my car thinks that I need more gass causing it to be running rich. I am not a 100% sure but I think the o2 simulators only fix the check engine light and do not address the actual o2 reading. If this is the case then I my engine is running safe with only a less MPG... Do any of you think I am on the right track.... __________________ I am Sam, Sam I am 2008 BMW 135i- AFE, HKS, EFX, Ultimate Racing, Split Second, CryO2 and Riss Racing
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04-18-2009, 05:22 AM	#18
MrRoboto Brigadier General 1846 Rep 4,836 Posts Drives: VO 1M Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Did you take it to the dealer to have it looked at?
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