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Thread: bugger (suspected blown head gasket)

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    London, UK
    Posts
    167

    Default bugger (suspected blown head gasket)

    on the way into work this morning I noticed if I accelerate quickly I get a large amount of steam out of the exhaust. I replace the water pump ~ 3 months ago (no serious overheating though). I've had to top the coolant up a little bit now and then for as long as I can remember (2 years+), so this may not be a new issue. I think the first thing I should do is a cylinder compression test to check the rings are ok.

    Any other suspects other than the head gasket ?


    sal

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Gold Coast, Australia
    Posts
    178

    Default

    Did the steam go away. If so then its just condensation built up within the exhaust system.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    London, UK
    Posts
    167

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by ArnZ! View Post
    Did the steam go away. If so then its just condensation built up within the exhaust system.
    Hi,

    No, it didn't - this was after 15 minutes of driving and it's 100% tied into acceleration / large throttle openings.

    sal

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    St. Louis
    Posts
    85

    Default

    Any white milky substance in the oil?

    My 525 produces a lot of steam as well, long into the drive. Can't remember where I read it (here or another board), but other folks say it is typical. Lots of condensation collects in the exhaust system. Do search under "steam" and you should find some good info.

    L

    1995 525iA 200,000 Miles

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Posts
    235

    Default Smell the exhaust.....

    Have someone rev the motor for you...put a paper towel over the outlets, let it soak in for a while, then smell it. If it smells sweet....it aint sweet as it is a sure sign of coolant !

    Quote Originally Posted by sal_park View Post
    on the way into work this morning I noticed if I accelerate quickly I get a large amount of steam out of the exhaust. I replace the water pump ~ 3 months ago (no serious overheating though). I've had to top the coolant up a little bit now and then for as long as I can remember (2 years+), so this may not be a new issue. I think the first thing I should do is a cylinder compression test to check the rings are ok.

    Any other suspects other than the head gasket ?


    sal
    "Uncle" Phil C
    2011 Kia Optima EX-P.
    Former owner of a 95 525i 5spd. "The GQ" aka A Shark in sheeps clothing
    03 R1150RT 6spd. "DaRTth"
    00 R1100R 5spd. "LeRoy"

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    London, UK
    Posts
    167

    Default

    hummm,

    just drove home and and absolulty no smoke/steam at all for the first 3-4 minutes then back to smoke/steam on larger throttle opens & blipping the throttle for the rest of the journey

    Lost about 2 inches of coolant, although I can't remember the last time I checked that.

    The oil filler cap has some white/yellow oil/water gunk on it, but I only really do short jounerys (5 miles) so this could be normal. Dip stick is good with just oil on it.

    After I got home, blipped the throttle a few times to produce some steam and smelling the exhaust it was quite sweet.

    I'm getting a pressure tester and will test the cylinders next week & inspect the spark plugs for a steam cleaned one.

    sal

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Central Coast, CA
    Posts
    657

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by sal_park View Post
    hummm,

    just drove home and and absolulty no smoke/steam at all for the first 3-4 minutes then back to smoke/steam on larger throttle opens & blipping the throttle for the rest of the journey

    Lost about 2 inches of coolant, although I can't remember the last time I checked that.

    The oil filler cap has some white/yellow oil/water gunk on it, but I only really do short jounerys (5 miles) so this could be normal. Dip stick is good with just oil on it.

    After I got home, blipped the throttle a few times to produce some steam and smelling the exhaust it was quite sweet.

    I'm getting a pressure tester and will test the cylinders next week & inspect the spark plugs for a steam cleaned one.

    sal
    sal i hate to tell you bud

    but you are getting coolant in your oil and that its a bad thing...

    the sure signs are the sweet smell and the gunk you found...

    maybe its time for a head gasket change?!
    http://www.bimmernut.com/forum/image.php?type=sigpic&userid=3314&dateline=1239168  877

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Posts
    235

    Default Bummer :( !

    New head gasket (at the least)....sorry mate


    Quote Originally Posted by sal_park View Post
    hummm,

    just drove home and and absolulty no smoke/steam at all for the first 3-4 minutes then back to smoke/steam on larger throttle opens & blipping the throttle for the rest of the journey

    Lost about 2 inches of coolant, although I can't remember the last time I checked that.

    The oil filler cap has some white/yellow oil/water gunk on it, but I only really do short jounerys (5 miles) so this could be normal. Dip stick is good with just oil on it.

    After I got home, blipped the throttle a few times to produce some steam and smelling the exhaust it was quite sweet.

    I'm getting a pressure tester and will test the cylinders next week & inspect the spark plugs for a steam cleaned one.

    sal
    "Uncle" Phil C
    2011 Kia Optima EX-P.
    Former owner of a 95 525i 5spd. "The GQ" aka A Shark in sheeps clothing
    03 R1150RT 6spd. "DaRTth"
    00 R1100R 5spd. "LeRoy"

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Posts
    4,894

    Default

    I am surprised... no one mentioned the coil pack boots. Qiote a few of us had this problem... lots of white smokes for super long time. Remember, lean unburned fuel also emit white smokes by the cat converter.

    So change all your coil pack spark plug boots and the smoke will go away.

    You do need to check for leaking coolant hoses with pressure tester.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Minneapolis, MN
    Posts
    577

    Default

    Now that the temp is down to 0 F, I've been noticing the same thing. Tons of steam when I gun the car from a stand still, or even under moderately hard acceleration. But otherwise, just normal amount of tail pipe smoke/steam that every car exhales in the winter. I do have a phantom coolant leak, but I'm pretty sure that's thanks to my leaky heater core. Haven't seen any oil contamination. (fingers crossed).

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