White smoke from exhaust

Trhiggy83

Question,

Is white smoke coming from the exhaust a possible symptom of having low engine oil does anyone know. I think this is the problem but i have read that white smoke could be a host of problems.

Anyone have any experience.

Its a bmw 320 diesel


Please dont bother replying with lmgtfy.com because it defeats the purpose of a forum

Thanks in advance

robtri

how much white smoke???

if there is a lot and constant, it can often mean the ehad gasket is leaking, letting coolant water into the system.. coming out as exhaust steam

Irishpimpdude

Well i had a 01 passat 1.6 petrol and had white smoke coming from the exhaust and the engine failed after a few days, piston rings went :mad:

Trhiggy83

Trhiggy83 wrote: »

Question,

Is white smoke coming from the exhaust a possible symptom of having low engine oil does anyone know. ..........

Is your engine oil low? Also check your coolant level, if neither are low and neither drop over the next few hundred / thousand miles than it's not oil or coolant

peasant

a simple guide for smoke on diesel engines (as an indication only)

black smoke: lots of soot, too much diesel being burned (somewhat normal on acceleration)

blue smoke: oil being burned (never a good sign)

grey smoke: unburned diesel (one cylinder may not be firing, leaking injectors)

white smoke: water/coolant being burned and sent out as steam ..never a good sign either (except on a cold winters morning )

old_aussie

Might give you some guidance

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_can_cause_white_smoke_from_the_exhaust

delly

Am I right in thinking that white smoke can indicate a turbo problem as well?

R.O.R

delly wrote: »

Am I right in thinking that white smoke can indicate a turbo problem as well?

Or the Election of a new Pope.

But that may not be pertinent to the issue at hand.

Daegerty

Leave in the garage till we have a new pope. should sort it

Trhiggy83

gettin the oil changed tomorrow so hopefully that will clear it up, it might be just a coincidence but i noticed the white smoke recently and the low oil indicater went off just yesterday. Hoping it was just low oil

Zubeneschamali

Trhiggy83 wrote: »

Hoping it was just low oil

Low oil can't cause white smoke.

cats.life

R.O.R wrote: »

Or the Election of a new Pope.

But that may not be pertinent to the issue at hand.

ah damn you got there before me, just have a look anyway incase pope john paul has healed your problem, pray to saint jude (hopless cases) dont mind me ive got the flue, ill get my coat.

Trhiggy83

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

Low oil can't cause white smoke.

Are you sure, what about low coolant.
Anyway got it serviced today and have not seen the dreaded white smoke yet,,, fingers crossed

Trhiggy83

Lads, Just a further update on the white smoke
It only happens when i change from second gear into third and i put the boot down a bit. If it was my turbo that is creating the white smoke (not the pope:p) would it happen just at a very specific time ?

Trhiggy83

Went at it today with the rachet set, cleaned the egr valve with degreaser and checked my air filter which was in good nick. My breather filter is not in great shape though its filthy and needs to be changed pronto. I went into the motor factors and they told me that i need to go to the main dealer for this item...
Do the dealers do the new vortex type breather filter does anyone know?

Nforce

Trhiggy83 wrote: »

Do the dealers do the new vortex type breather filter does anyone know?

Yep...around €70,iirc

Trhiggy83

Nforce wrote: »

Yep...around €70,iirc

Cheers man

Trhiggy83

Replaced the breather filter tonight and also changed the air filter while i was at it,, handy enough in the end but a bit awkward to get to. Brought it out for a run then and the white smoke has thankfully disappeared