white smoke

L

Leek78

Member
On Sunday I cold started the car and a large bloom of white some came out of the exhaust, but driving no smoke can be seen. This morning a smaller cloud of white smoke came out of the exhaust. I don't think I'm losing water so thinking its the PCV, but unable to find a part number not even on BMW ETK system.

My car is a 2011 2.0 with the N20 engine, has any body replaced the PCV or know the part number?
I'm struggling to believe i need to replace the complete head cover, for what should be a serviceable part
 
The PCV is related to oil vapour and burning oil is gray / blue in colour. White smoke would normally be related to coolant. Could this just be condensation? Have you washed the car recently and got water into the exhaust?
 
I've not washed the car lately (I need to). I drove the car Saturday and didn't notice any smoke. I've just inspected the PCV valve as its just a cap held on by a few tabs and it seems OK, no splits and not covered in oil. I don't think I'm losing any coolant.
 
Leek78 said:
I've not washed the car lately (I need to). I drove the car Saturday and didn't notice any smoke. I've just inspected the PCV valve as its just a cap held on by a few tabs and it seems OK, no splits and not covered in oil. I don't think I'm losing any coolant.
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If your pcv was gummed up you’d be burning oil, have you had to top the level up regularly?
Rob
 
Turbo seals allowing hot thin oil past when stopped, then kicking it out at cold start-up is a possibility and a known turbo issue, sometimes at low mileages. First signs are white smoke at start-up, bad cases continue smoking at hot idle or when booting it. My scooby had this when I bought it and was changed by the dealer and it's also seen on BMW's.

The amount of oil on cold start-up cases is tiny and may not even register as a regular top-up requirement.
 
An alternative possibility, Leek78. Was it very wet/humid the night before you started the car? Occasionally, wet air will 'soak' a car's exhaust system. The cloud of 'white smoke' on start-up can be large.
 
Ewazix said:
Turbo seals allowing hot thin oil past when stopped, then kicking it out at cold start-up is a possibility and a known turbo issue, sometimes at low mileages. First signs are white smoke at start-up, bad cases continue smoking at hot idle or when booting it. My scooby had this when I bought it and was changed by the dealer and it's also seen on BMW's.

The amount of oil on cold start-up cases is tiny and may not even register as a regular top-up requirement.
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The Mitsubishi turbo on n20’s does seem to be very durable, what you mentioned about the seals is certainly possible but would be very unusual :?
Rob
 
Smartbear said:
Ewazix said:
Turbo seals allowing hot thin oil past when stopped, then kicking it out at cold start-up is a possibility and a known turbo issue, sometimes at low mileages. First signs are white smoke at start-up, bad cases continue smoking at hot idle or when booting it. My scooby had this when I bought it and was changed by the dealer and it's also seen on BMW's.

The amount of oil on cold start-up cases is tiny and may not even register as a regular top-up requirement.
Click to expand...

The Mitsubishi turbo on n20’s does seem to be very durable, what you mentioned about the seals is certainly possible but would be very unusual :?
Rob
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True they are generally reliable but the Mitsubishi TD04 based turbo in the N20 is a development of the one I had in my Forester, as I said they can run seals and white smoke is the classic early warning. Poor oil feed, quality or an overlong change regime is apparently the cause (make your own mind up on BMW's extended service intervals!).
 
cant be 100% sure I'm burning any oil, as i has the timing chain changed a little while ago and they changed the oil as part of this, and I'm not sure how much oil they put in. My oil level is reading about 3/4 on Sunday, so I'm now watching this level, along with the coolant level.
 
I've read that there is a technical bulletin in America for the turbo oil feed pipe, where there is a new design with a non return valve in which stops oil leaking back into the turbo while the car is off, and causing the smoke on start up. I will try and post a video up tomorrow showing the clouds of smoke.
 
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