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Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
335i smoke after full decat
- Thread starter M3_e36
- Start date
M3_e36
New member
Kish2604 said:
Ok so little update....
Been monitoring the car about 350-400km driven since the decat. Oil levels haven't dropped yet but I have noticed this....
Oil by the oil filter in the hole next to the black cap, oil on the boost pipes...
Not sure if this has anything to do with it but now I'm guessing it's definitely oil related.
I took pics but can't seem to upload it with my phone will try on the pc later.
What you guys think?
M3_e36
New member
German_spec said:
I'll take it back to the guys that done the valve cover gasket he phoned me 3 times to check up on me if it isn't leaking, cause he told they warp very easily, good guy if anything he done wrong he will correct no charge.
So yes will definitely get the oil housing gasket replaced as it seems it's leaking there.
Oil on the boost pipe time for a charger pipe?
All those things could it burning into the exhaust and releasing smoke?
one 3 five
New member
I have the same problem with my 135I n54..
Fully decat and downpipes from rennzport. The car smokes white smoke, I have notice when I burn the car for a bit, no smoke! Weird, I have a chargepipe and dci on car also jb4 g5, but no oil catch can.. could it be oil in exhaust some how?
Does anyone reckon oil catch can would solve the problem?
Fully decat and downpipes from rennzport. The car smokes white smoke, I have notice when I burn the car for a bit, no smoke! Weird, I have a chargepipe and dci on car also jb4 g5, but no oil catch can.. could it be oil in exhaust some how?
Does anyone reckon oil catch can would solve the problem?
one 3 five
New member
Has anyone ever figured out why the cars are smoking?
Chavoos
Active member
Taken from another forum:
Here is THE list of things it can be...
1) Bad PCV (does not actuate properly)
2) Clogged OCC
3) Bad head cover gasket (broken/deteriorating)
4) Bad head cover (cracked/breather ports clogged)
5) Kinked turbo oil return lines
6) Bad turbo seals (improper shaft balance can accelerate this issue)
7) Bad valve stem seals
Until you check/replace all these items, all you can do is speculate. Cats will only mask your smoking issue. I would start with #1 and work your way to #7. When you pull the turbos, if the exhaust ports are dry, then it's a safe bet it's the turbo seals.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Here is THE list of things it can be...
1) Bad PCV (does not actuate properly)
2) Clogged OCC
3) Bad head cover gasket (broken/deteriorating)
4) Bad head cover (cracked/breather ports clogged)
5) Kinked turbo oil return lines
6) Bad turbo seals (improper shaft balance can accelerate this issue)
7) Bad valve stem seals
Until you check/replace all these items, all you can do is speculate. Cats will only mask your smoking issue. I would start with #1 and work your way to #7. When you pull the turbos, if the exhaust ports are dry, then it's a safe bet it's the turbo seals.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Guys I wouldn't be too concerned about a bit of white smoke especially with all the cat's removed. If the car is not using oil then there is no problem. Remember this is a turbocharged car and your combustion pressures will be a bit higher than a normally aspirated car even at lower rpm's during the warm-up process.
The working clearances of the engine is not reached until the motor has fully warmed-up and therefore compression blow-by is slightly higher at this stage. The fuel is still enriched until your water temp is normal also, so the white smoke you see is normal for unburnt fuel. The fact that you say there is no smoke when the car is fully warm proves this. The cat's warm up very quickly and therefore burn off and vapourises the unburnt fuel so you don't see this with a standard catted car.
The working clearances of the engine is not reached until the motor has fully warmed-up and therefore compression blow-by is slightly higher at this stage. The fuel is still enriched until your water temp is normal also, so the white smoke you see is normal for unburnt fuel. The fact that you say there is no smoke when the car is fully warm proves this. The cat's warm up very quickly and therefore burn off and vapourises the unburnt fuel so you don't see this with a standard catted car.
M3_e36
New member
one 3 five said:
ok so i think i found out where the problem is...
Chavoos said:
1) RB PCV fitted
2) no OCC
3) Head and tappet cover gasket perfect condition no cracks
4) possible
5) possible
6) possible
7) 90% sure this is the issue
so i had my car in by the best in the business bigs up to carbon doctor for helping me out in captown.
Most by far knowledgeable when it comes to our cars by far iv met in capetown.
pics to follow and reason why its bad valve stems.
M3_e36
New member
BEFORE:
AFTER:
OIL IN THE INTERCOOLER:
so...
as can see the great work quality from carbon doctor as i can not thank them enough for moving over here to the cape. My consumption dropped from 14.0 to 11.8, i was driving it hard also to test the waters and massive difference in response so after driving hard and in traffic it moved up to 12.2 which i still think is a massive drop!! As you can see by the pics of the intercooler there was lot of oil in not massive but decent amount, this was probably the old PCV causing it, so carbon doctor clean them out for me as well. So then he diagnosed the smoke
1) turbos would've smoke on idle(which it doesn't)
2) when driving turbos or rings would continue to smoke all the time(which it doesn't)
3) Bank 1 and Bank 2 was no sign of oils so leading us not to turbo related issue
when he came to fetch me and was driving i could see no smoke at all, the minute he slowed down to stop the smoke came out, smoked a bit for a couple of seconds then stops smoking and then again on pull away for about few seconds till maybe reach 40km and then stops smoking.
went on a long drive on Tuesday friend followed me and confirmed all this while driving behind me.
said mainly smoking only out drivers side exhaust not sure if maybe its the one set of stems??
we not ruling out turbos at all but everything pointing towards valve stems, i did lose oil eventually as well, as i stated in the beginning i was monitoring the oil and never moved so it moved from 1/4 to 1/2 just after i replaced the new PCV valve so im thinking it might not be a lot of oil losing that why i haven't noticed it in the beginning even small drops of oil can cause massive amount of smoke.
so i'll be sending the car away for valve stems under warranty.
and will keep this updated as im sure somewhere in the future or present that is having the same problem that i will benefit from this as im doing everything i can to find and resolve the issue.
AFTER:
OIL IN THE INTERCOOLER:
so...
as can see the great work quality from carbon doctor as i can not thank them enough for moving over here to the cape. My consumption dropped from 14.0 to 11.8, i was driving it hard also to test the waters and massive difference in response so after driving hard and in traffic it moved up to 12.2 which i still think is a massive drop!! As you can see by the pics of the intercooler there was lot of oil in not massive but decent amount, this was probably the old PCV causing it, so carbon doctor clean them out for me as well. So then he diagnosed the smoke
1) turbos would've smoke on idle(which it doesn't)
2) when driving turbos or rings would continue to smoke all the time(which it doesn't)
3) Bank 1 and Bank 2 was no sign of oils so leading us not to turbo related issue
when he came to fetch me and was driving i could see no smoke at all, the minute he slowed down to stop the smoke came out, smoked a bit for a couple of seconds then stops smoking and then again on pull away for about few seconds till maybe reach 40km and then stops smoking.
went on a long drive on Tuesday friend followed me and confirmed all this while driving behind me.
said mainly smoking only out drivers side exhaust not sure if maybe its the one set of stems??
we not ruling out turbos at all but everything pointing towards valve stems, i did lose oil eventually as well, as i stated in the beginning i was monitoring the oil and never moved so it moved from 1/4 to 1/2 just after i replaced the new PCV valve so im thinking it might not be a lot of oil losing that why i haven't noticed it in the beginning even small drops of oil can cause massive amount of smoke.
so i'll be sending the car away for valve stems under warranty.
and will keep this updated as im sure somewhere in the future or present that is having the same problem that i will benefit from this as im doing everything i can to find and resolve the issue.
boost3d
Honorary ///Member
M3_e36 said:BEFORE:
AFTER:
OIL IN THE INTERCOOLER:
so...
as can see the great work quality from carbon doctor as i can not thank them enough for moving over here to the cape. My consumption dropped from 14.0 to 11.8, i was driving it hard also to test the waters and massive difference in response so after driving hard and in traffic it moved up to 12.2 which i still think is a massive drop!! As you can see by the pics of the intercooler there was lot of oil in not massive but decent amount, this was probably the old PCV causing it, so carbon doctor clean them out for me as well. So then he diagnosed the smoke
1) turbos would've smoke on idle(which it doesn't)
2) when driving turbos or rings would continue to smoke all the time(which it doesn't)
3) Bank 1 and Bank 2 was no sign of oils so leading us not to turbo related issue
when he came to fetch me and was driving i could see no smoke at all, the minute he slowed down to stop the smoke came out, smoked a bit for a couple of seconds then stops smoking and then again on pull away for about few seconds till maybe reach 40km and then stops smoking.
went on a long drive on Tuesday friend followed me and confirmed all this while driving behind me.
said mainly smoking only out drivers side exhaust not sure if maybe its the one set of stems??
we not ruling out turbos at all but everything pointing towards valve stems, i did lose oil eventually as well, as i stated in the beginning i was monitoring the oil and never moved so it moved from 1/4 to 1/2 just after i replaced the new PCV valve so im thinking it might not be a lot of oil losing that why i haven't noticed it in the beginning even small drops of oil can cause massive amount of smoke.
so i'll be sending the car away for valve stems under warranty.
and will keep this updated as im sure somewhere in the future or present that is having the same problem that i will benefit from this as im doing everything i can to find and resolve the issue.
Nice Write up....Carbon Doctor are the Shizz......i have yet to come across a person who had a bad experience, or had something bad to say about the quality of their work...
On a sidenote, may i ask, how they de-gunked the intercooler for you?
M3_e36
New member
German_spec said:M3_e36 said:BEFORE:
AFTER:
OIL IN THE INTERCOOLER:
so...
as can see the great work quality from carbon doctor as i can not thank them enough for moving over here to the cape. My consumption dropped from 14.0 to 11.8, i was driving it hard also to test the waters and massive difference in response so after driving hard and in traffic it moved up to 12.2 which i still think is a massive drop!! As you can see by the pics of the intercooler there was lot of oil in not massive but decent amount, this was probably the old PCV causing it, so carbon doctor clean them out for me as well. So then he diagnosed the smoke
1) turbos would've smoke on idle(which it doesn't)
2) when driving turbos or rings would continue to smoke all the time(which it doesn't)
3) Bank 1 and Bank 2 was no sign of oils so leading us not to turbo related issue
when he came to fetch me and was driving i could see no smoke at all, the minute he slowed down to stop the smoke came out, smoked a bit for a couple of seconds then stops smoking and then again on pull away for about few seconds till maybe reach 40km and then stops smoking.
went on a long drive on Tuesday friend followed me and confirmed all this while driving behind me.
said mainly smoking only out drivers side exhaust not sure if maybe its the one set of stems??
we not ruling out turbos at all but everything pointing towards valve stems, i did lose oil eventually as well, as i stated in the beginning i was monitoring the oil and never moved so it moved from 1/4 to 1/2 just after i replaced the new PCV valve so im thinking it might not be a lot of oil losing that why i haven't noticed it in the beginning even small drops of oil can cause massive amount of smoke.
so i'll be sending the car away for valve stems under warranty.
and will keep this updated as im sure somewhere in the future or present that is having the same problem that i will benefit from this as im doing everything i can to find and resolve the issue.
Nice Write up....Carbon Doctor are the Shizz......i have yet to come across a person who had a bad experience, or had something bad to say about the quality of their work...
On a sidenote, may i ask, how they de-gunked the intercooler for you?
Not sure to be honest but he said he will have to removed the intercooler this was something totally different to the clean i wanted and he was happy to do it, as he said that the intercooler is also the lowest point the oil sit and never get's out.
Luis Malhou
///Member
Hi All
I'm quite interested in this topic and wait on the outcome. I am also wanting to do DP only, not the full decat. I have read a bit up on this especially from the states. Seems like quite a few N54 suffer from smoke after decatting or doing only DP's.
From the articles it seems that engine damage, no matter how small, valve stem seals, rings, turbo seals etc causing oil to get into the exhaust gets masked by the first DP cats. In some cases they say it can even lead to the DP cats getting blocked, any burnt oil gets caught in the secondary cats especially if they are at operating temperatures.When all the cats are removed this capturing system is removed and smoking starts to appear.
This is when engine damage is then only noticed.
I don't know how the cats can rid the car of smoke when installed .
I am not completely convinced though but wont rule the theory out completely.
I am still going to do the front decat and will then be looking at Carbon Doc to do the decarb on the head as this is due for sure on my car. My car currently does not smoke nor use excessive oil, around 1 lt from service to service, which as I have read up is not uncommon in the N54 nor on a Turbo charge motor.
From what I have also gathered is that the pre cat sensors on the DP's must be re-installed as they gather info for fuel mixture, the post cats are O2 sensors are only there to gather info as to whether the Cats are working or not, they have no influence on engine management.
On some DP.s removal they throw an EML light and sometimes they dont. If they do a Mini Cat can solve the problem.
I am just relaying on what I have read and info I have gathered, anyone with more insight can advise us further. I really want to do the DP.s as these throttle the performance of the N54, but also dont want my car smoking along.
If the smoking is being caused by engine damage like Valve Stem seals then no form of engine management will fix that.
I'm quite interested in this topic and wait on the outcome. I am also wanting to do DP only, not the full decat. I have read a bit up on this especially from the states. Seems like quite a few N54 suffer from smoke after decatting or doing only DP's.
From the articles it seems that engine damage, no matter how small, valve stem seals, rings, turbo seals etc causing oil to get into the exhaust gets masked by the first DP cats. In some cases they say it can even lead to the DP cats getting blocked, any burnt oil gets caught in the secondary cats especially if they are at operating temperatures.When all the cats are removed this capturing system is removed and smoking starts to appear.
This is when engine damage is then only noticed.
I don't know how the cats can rid the car of smoke when installed .
I am not completely convinced though but wont rule the theory out completely.
I am still going to do the front decat and will then be looking at Carbon Doc to do the decarb on the head as this is due for sure on my car. My car currently does not smoke nor use excessive oil, around 1 lt from service to service, which as I have read up is not uncommon in the N54 nor on a Turbo charge motor.
From what I have also gathered is that the pre cat sensors on the DP's must be re-installed as they gather info for fuel mixture, the post cats are O2 sensors are only there to gather info as to whether the Cats are working or not, they have no influence on engine management.
On some DP.s removal they throw an EML light and sometimes they dont. If they do a Mini Cat can solve the problem.
I am just relaying on what I have read and info I have gathered, anyone with more insight can advise us further. I really want to do the DP.s as these throttle the performance of the N54, but also dont want my car smoking along.
If the smoking is being caused by engine damage like Valve Stem seals then no form of engine management will fix that.
M3_e36
New member
Hi Guys im back,
Finally got it fixed or i hope so.
Warrantee did cover the full job its about R820 for the stems and about R6400 for labour lol
well from what i saw it is a big job.
Car has no smoke on idle or when pulling away when driving hard and stopping no smoke as well.
i have noticed the car does smoke a small bit when driving slow and coming to a stop was told this still could be the excess oil in the exhaust and might take a few days to burn out. I hope this is the case.
but definitely massive difference in smoke cause mine was smoking bad on deaccell and acell that it would cover the car and around.
i guess cats in our cars do hide problems and im glad im decatted with the sound and no smoke.
so if you can replicate the issue i discribed i would say check the valve stems.
hope in the future this would help someone who comes across the same issue.
since i got the car on 112ks and now on 125ks iv serviced the car 3 times always keeping my car in top shape as these are special motors and with turbos i would keep her in top shape.:thumbs:
Finally got it fixed or i hope so.
Warrantee did cover the full job its about R820 for the stems and about R6400 for labour lol
well from what i saw it is a big job.
Car has no smoke on idle or when pulling away when driving hard and stopping no smoke as well.
i have noticed the car does smoke a small bit when driving slow and coming to a stop was told this still could be the excess oil in the exhaust and might take a few days to burn out. I hope this is the case.
but definitely massive difference in smoke cause mine was smoking bad on deaccell and acell that it would cover the car and around.
i guess cats in our cars do hide problems and im glad im decatted with the sound and no smoke.
so if you can replicate the issue i discribed i would say check the valve stems.
hope in the future this would help someone who comes across the same issue.
since i got the car on 112ks and now on 125ks iv serviced the car 3 times always keeping my car in top shape as these are special motors and with turbos i would keep her in top shape.:thumbs:
Fiekie135i
New member
M3_e36 said:
Just a quick question.. what warranty were you on which allowed you to do decat, etc?
