Blue-white smoke from driver side tail pipe after valve cover gasket replaced

zachthefcr · #1 09-25-2017, 02:17 PM

I have a 2005 X5 4.4 with abut 99,000 miles on it. I do love the truck. It had been leaking oil slowly (a quart every six weeks or so) over a one year period, and had been told by a BMW specialty shop that it was due to a leak from the valve cover gasket. I finally decided to have the gasket leak repaired, but was told at the time of the repair that not only did the valve cover gasket need to be replaced, the alternator seal, the eccentric shaft seal, the timing cover gasket and the camshaft solenoid seal all needed replacing. I went ahead with the repairs, as I had been taking the X5 to this specialist, and they have generally been reliable. To my shock, about $2600 and 1500 miles later, I noticed that the "check oil level" warning came up. I also noticed a blue-white smoke coming out of the driver side tail pipe, which had never been observed before. The smoke was not necessarily observable at all times. When the smoke was evident, hitting the gas pedal would put out a big plume of smoke. There has been no smoke coming out of the passenger side tailpipe. I put oil in the car, and had to subsequently put oil in the car again about another 1500 miles later. I'm taking the car back to the shop to find out what the problem is, but thought I'd post here to see if I can be armed with some information before being given a diagnosis by the BMW repair shop. Thanks for assistance anyone can proivide.

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crystalworks · #2 09-25-2017, 02:45 PM

Valve stem seals. If you let your truck idle for longer than 5-10 minutes, do you get a plume of smoke the next time or two you hit the accelerator? Do the plumes happen after leaving long stop lights, in stop and go traffic, and possibly even at drive thru windows?

If you answer yes to any of the above conditions... your N62 needs valve stem seals like 90% of the other N62 powered BMW's at your mileage. My 4.8is needs them as well. I'm guessing it was the reason the truck was traded in @ 90,000 miles because it is an expensive repair. I have 113,000 miles now and have been mitigating the need to add oil (I still add about a quart every 3000-4000 miles) by using a heavier rated (hot rating) oil and using a treatment of Lucas oil stabilizer. I rarely have smoke now and will eventually do the VSS, but this keeps me going for now without looking like I am driving a 70's Cadillac.

zachthefcr · #3 09-25-2017, 10:09 PM

Thanks for the response. Hope it is not the VSS. Will let you know.

crystalworks · #4 09-26-2017, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zachthefcr

Thanks for the response. Hope it is not the VSS. Will let you know.

I hope not as well. If you are lucky it could be one (or both) of the diaphragms being torn/worn on the CCV's. Give them a check. It's quick, and if you are lucky, it might help with your issue.

zachthefcr · #5 09-27-2017, 02:20 PM

Well, it was the valve seals. Was quoted $6,000 for the job - they have to take the engine out and rebuild it, I was told. I think I'll take your suggestion on using the heavy oil and the oil stabilizer, and start saving up. Thanks again for your input.

zachthefcr · #6 09-27-2017, 02:58 PM

BTW, I just went online and discovered that the possible source of the smoke may be a cracked crankcase ventilation valve. Two of them (OEM parts) are less than $50. I watched a youtube video on replacing them - ooks easy. The videos suggested checking for cracks in CCV's before doing the expensive valve seal work. Also, one of the videos indicated that this may particularly be the problem if the smoke isn't constant, which is my case. Thought I'd share this info with you.

pearlpower · #7 09-27-2017, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zachthefcr

Well, it was the valve seals. Was quoted $6,000 for the job - they have to take the engine out and rebuild it, I was told. I think I'll take your suggestion on using the heavy oil and the oil stabilizer, and start saving up. Thanks again for your input.

ATP AT-205 and 0-40 M1 has worked wonders in both my 4.8is and 4.4. No smoke after extended idle. Others have reported the same results with AT-205. Need 1.5 bottles.

crystalworks · #8 09-27-2017, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zachthefcr

BTW, I just went online and discovered that the possible source of the smoke may be a cracked crankcase ventilation valve. Two of them (OEM parts) are less than $50. I watched a youtube video on replacing them - ooks easy. The videos suggested checking for cracks in CCV's before doing the expensive valve seal work. Also, one of the videos indicated that this may particularly be the problem if the smoke isn't constant, which is my case. Thought I'd share this info with you.

I suggested you check the CCV's as well in my previous post. I have an extra one here as one of mine was good and one was bad when I got my 4.8is. It takes about 20 minutes and if you are lucky it will cure (unlikely) or lessen (more likely) your smoking.

Also you could probably find a better price for that VSS job. My indy here quoted about $4500 to pull the heads and do the job. You can probably get it done even cheaper if you find someone using the AGA tools. There is a fellow here in Austin that does this. AFAIK he actually travels the country doing VSS jobs (and other big ticket BMW jobs) at a discount. I believe he quoted me in the neighborhood of $2000 labor (he gives you a list of parts to buy) and he comes to you.

I have not yet pulled the trigger on this job, but I believe others on here have used him (think his name is Kyle). Talked to him extensively on the phone and he seems like a stand up guy. If I ever run into the urge to get my VSS done and I don't want to take a month to do them... I'll be calling him.

zachthefcr · #9 09-27-2017, 10:17 PM

Thanks for your reply, pearlpower. And thanks for the tip on the travelling mechanic, crystalwoks. If you have his contact info and can share it, that would be appreciated. Will try the other remedies first, of course.

X5only · #10 09-28-2017, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zachthefcr

Well, it was the valve seals. Was quoted $6,000 for the job - they have to take the engine out and rebuild it, I was told. I think I'll take your suggestion on using the heavy oil and the oil stabilizer, and start saving up. Thanks again for your input.

But-but-but it wasn't smoking before the valve covers repairs, no? Why would the seals suddenly start leaking? The sequence of events points to something other than valve seals being the culprit of the sudden smoke that wasn't there before the repairs, I think. There's a very typical assumption that a smoking N62=worn valve stem seals....not true.

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