NEED ADVISE FROM TECHS IN HERE!!!

[c4racer]

how much white smoke are we talking here? under load or at idle or both?

How does it run?

I would pull the plugs and see how they all look.

You also may want to do a quick oil change to see if there is any water in the oil.

Beyond that I would recommend taking it to a shop for diagnosis.

[2002Silver4.6is]

Sounds like a trip to the indy shop is in order. Might be coils causing the misfire.... you can buy them on:

BMW Parts and BMW Accessories | Bavarian Autosport

[TheKingSim0n]

I wish i could help you out more but to be honest I cant answer you back what you haven't already been told.

1. Check your spark plugs
2. Make sure you coolant level is fine and also MAKE SURE you are using the BMW Blue antifreeze.
3. Replace the O2 Oxygen sensors
4. Clean or replace the sensor of the Mass Airflow Filter (MAF)
5. CHECK everywhere for ripped hoses, could be a vacuum leak causing all these misfires.

Once you have done all those tasks, clear all the codes, drive off and see if SES light comes back on, if so scan it for the codes and see whats changed.

Good luck!

[Weasel]

It also takes knowing what the smoke is... It could be burning oil, burning coolant, unburned fuel, simply condensation, etc.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by Weasel

It also takes knowing what the smoke is... It could be burning oil, burning coolant, unburned fuel, simply condensation, etc.

My experience has been that smoke color is a rather reliable indicator:

Burning oil = Blue smoke

Burning Coolant = White smoke

Condensation = White smoke.

Unburned Fuel = Black smoke.


The residue on the exhaust pipe also helps:

Slippery and water soluble = Coolant

Slippery and non-water soluble = Oil

Put some on your index finger and rub between them to see if it is slippery. If it is and a bit of spit gets rid of the "slippery feeling," it's coolant.

[RDM08]

hey guys reporting back....

So, prior to my "preventive/repair maintenance" post...i was hearing whistling sound in my engine, research it and said "nah no biggie" until the SES came on and found out about the busted hoses...with all your comment, got me thinking and re-check what i've done, and it says right in the Bentley Manual too! the fixed: "Crankcase breather valve"
here's what it says:
"If the diaphragm valve in the breather housing leaks, full intake vacuum may be applied to the crankcase, resulting in excessive oil consumption, irregular idle, whistling or howling noises or oil smoke in the exhaust"

here's the pic: i can't tell if there was a leak, that's why i didn't replace it before...

so i replace it and hopefully it's fixed, put about 25 miles in it and runs smooth, i'll report back in a couple of weeks, thanks again guys!!

[J.Belknap]

Good stuff man.

[m5james]

Originally Posted by Penguin

My experience has been that smoke color is a rather reliable indicator:

Burning oil = Blue smoke

Burning Coolant = White smoke

Condensation = White smoke.

Unburned Fuel = Black smoke.


The residue on the exhaust pipe also helps:

Slippery and water soluble = Coolant

Slippery and non-water soluble = Oil

Put some on your index finger and rub between them to see if it is slippery. If it is and a bit of spit gets rid of the "slippery feeling," it's coolant.

These all sound right.

Sounds like you PM'ed all the veterans, RDM08 Since you're getting getting so many misfires and mixture issues, I'd suggest you find a shop that has a smoke tester and check for intake leaks. With as much disassembly as you've done, it is quite possible that something may have been missed, gone wrong or simply wasn't installed correctly/completely. Did you look at the OSV/CCV valves at all? It's something that was easier to replace while you have the manifold off. Those have been known to cause smoking issues, but usually only at startup...it sounds like you've got smoking all day long, no?

I'd be watching the oil, not necessarily for the level but more for it to look milky. Since you're getting oil level errors, who knows how the sensor would react to water being in the system instead of actual oil. Maybe even go as far as draining the oil to check it instead of just using the dipstick.

Also, check the coolant for oil. Check it in the resevoir is pointless since that is where it'd take the longest for contamination, so I'd say to drain the coolant into a clean pan, and if it's all good, at least you can pour it right back in.

I realize draining the vehicle of all the fluids might be going a bit far, but at least it's narrow down and eliminate things 100%, along w/ making them much easier to check for contamination instead of playing a guessing game w/ the most vital fluids the engine needs.

SORRY!!! I typed all this up lastnight, then never hit the enter button.