Large Blue Smoke puff on startup with '05 3.0d

[rb0135]

Hi all.

Yes, there is a similar thread (http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...0d-diesel.html) on this topic with an '04 model, but I didnt want to hijack that thread for my issues. Hope I have done the right thing in opening this thread.

I am getting a little worried now.

My puff of Blue smoke (which seems heavy as it lingers in the air) seems to be a lot more than it should, and only after the car has been sitting for more than 6 hours. Anything under that approximate time, hot or cold, doesnt produce the smoke at all. For example, I come home at night about 10pm, leave it parked in a garage until 8am, start it up and get the smoke. It smells like diesel, not antifreeze or straight burnt oil.

Does this sound like a leaky injector, leaking Turbo, bad MAF sensor or some other issue (there are probably 100's of things to look at)???

I have seen other models around mine ('05) that dont seem to do this anywhere near as bad (hardly noticable). Same with other BMW diesel models and other manufacturer models. They dont seem to "smoke" like mine on startup. Yes, I know. It is a diesel and will "smoke" a bit... I have had a few people (people who have driven diesels) and they seem to think it is too much "smoke".

I have hooked up GT1 and DIS and there were NO error codes at all (thinking if it was an injector, then it might produce a code).

It has had regular servicing.

My neighbour has a 330D (which I think has the same engine) and they dont get puffs when starting cold.

I dont get the glow plug pre-heating text as the temp is around 10-12C. In the other thread, it was suggested that Smoke on startup can be caused by either (A) faulty glow plug/s or (B) maybe a leaky injector/s.

It is a Sept 05 model with nearly 90000 km's on the clock.

Any ideas/simple tests that I could try to narrow this down. Anyone had this issue and resolved it?

Thanks All,
Rob

[bigwave2255]

hi Rob

i have a late 2005 3.0d as well and just once i noticed the same thing, i also noticed that different brands of diesel seemed to smoke more that others, i,m presently using BP and i think i get the best results from it, i have 77,000 on mine and i dont follow the dealer recommended servicing, i get mine done EVERY 10,000ks

Ewen

[Turks4.4]

Cheapest thing i can think of is to SeaFoam it.. im not sure if you can SeaFoam diesels, but it cleans out the fuel system and various other parts of the car.

[rb0135]

Originally Posted by bigwave2255

hi Rob

i have a late 2005 3.0d as well and just once i noticed the same thing, i also noticed that different brands of diesel seemed to smoke more that others, i,m presently using BP and i think i get the best results from it, i have 77,000 on mine and i dont follow the dealer recommended servicing, i get mine done EVERY 10,000ks

Ewen

Thanks Ewen.

I have only used Mobil so far (had the truck nearly 2 months) and I know Mobil is a bit oiler than others (so I am told).

I think it might be time to try a different make. I did think maybe it was the Mobil diesel..

I agree, i will be getting mine done atleast every 10000K too..

Rob

[rb0135]

Originally Posted by Turks4.4

Cheapest thing i can think of is to SeaFoam it.. im not sure if you can SeaFoam diesels, but it cleans out the fuel system and various other parts of the car.

Thanks Tursk4.4

I was thinking of some form of flush as well. I have seen diesel cleaner (and have some people recommend doing it), but I dont want to jump into something like that just yet, incase is screws up big time.

Rob

[X5Sport]

What's the oil consumption like? It should be around 1 litre per 1600km.

[rb0135]

Originally Posted by X5Sport

What's the oil consumption like? It should be around 1 litre per 1600km.

Hi X5Sport.

I dont even use 1/2 litre per 1600km.

I recently did my own oil change, and tested the level as per the manual (eg: drive for atleast 20 minutes or more, let it sit for about 5 minutes, then check oil level). It is in the middle of the High/Low marks. I check this each week, and it is always the same. I have done 1000km since last change, and it is still in the middle of the marks.

Thanks,
Rob

[Laurence]

It is worth checking the glow plugs.
I have read (maybe on this forum) that even though you dont get the pre-heating text the glow plugs still operate to assist starting. If one of the glow plugs is bad the car will still start but unburnt fuel will go straight out the exhaust in the form of smoke.

[rb0135]

Originally Posted by Laurence

It is worth checking the glow plugs.
I have read (maybe on this forum) that even though you dont get the pre-heating text the glow plugs still operate to assist starting. If one of the glow plugs is bad the car will still start but unburnt fuel will go straight out the exhaust in the form of smoke.

Ok thanks.. I have read they come on for .5 seconds when starting at all times, only below 5C that the preheat displays and they stay on longer..

[rb0135]

Just wanted to give you all an interesting update.

Ok, I havent been able to get the Glow Plugs checked, although I have used my GT1 software and it doesnt show any faults. When I find someone (other than BMW) in my area, then I will take it for the check.

However, I have found the following:
1) Starting the car 14 degress celcius and above, now it is warming up in Sydney (indicated by the temp on the cluster) produces NO SMOKE when the car has been sitting for over 8 hours (engine cold)
2) Starting the car below 14 degress celcius, while the temp needle is still reading, even a fraction into the blue section produces NO SMOKE (even after 6-8 hours).
3) Starting the car below 14 degress celcius, cold engine (ie after 6-8 hours), temp gauge not registering, produces the SMOKE cloud.

So, i'm thinking (and please correct me if I am wrong, or if this points to an obvious problem), is it the ECU is just putting more fuel into it to start, as the temp isnt low enough for the Glow Plugs to Preheat, when really it doesnt need the extra? If so, can this be adjusted with a service or other way? Is my reasoning making sense?

Rob