white smoke coming out of engine after driving..

[bcredliner]

I'm not a proponent of high mileage or heavier weight oil as it is normally oil that doesn't meet MFG. specs. In addition, it masks the problem and it is not unusual that a problem that is not fixed early on will cause other more serious and costly damage later on.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by jc1surf

Is there anything temporary I can add to the oil for a temp fix, something i can pick up on the way home tonight at Oreilly or pepboys like a sealant or additive?
I know this is against the recommended by BMW.

]

Best temporary fix is to keep adding the same oil.

[racingbmwm3]

Most likely your valve cover gasket is leaking, which is a normal maintenance item on the six cylinders, maybe every 50k miles or so they leak. When the leak gets bad enough it can get onto the exhaust manifold and cause smoke. When it is leaking this much, its very likely you have oil starting to contaminate your spark plugs and spark plug boots. If you do get oil sitting on the spark plugs long enough, you'll start getting misfires or rough running problems. When that happens, you would need to replace the damaged spark plugs and also the plug boots. Not to mention, your engine compartment is getting very messy by now.

If I had to choose between fixing the oil leak or fixing the coolant leak, I'd pick the coolant leak first. If the coolant leak turns into a major leak or part failure, and you don't notice quickly enough, the six cylinder's aluminum block very much dislikes overheating. At your mileage, fixing the one coolant leak will soon lead to other leaks. I recommend replacing all your coolant hoses at the same time, and if your radiator hasn't been replaced ever, that would be worth considering doing also. Not trying to scare you, but your X5 is at the age that an entire cooling system overhaul is recommended. All the plastic (nylon) hose fittings start getting brittle and like to spontaneously disintegrate.

[jc1surf]

Originally Posted by racingbmwm3

Most likely your valve cover gasket is leaking, which is a normal maintenance item on the six cylinders, maybe every 50k miles or so they leak. When the leak gets bad enough it can get onto the exhaust manifold and cause smoke. When it is leaking this much, its very likely you have oil starting to contaminate your spark plugs and spark plug boots. If you do get oil sitting on the spark plugs long enough, you'll start getting misfires or rough running problems. When that happens, you would need to replace the damaged spark plugs and also the plug boots. Not to mention, your engine compartment is getting very messy by now.

If I had to choose between fixing the oil leak or fixing the coolant leak, I'd pick the coolant leak first. If the coolant leak turns into a major leak or part failure, and you don't notice quickly enough, the six cylinder's aluminum block very much dislikes overheating. At your mileage, fixing the one coolant leak will soon lead to other leaks. I recommend replacing all your coolant hoses at the same time, and if your radiator hasn't been replaced ever, that would be worth considering doing also. Not trying to scare you, but your X5 is at the age that an entire cooling system overhaul is recommended. All the plastic (nylon) hose fittings start getting brittle and like to spontaneously disintegrate.

thank you. yes yes & yes, i think that's exactly what's happening now. I heard a dripping sound coming from below where the valley gasket is located- i'd say below the cylinders and sounds like the oil is dripping onto a metal sheet, i looked onto the catch pan, and it's full of oil. and i did get a cylinder 6 misfire and the engine is all gunked up mess. i couldn't find any spots of oil from above the trim cover or on the sides. there is a distinct burnt smell.

I had the expansion tank, hoses, fan clutch, water pump replaced about 5 years ago as it had blown on me while driving. But i will definitely get to the cooling system asap this wknd.

Considering the symptoms happening now, how much more longer would I be able to hold off the oil leak problem while I tackle the cooling system first?

I've done very minor minor DIY, nothing ever in the engine bay, would this be an easy or difficult diy for me or take to an Indy?

Thanks again for your input and the above posts, I appreciate this fellas. Keep chiming in anytime. i love this truck and am wanting to keep this for a few more years.
i will keep u guys updated as i find out the source of the leaks.

[racingbmwm3]

It's a very easy job. The instructions on pelicans website are great. Allow yourself a couple hours which includes clean up. If you are getting misfires already it maybe that you need to replace at least that one plug and coil boot... if not more.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by racingbmwm3

Most likely your valve cover gasket is leaking, which is a normal maintenance item on the six cylinders, maybe every 50k miles or so they leak. When the leak gets bad enough it can get onto the exhaust manifold and cause smoke. When it is leaking this much, its very likely you have oil starting to contaminate your spark plugs and spark plug boots. If you do get oil sitting on the spark plugs long enough, you'll start getting misfires or rough running problems. When that happens, you would need to replace the damaged spark plugs and also the plug boots. Not to mention, your engine compartment is getting very messy by now.

If I had to choose between fixing the oil leak or fixing the coolant leak, I'd pick the coolant leak first. If the coolant leak turns into a major leak or part failure, and you don't notice quickly enough, the six cylinder's aluminum block very much dislikes overheating. At your mileage, fixing the one coolant leak will soon lead to other leaks. I recommend replacing all your coolant hoses at the same time, and if your radiator hasn't been replaced ever, that would be worth considering doing also. Not trying to scare you, but your X5 is at the age that an entire cooling system overhaul is recommended. All the plastic (nylon) hose fittings start getting brittle and like to spontaneously disintegrate.

The coolant issue should be addressed first and now. Any overheated engine can suffer serious and costly damage very quickly Can't discount the PM of the entire cooling system, great plan.

On the other hand, I never make long trips so that would not always be my course of action.. Several times I have thoroughly checked all hoses to see if they are brittle, mushy or they have bulges. I have replaced just the bad one unless two or three of the other hoses also need replacement--I find hoses widely vary as to how long they last. I don't replace a radiator until it fails. Same for water pump, unless, of course, I already have the engine torn down to that point anyway.

I don't see where you have mentioned how many miles before you add a quart of oil. I would think you would have if the oil leak is significant. You mentioned you hear dripping-- that sounds significant. Regardless, I would immediately degrease the engine and undercarriage and powerwash it clean. Then I would verify the leak is the valve cover. FYI-you may find the miss goes away once the plug recess is cleaned as the oil may just be causing a short to the engine. Either way, the oil leak should be fixed ASAP. The plug is probably OK but should be checked against the others. If it is bad, I replace all of them.

Some PM I see as if it ain't broke it will be soon. Some I see as if it ain't broke don't fix it. Either can be the wrong call.

[jc1surf]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

The coolant issue should be addressed first and now. Any overheated engine can suffer serious and costly damage very quickly Can't discount the PM of the entire cooling system, great plan.

I don't see where you have mentioned how many miles before you add a quart of oil. I would think you would have if the oil leak is significant. You mentioned you hear dripping-- that sounds significant. Regardless, I would immediately degrease the engine and undercarriage and powerwash it clean. Then I would verify the leak is the valve cover. FYI-you may find the miss goes away once the plug recess is cleaned as the oil may just be causing a short to the engine. Either way, the oil leak should be fixed ASAP. The plug is probably OK but should be checked against the others. If it is bad, I replace all of them.

Some PM I see as if it ain't broke it will be soon. Some I see as if it ain't broke don't fix it. Either can be the wrong call.

thanks guys, i appreciate all the tips and the time ur taking out of ur busy day to post here. This weekend I'm going to have the X checked out. Hopefully get the coolant this fixed this weekend and figure out where the oil leak is coming from. Now, i'm adding about a quart of M1 5w-30 per month which is aprox. 800-900 city miles. Does that sound excessive?

I am indeed hearing drip sounds, as well as visually seeing it drip onto the ground after engine is off together with burnt smell.
This weekend im going to remove the plugs, fix the coolant leak, as try to find where the leak is coming from. Had a chat with the Indy this morning, he said most likely the valley cover gasket or hoses. So hopefully the $ isn't going to run too high.

But i will report back on the findings. Thanks again fellas for all ur help. Keep chiming in. im still getting smoke coming out of the hood, and people are looking at me as if the X is going up in flames.

[racingbmwm3]

you keep mentioning valley cover gasket, you mean valve cover gasket (I'm assuming a predictive typing error here) which would be the source of your oil leak? V8's have a valley pan gasket that frequently leaks coolant. the 3.0 doesn't have one of those luckily.

[jc1surf]

Originally Posted by racingbmwm3

you keep mentioning valley cover gasket, you mean valve cover gasket (I'm assuming a predictive typing error here) which would be the source of your oil leak? V8's have a valley pan gasket that frequently leaks coolant. the 3.0 doesn't have one of those luckily.

yes i meant valve cover gasket . sorry.

[jc1surf]

hi guys, thanks again for your inputs. So got the word back from my mech, looks like the main oil leaks you guys had mentioned.
Valve Cover Gasket + spark plugs
Oil Filter housing gasket .

Other than the normal hoses and connectors, the radiator needs to be replaced but that can be latter.

Coolant leak is coming from the water coolant connector. most likely the O-ring that is situated up in there. Once he takes it apart, then we'll know if its the connector piece or the o-ring.

Should the VANOS, gasket in there be checked out also?
Since he's going to be in that area, what else would you guys suggest?

Thanks again for all your inputs fellas..