Burning oil smell and smoke from 3.0d exhaust
 

I'm not sure if this is a similar issue to what balongbalong is experiencing but I've recently being getting a lot of white smoke from the exhaust when the engine is warming up. It doesn't happen once the engine is hot and presumably the oil has burnt off but it is loosing oil.
I don't know if it is related but I also get a screaching noise if I give it some heavy right foot action which sounds as if one of the belts is slipping.
There is no loss of coolant or sludge under the oil filler cap, but if I take the filler cap off when the engine is running then I see white smoke coming out.
Before all of this started happening, the vertical rubber pipe to the intercooler at the front right hand side of the engine near the fan came off (jubilee clamp had come loose), this resulted in a loss of power and oil spraying out on the underside of the engine. I fixed this but since then the above problem has started happening.
I have read about oil seperator issues but I don't know if these relate to petrol engines or diesel or both. Or it could be another issue altogether but I don't know what!? :dunno:

Having a nosey around under the bonnet this afternoon I noticed oil coming from what I think is the EGR valve?
Is this normal?
http://i53.tinypic.com/hvnry1.jpg

Your intercooler pipe coming loose doesnt have anything to do with your problem.
Check your dipstick level to see if you dont have too much oil.Also with the engine running ,very slowly remove the dipstick and see if you have any steam or oil coming from there.If you do ,it could well be you oil breather filter clogging up,a common issue with these engines if its not replaced according to maintenance schedule..I changed mine every 30,000 kms.....

You say you have smoke white smoke coming out of your filler cap,is it pressured?

The oil isnt coming from the Egr ,its coming from the intercooler pipe.A little bit of oil is normal,even on a zero mileage car....
After what I said in my previous post.I suggest you replace yoor oil breather kit.You can get from the dealer and it comes with a housing ,filtter + "o" rings and its easy to replace ,once you remove the engine cover.

Ok, so I just pulled the dipstick with the engine running, oil literally just p@ssed out all over my hand!
So presumably from your post that means its the oil breather. Whereabouts is this located? Couldn't find it on a search on realoem.

Its located on the top of the head, underneath the plastic cover.

RealOEM.com * BMW E53 X5 3.0d Cylinder head cover

Part number 11

Yes.Since oil came out when you pulled the dipstick with engine running,its 100% the oil breather filter clogged badly.
Its not an issue with the engine ,its a maintenance lapse.Someone forgot to replace it...
Just go and buy the oil breather kit and follow Lawrence´s instructions and problem solved.JUST DONT DRIVE THE CAR FOR NOW....:)

excellent, thanks guys. Good to see the UK crew still about since the demise of x5drivers..:D
I remember reading how difficult the engine cover is to get off, but b*gger me its near on impossible !! Is it easier to get back on ?
Better go and clean up before I get any more oil on the keyboard...:rolleyes:

Only one alen screw (in the middle at the back)is difficult to access,as you dont have sufficient height for normal tool but you can easily get round this!
Get yourself a small 5mm ratchet spanner and a 5mm alen bit..and you are away....Alternatively just get a 5mm alen key and cut it short ...:)

i changed this on last service as its often missed out by dealers i think as well, heard it will help prevent turbo failure so for money it is a must.

Powers1, can I ask a question regarding the name of the Oil Breather Filter..

Is it known as a Positive Crankcase Valve (PCV) also?

Sorry to hijack the thread if it isnt...

rob

You are not hijacking as your question is relevant to the issue here.
Yes The PCV or PRV(pressure regulating valve )is the same as the oil breather system on the 3.0D that we are talking about and the culprit of the smoke problem with staffop ,the OP.:)
Most PCV,PRV systems have connecting hoses outside the engine,but on the 3.0D and a lot of other BMWs ,its a much neater system as it is built-in on cylinder head.Unfortunately ,because its not easy to see ,its also often overlooked and if not replaced can cause problems .:)

Great.. Thanks.

I did an oil service about 6 weeks ago. I used 0w40 castrol sport as recommended. However, the "truck" has not been well since and i thought it might be the oil I used, but it is the recommended one (here in Australia). When the engine has been run for a while, it seems slightly sluggish, under powered. It also seems to put out more black smoke when accelerating than when it is cold. I read somewhere else that the PVC is the first culprit to look at, or Air Filter. Air filter was replaced about 8000km ago (according to the service report). Then I discovered this post and talked about exactly my symtoms, and the smoke on startup when cold (more than it should be).

The turbo has been checked and fine (I have done nearly 90000km).

Looks like a project to do.

Thanks again for your reply.
Rob

Hi Rob,
From a safety point I would replace the PVC anyway.Clear mind then and no worries for a another 30,000 or so.
Perform the same check that I asked stafftop to do!Pull dipstick slowly out with engine running.

Since you say you get black smoke and car feels underpowered ever since it came back from the service,the first thing I would check would be the air filter(even if they did say they replaced it!) and ask the dealer if they performed any sofware upgrade on your car!If they did,then the ECU will need to go through learning process.
It could be your MAF or you fuel pressure regulator but without having any more feedback ,its difficult to tell!
Black smoke and white oil smoke could also be your turbo not supplying enough air and also leaking oil to exhaust and inlet.But 100,000 kms is not enough for it to "die of natural causes"..hehehehe.
First step would be to have a word with the dealer that carried out your last service and ask exactly what they did.:)

X5drivers is now called xdrivers since the name was snapped after the registration lapsed. The UK crew are very much alive on there and just getting going again. There's a fair bit of cross fertilisation to this site too as it's such a good place of reference.

Nice..Thats great news.I will take a look there...:thumbup:

Hi Powers1.

No dealer involved. I changed the Oil and Oil filter myself. The car seemed OK before then (yes correct amount of oil was added). I have only had the car for for about 3 months. The Air Filter was done before that by the previous owner.

I have been reading a lot to figure out the cause, that is why the Turbo got checked.

But, the sluggishness has only appeared after the oil change, and when the engine is at correct running temperature. I thought it might be the 0w40, rather than 5w30 grade, but BMW state the oil I used is recommended.

As mentioned, I read something very similar and it was the PVC. Maybe the heavier weighted oil is showing the PVC is contaminated.

I will do the PVC anyway, then move to the MAF (that was next going to be checked).

Thanks for you help/answers/thoughts.

Regards,
Rob