White smoke and water from exhaust

[Dinosaur hunter]

Recently i had my battery changed and the mechanic took more than 15 minutes because he wasn't familiar with bmw. My engine was left idling for the entire 15 mins. After more than 10 minutes of idling, I noticed water dripping from the exhaust and white smoke coming out. Is that water vapour? Normal?

 

[pengful]

Re: White smoke and water from exhaust

You should have just thanked him and look for workshops who are familiar with BMWs. Anyway, was the engine idling when he changed the battery or after changing the battery, he started your car and left the engine idle?

Normally, changing battery will not cause water and smoke from engine/ exhaust unless there is something about the engine you are not aware of.

 

[Wh0cArEs]

Re: White smoke and water from exhaust

White smoke is usually a sign of condensation in the exhaust system during cold starts or in more serious cases, there could be a leak of water/coolant into your engine and the white smoke is a result of this burning.

 

[pengful]

Re: White smoke and water from exhaust

White smoke is usually a sign of condensation in the exhaust system during cold starts or in more serious cases, there could be a leak of water/coolant into your engine and the white smoke is a result of this burning.

I disagree. White smoke is the result of oil leaking into the exhaust system and burning. This will be a big problem if true. For condensation, you have some water droplets or mist discharged at the exhaust. Normally, this will go away after a few minutes.

 

[Wh0cArEs]

Re: White smoke and water from exhaust

I disagree. White smoke is the result of oil leaking into the exhaust system and burning. This will be a big problem if true. For condensation, you have some water droplets or mist discharged at the exhaust. Normally, this will go away after a few minutes.

For engine oil burning, the smoke is usually bluish in colour

 

[Jarren]

Re: White smoke and water from exhaust

White smoke is usually a sign of condensation in the exhaust system during cold starts or in more serious cases, there could be a leak of water/coolant into your engine and the white smoke is a result of this burning.

Agreed with u..

 

[detach8]

Re: White smoke and water from exhaust

+1 for gasket leak resulting in coolant in the cylinders. better get it checked before you get hydrolocked.

 

[Dinosaur hunter]

Re: White smoke and water from exhaust

You should have just thanked him and look for workshops who are familiar with BMWs. Anyway, was the engine idling when he changed the battery or after changing the battery, he started your car and left the engine idle?

Normally, changing battery will not cause water and smoke from engine/ exhaust unless there is something about the engine you are not aware of.

Pengful,

He changed the battery while the engine is idling. This is to prevent total shutdown of the electronics. After idling for about 15 minutes, some water could be seen dripping from the from the exhaust. Maybe could be due to condensation because my car was stuck in the carpark (parked overnight) due a dead battery.

The white smoke is what freak me out. During morning warmup (1 - 2 mins), I would check the tailpipe for white smoke but everything looks fine. Maybe I didn't let the engine idle long enough.

I guess this could be related to the "engine makan oil" problem which my usual mechanic told me due to valve gasket leaking. Was told the repair could be higher than 5 thousand dollars and it will take more than 2 months. I've decided to get a 2nd opinion.

 

[Dinosaur hunter]

Re: White smoke and water from exhaust

White smoke is usually a sign of condensation in the exhaust system during cold starts or in more serious cases, there could be a leak of water/coolant into your engine and the white smoke is a result of this burning.

Whocares,

Water/coolant sounds serious. I better send my ride in for a thorough check. Thanks.

 

[Dinosaur hunter]

Re: White smoke and water from exhaust

+1 for gasket leak resulting in coolant in the cylinders. better get it checked before you get hydrolocked.

Detach8,

Thanks for the advice. Will send my ride in this Friday to get it checked.

 

[Dinosaur hunter]

Re: White smoke and water from exhaust

Just an update for the benefit of everyone. Went to a workshop (a sponsor listed in BMW SG) last night for a quick check. Engine is healthy. If coolant gets into cumbustion chamber, the white smoke will be coming out like those fogging machine. Was told that what i saw was cause by condensation.

Had been checking my exhaust for white smoke after lond distance drive (Choa chu kang to Bedok) . Found no smoke.

Pretty sure what the first mechanic told me was pure BS.:furious:

 

[Wh0cArEs]

Re: White smoke and water from exhaust

Just an update for the benefit of everyone. Went to a workshop (a sponsor listed in BMW SG) last night for a quick check. Engine is healthy. If coolant gets into cumbustion chamber, the white smoke will be coming out like those fogging machine. Was told that what i saw was cause by condensation.

Had been checking my exhaust for white smoke after lond distance drive (Choa chu kang to Bedok) . Found no smoke.

Pretty sure what the first mechanic told me was pure BS.:furious:

Glad ur car's fine

but do note that minor coolant leaks into the engine will result in white smoke, though maybe not as drastic as a fogging machine.

Happy motoring!

 

[detach8]

Re: White smoke and water from exhaust

Good to hear.

Yeap, bro WhoCares is right. It might be just a very minor leak and when your engine fully warm up the pressures inside the cylinders prevent water from leaking into it Not to scare you, but just be more alert for low coolant warning.

I had an old car 1996 Nissan March that had a major coolant problem. It was like this at first - some white smoke and no problem after warm up. But progressively I had to top up more and more water on a daily basis and eventually I had a fogging machine and the car finally died, hydrolocked. Luckily it costs me $600 to rebuild the damn engine and I sold the ride shortly after.

Good to flip the owners handbook to identify the low coolant logo LOL. Without iDrive, the logos are sometimes quite confusing.

 

[Dinosaur hunter]

Re: White smoke and water from exhaust

Good to hear.

Yeap, bro WhoCares is right. It might be just a very minor leak and when your engine fully warm up the pressures inside the cylinders prevent water from leaking into it Not to scare you, but just be more alert for low coolant warning.

I had an old car 1996 Nissan March that had a major coolant problem. It was like this at first - some white smoke and no problem after warm up. But progressively I had to top up more and more water on a daily basis and eventually I had a fogging machine and the car finally died, hydrolocked. Luckily it costs me $600 to rebuild the damn engine and I sold the ride shortly after.

Good to flip the owners handbook to identify the low coolant logo LOL. Without iDrive, the logos are sometimes quite confusing.

Yup that was what Rodney told me as well. i'll monitor my coolant level on a weekly basis. The coolant low and engine oil low logo are already etched into my memory.

I've got 4 litres of distilled water and 3 litre of Mobil 1 Gold 0W-40 engine oil in my boot in case those logo appear again.

 

[Wh0cArEs]

Re: White smoke and water from exhaust

Yup that was what Rodney told me as well. i'll monitor my coolant level on a weekly basis. The coolant low and engine oil low logo are already etched into my memory.

I've got 4 litres of distilled water and 3 litre of Mobil 1 Gold 0W-40 engine oil in my boot in case those logo appear again.

hahaha now i know who to buzz if i'm thirsty

 

[Dinosaur hunter]

Re: White smoke and water from exhaust

hahaha now i know who to buzz if i'm thirsty

Just gimme a buzz at 96361235 (currently living in west area and will re-locate to north east soon).

 

[Wh0cArEs]

Re: White smoke and water from exhaust

Just gimme a buzz at 96361235 (currently living in west area and will re-locate to north east soon).

lemme know once ur in the NE :wavey:

 

[hafiiz.shafiee]

Re: White smoke and water from exhaust

Hey, sorry.. i know this post is ancient.. but ive encountered the same problem. My car got a known problem of having the oil hose leaking. after replaced the engine check still on and my car sometimes die-off by itself. suffocate. any idea whats going on? tq

 

[Dinosaur hunter]

Re: White smoke and water from exhaust

Hey, sorry.. i know this post is ancient.. but ive encountered the same problem. My car got a known problem of having the oil hose leaking. after replaced the engine check still on and my car sometimes die-off by itself. suffocate. any idea whats going on? tq

Suggest you send your car in for a thorough check. Engine die off could be another set of problems.

 

[bmw@bcc]

Re: White smoke and water from exhaust

sent your car for a quick diagnose check.check for any faults in the system.could be one of the sensors faulty.