122k Miles, Finally Blue Smoke Oil Burning

ruphianh · 03-23-2012, 10:06 PM

Hey guys,

So I've been noticing more now that when I'm stuck in stop and go traffic blue smoke(oil) is coming out of the pipes. I'd say it definitely is enough to make a cloud if I get on the gas after being stuck in traffic for 10 mins.

I'm hoping its just a turbo going bad and I don't have issues with valvetrain/piston rings.

The positive is that I'm waiting on my Helix intercooler so I can bring my car in for Shiv's turbo kit.

What do you guys think?

Wedge1967 · 03-23-2012, 10:11 PM

Haha, hey Shiv.... Looks like you have your first N54 engine rebuild candidate!

ruphianh · 03-23-2012, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wedge1967

Haha, hey Shiv.... Looks like you have your first N54 engine rebuild candidate!

Has anyone else seen blue smoke before a turbo going out?

Beemw335 · 03-24-2012, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruphianh

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wedge1967

Haha, hey Shiv.... Looks like you have your first N54 engine rebuild candidate!

Has anyone else seen blue smoke before a turbo going out?

Blue means oil so it would make sense its the turbos.

dlbrooks18 · 03-24-2012, 12:09 AM

Time for single turbo upgrade!

klipseracer · 03-24-2012, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beemw335

Blue means oil so it would make sense its the turbos.

Well, couldn't one of the turbo seals be leaking and burning oil that way? Excess oil could be entering the compressor or turbine housings and being burnt up through the combustion chamber or out the turbine, although I am not sure how likely that really is and just theoretical...

ruphianh · 03-24-2012, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klipseracer

Well, couldn't one of the turbo seals be leaking and burning oil that way? Excess oil could be entering the compressor or turbine housings and being burnt up through the combustion chamber or out the turbine, although I am not sure how likely that really is and just theoretical...

i hope it is a turbo going bad.
fingers crossed. They are the original turbos.

Any other high mileage cars or people that had turbos go out have oil smoke isseus?

Island Road · 03-24-2012, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wedge1967

Haha, hey Shiv.... Looks like you have your first N54 engine rebuild candidate!

how soo just a turbo failure......

go single my turbos do the same thing looking at options now.

bmcgarry84 · 03-24-2012, 09:26 AM

It could be Turbo seals going out or worn piston rings. You can't really diagnose it based on blue smoke from the tailpipe. I'd take the intake off he turbos and check for oil. Then I'd take the DPs off and check for oil.

If you're going to upgrade turbos anyways, it would be fine for the turbos to go. If I weren't planning to replace turbos, I'd rather it be worn piston rings.

ruphianh · 03-24-2012, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmcgarry84

It could be Turbo seals going out or worn piston rings. You can't really diagnose it based on blue smoke from the tailpipe. I'd take the intake off he turbos and check for oil. Then I'd take the DPs off and check for oil.

If you're going to upgrade turbos anyways, it would be fine for the turbos to go. If I weren't planning to replace turbos, I'd rather it be worn piston rings.

It is burning enough oil to get some black wetness on the inside of the tips. My turbos do howl quite a bit more than they used to. Once rotating assemblies start to go bad, they go bad exponentially fast. Does the oil on the tips tell anyone anything?

OpenFlash · 03-24-2012, 03:18 PM

Definitely turbos if it starts to smoke after prolonged idle. Sounds fortuitious

bmcgarry84 · 03-24-2012, 03:41 PM

Wow, oil on the tips? Better change those turbos soon.

jb's335 · 03-24-2012, 04:17 PM

I have the same issue with 94k miles, but I have been tuned for almost 90k miles so it makes sense. I get a blue/black cloud if I hold rev's after sitting for at idle for a minute or so, and usually will have a nice smoke screen going if I am idling around a parking lot. I sometimes even get a cloud following me when I come to a stoplight.

I switched to a higher weight oil (10w50) on my last oil change and it helped a little. Car still pulls really strong and I don't have any of the loud compressor noises associated with dying turbos, so I am guessing its just a leaky seal on one or both of the exhaust housing(s). I have heard turbos taking a long time to die before and I hope that is the case for my car bc I need more money before I can drop a single kit in. But a single kit will be in my immediate future!

Shiv do you mind pm'ing me pricing for your kit? Preferably pricing for the hardware only (not including turbo, so I guess downpipe, manifold, inlet pipe, compressor outlet, wastegate, dump tube, oil lines, blockoff plates, etc.), including big turbo tune/PROcede module and harness since I am running JB4 now, because I would rather not ship my car across the country. Thanks!

ruphianh · 03-24-2012, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shiv@vishnu

Definitely turbos if it starts to smoke after prolonged idle. Sounds fortuitious

Mwahahahaha. That's the evil laugh from your single turbo ride along.

Legato2057 · 03-24-2012, 04:53 PM

122k? That's impressive! definitely gives me hope for my car. Any other major problems?

stealth-twntrbo · 03-24-2012, 05:11 PM

Most likely its the turbos, or rings are probably worn.

But i'd go with the turbos are probably leaking.

roozie2001 · 03-24-2012, 05:40 PM

u guys dont think it could be the head gaskets?

BavarianBullet · 03-24-2012, 10:02 PM

I doubt the engine itself ie rings would go out that fast. Most likely turbo seals but I've been reading things about bad valveguides on some n54s as well. Hopefully just turbos as a head pull and rebuild wouldnt be cheap.

Does the car have cats? It'll definitely smoke more without them.

03-23-2012, 10:06 PM	#1
ruphianh Private First Class 13 Rep 128 Posts Drives: E90 335XI Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (0)	122k Miles, Finally Blue Smoke Oil Burning Hey guys, So I've been noticing more now that when I'm stuck in stop and go traffic blue smoke(oil) is coming out of the pipes. I'd say it definitely is enough to make a cloud if I get on the gas after being stuck in traffic for 10 mins. I'm hoping its just a turbo going bad and I don't have issues with valvetrain/piston rings. The positive is that I'm waiting on my Helix intercooler so I can bring my car in for Shiv's turbo kit. What do you guys think? Last edited by ruphianh; 03-23-2012 at 10:12 PM..
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03-23-2012, 10:11 PM	#2
Wedge1967 Banned 125 Rep 2,172 Posts Drives: '07 e92 AT Sport Montego Blue Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (3)	Haha, hey Shiv.... Looks like you have your first N54 engine rebuild candidate!
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03-24-2012, 12:09 AM	#5
dlbrooks18 Brigadier General 164 Rep 3,735 Posts Drives: e90 335i Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (2)	Time for single turbo upgrade! __________________ 2008 E90 335
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03-24-2012, 09:26 AM	#9
bmcgarry84 Non-new Member 3 Rep 38 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 335i Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Virginia iTrader: (2)	It could be Turbo seals going out or worn piston rings. You can't really diagnose it based on blue smoke from the tailpipe. I'd take the intake off he turbos and check for oil. Then I'd take the DPs off and check for oil. If you're going to upgrade turbos anyways, it would be fine for the turbos to go. If I weren't planning to replace turbos, I'd rather it be worn piston rings.
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03-24-2012, 03:18 PM	#11
OpenFlash 1849 Rep 17,960 Posts Drives: A Lot Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: SF Bay, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 Ducati Panigal ... [0.00] 2016 Mazda CX5 [0.00] 2017 Aprilia Tuono ... [0.00] 2019 BMW M2 Competi ... [0.00] 2015 BMW M5 Competi ... [10.00] 2016 Ducati XDiavel S [0.00] 2016 AMG GT S [0.00] 2011 Ferrari 458 It ... [0.00] 2017 Charger Hellcat [0.00] 2015 KTM Super Duke ... [0.00] 2016 KTM RC390 [0.00]	Definitely turbos if it starts to smoke after prolonged idle. Sounds fortuitious
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03-24-2012, 03:41 PM	#12
bmcgarry84 Non-new Member 3 Rep 38 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 335i Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Virginia iTrader: (2)	Wow, oil on the tips? Better change those turbos soon.
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03-24-2012, 04:17 PM	#13
jb's335 Big Boost Addict 62 Rep 689 Posts Drives: AW e92 335 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Lima, OH iTrader: (12)	I have the same issue with 94k miles, but I have been tuned for almost 90k miles so it makes sense. I get a blue/black cloud if I hold rev's after sitting for at idle for a minute or so, and usually will have a nice smoke screen going if I am idling around a parking lot. I sometimes even get a cloud following me when I come to a stoplight. I switched to a higher weight oil (10w50) on my last oil change and it helped a little. Car still pulls really strong and I don't have any of the loud compressor noises associated with dying turbos, so I am guessing its just a leaky seal on one or both of the exhaust housing(s). I have heard turbos taking a long time to die before and I hope that is the case for my car bc I need more money before I can drop a single kit in. But a single kit will be in my immediate future! Shiv do you mind pm'ing me pricing for your kit? Preferably pricing for the hardware only (not including turbo, so I guess downpipe, manifold, inlet pipe, compressor outlet, wastegate, dump tube, oil lines, blockoff plates, etc.), including big turbo tune/PROcede module and harness since I am running JB4 now, because I would rather not ship my car across the country. Thanks!
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03-24-2012, 04:53 PM	#15
Legato2057 First Lieutenant 15 Rep 394 Posts Drives: 2008 monaco blue e90 335i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: San Diego iTrader: (1)	122k? That's impressive! definitely gives me hope for my car. Any other major problems? __________________ 2008 Monaco Blue/Tan interior 335i sedan. Mods: AFE intake w/ scoops, AFE Exhaust, ER FMIC, Koni FSD/Eibcach Pro-Kit, Breyton Race GTS wheels w/ Continental ExtremeContact DW tires, Cusco OS strut bar. BavAuto Black/Beige seat covers w/ black floor mats, M3 rep trunk lip, eBay front splitters.
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03-24-2012, 05:11 PM	#16
stealth-twntrbo Captain 145 Rep 717 Posts Drives: 2020 740xi Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NA iTrader: (3)	Most likely its the turbos, or rings are probably worn. But i'd go with the turbos are probably leaking.
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03-24-2012, 05:40 PM	#17
roozie2001 Just some guy 52 Rep 1,531 Posts Drives: 2008 White 335i sedan Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (4)	u guys dont think it could be the head gaskets? __________________ 2008 BMW 335i/Sedan/Alpine White/Terra/Steptronic/Premium Package/Sports package/Comfort Access/USB/Sirius
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03-24-2012, 10:02 PM	#18
BavarianBullet Lieutenant 18 Rep 429 Posts Drives: 2014 Audi S5 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (1)	I doubt the engine itself ie rings would go out that fast. Most likely turbo seals but I've been reading things about bad valveguides on some n54s as well. Hopefully just turbos as a head pull and rebuild wouldnt be cheap. Does the car have cats? It'll definitely smoke more without them. __________________ 2014 Audi S5 DSG 2011 335xi Sedan (retired) 2008 335xi Sedan (retired)
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