Author Topic: pics E36 M42:blown head gasket...not convinced (Read 8672 times)

Slick92GS-R · « **on:** October 18, 2009, 10:25:40 PM »

ok...E36 M42 194xxx miles

1. white smoke while motor is running
2. temp ran hot
3. milk oil on dip stick
4. milky oil under oil cap
5. car still ran, but idled rough...

head gasket, right ? ..

well I pulled the plugs...they look normal

meh..

might as well pull the head...

this is what I found:

Slick92GS-R · « **Reply #1 on:** October 18, 2009, 10:26:52 PM »

maybe i'm blind... but i don't really see any evidence of a bad head gasket..

DesktopDave · « **Reply #2 on:** October 19, 2009, 08:42:26 AM »

I'd agree, that head & gasket look fine. Maybe a coolant leak somewhere else? Hard to tell, but the profile gasket looks a little funky...

Maybe the white smoke could be from the PCV system pumping evaporating coolant from the oil? I'm just guessing here.

Slick92GS-R · « **Reply #3 on:** October 19, 2009, 10:10:56 PM »

Quote from: DesktopDave;80116

I'd agree, that head & gasket look fine. Maybe a coolant leak somewhere else? Hard to tell, but the profile gasket looks a little funky...
Maybe the white smoke could be from the PCV system pumping evaporating coolant from the oil? I'm just guessing here.

the rubber is soft & pliable.. not brittle at all..what should i be looking for here?

and the PCV pumping who what ? ..i just put fresh oil in the motor and just filled the overflow...maybe excess air in the system ?

DesktopDave · « **Reply #4 on:** October 20, 2009, 09:01:19 AM »

I heard that many BMWs have a funky oil separator/crankcase ventilation system. It's a big disk thing by the brake master on the e36/m42 IIRC. It's known to fail and cause all sorts of havoc. Here's an annoyed 740 owner's thread on Bimmerboard.

Maybe the water in the oil is condensation instead of coolant?

RED IS 91 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 20, 2009, 05:37:30 PM »

Did you do a compression or leak down test before you pulled the head?
Have you had the head pressure tested for cracks?

Slick92GS-R · « **Reply #6 on:** October 20, 2009, 09:34:56 PM »

Quote from: RED IS 91;80188

Did you do a compression or leak down test before you pulled the head?
Have you had the head pressure tested for cracks?

no, unfortunately...

the head will go to a machine shop for pressure testing,,

Ramblin MAn · « **Reply #7 on:** October 21, 2009, 10:42:40 AM »

Looks like 2 and 3 are getting starting to get steam cleaned to me. Whats the head look like under the gasket?

qualicas · « **Reply #8 on:** October 24, 2009, 11:57:55 PM »

Why are the 2 valves just hanging open?