Author Topic: Smokey M42 (Read 4806 times)

Pac_Man · « **on:** April 29, 2009, 10:18:53 PM »

Just wondering if anyone can give me a more educated decision on what�s causing my M42 to smoke.

The car starts up fine, and has a nice idle, it also feels to have plenty of power left and does not run lumpy but when I give it some beans its leaves a nice smoke cloud behind me.

When I�m taking my time and keeping it under 4k on the rev gauge it does not smoke at all.

The only other sign of oil is sometimes when I start from cold it spits some oil out the exhaust leavening residue on the floor.

My guess is one of three things either valve stem oil seals, worn piston rings or worst case a cracked head.

If its valve stems or pistons rings I�m temped to get it sorted however if it�s a cracked head I�ll just source another M42 to drop in.

Any info or advice is much appreciated

1991 E30 M42 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 30, 2009, 02:25:07 AM »

what color is the smoke, white black or blue

Pac_Man · « **Reply #2 on:** April 30, 2009, 10:07:22 AM »

Its bluey gray and smells of burning oil

cleaner32 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 30, 2009, 01:50:09 PM »

What every smoking M42 needs

http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8334&highlight=tranny

cleaner32 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 30, 2009, 01:50:47 PM »

Oh, across the pond

Birdman16 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 30, 2009, 03:54:46 PM »

If your oil is milky then you have a cracked head. It should blow white smoke after it warms up and black smoke when uou start if if it is the head.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Pac_Man · « **Reply #6 on:** April 30, 2009, 04:42:20 PM »

Its only ever smokes when i give it some and even then its not all the time, no black smoke what so ever

1991318is · « **Reply #7 on:** April 30, 2009, 11:37:09 PM »

Sounds like its definitely oil, but sadly I think you'll need to pull it apart to tell with any certainty where the oil is coming from and whats broken.

John W · « **Reply #8 on:** May 02, 2009, 08:32:53 PM »

What brand/viscosity oil are you running? I had an old 2002tii that burned oil quite a bit on Castrol GTX (what the PO used) and switching to Valvoline 20w-50 improved the smoke thing considerably as well as reduced oil consumption.

visionracingdevelopments · « **Reply #9 on:** May 03, 2009, 04:06:54 AM »

Quote from: Birdman16;71157

If your oil is milky then you have a cracked head. It should blow white smoke after it warms up and black smoke when uou start if if it is the head.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Could it not be a combination of leaking seals and a head gasket ion the way out?