Excessive steaming ?

[toptints]

Does anyone get a lot of steaming from the exhaust ? i had the head replaced on my 325i aabou 2 years ago, there is no water in the oil, or oil in the water but it does chuck out a load of steam every time i drive it ! is this common ?

[dodgydodger]

probaly find is the time of year m8!
come summer it should be fine if its just that! but if your realy woried have a pressure test, and block test done at a garage...should be quite cheep! that should say whats what!
or just keep driving,but cheek oil for water as you have done reguarly and keep a close eye on the temp gauge!
also does the steam smell of coolant...should of asked u that first!

[schnooks]

doesn't really sound like a common problem. Although the head has been replaced and there is no oil in the water and vice versa the head gasket could still be gone. what it sounds like, is the water is coming straight out of the water port and going staight into the combustion chamber, that would cause excessive steam out of the exhaust. Have you had it pressure tested yet? if not i'd advice getting it checked for peice of mind.

[toptints]

haven't had it pressure tested yet... what does that involve them doing ?

[dodgydodger]

wel all that is involved is removing your header tank cap and screwing another cap on that has a hole in it and a tupe of that to a pump!
like a bike pump with a dial!
they would then pump the system up to the correct running pressure or header tank cap pressure even and look for visuall leaks!

[Martinaston]

One option is if the injectors are not atomising the fuel correctly it passes through the combustion chambers and sits in the exhaust until you next use the car when it then evaporates. That can appear as steam for the first ten minuets or so untill the exhaust has boiled it all out.
If it is the injectors it will end up rotting the exhaust from the inside out.

If you think it's the coolant leaking in then all you can do is see if the water level drops over time.

[jonbuoy]

Have you had a stainless exhaust fitted lately?

[toptints]

water level seems to always stay the same. it has a scorpion stainless system on it, but it is quite old i think. Thanks for all your replies

[jonbuoy]

water level seems to always stay the same. it has a scorpion stainless system on it, but it is quite old i think. Thanks for all your replies

Stainless exhaust's are prompt for making it seem like there's more steam than usual. Does the steam disappear when you stick ya toe down?

[smithy318i]

this may set your mind at rest!

link to unofficialbmw site

[Nick45]

Toptints - not wanting to put you on a downer but I'd be wary mate. The steam was the only symptom I had for a month or so on my iS but that turned out to be a cracked head. If it's just condensation it should clear very quickly. As people have said, keep a close eye out for gunk in the oil - not just under the filler but on the dipstick too.
You don't say if the head was new or recon - if it ws recon it could have cracked again. Fingers crossed for you though mate.