Engine wear signs

Thu Oct 20, 2005 5:57 pm

Anyone know what are the signs of engine wear ? I don't know about you but I think every now and then when is the fun going to finish in my car (if ever! - 115k) and wondered if there is something to look out for...

Thu Oct 20, 2005 7:04 pm

Mainly rattling/knocking when cold on start up, which goes away when engine warm, oh and the tell tail blue smoke from exhaust

Thu Oct 20, 2005 7:10 pm

Thanks for your line Alan
hmmmm rattling or knocking that goes after a while ... mine does that and then disappears... what causes this then ??

Thu Oct 20, 2005 7:12 pm

What causes the pale blue smoke? is that on start up or all the time?

Thu Oct 20, 2005 7:14 pm

yeah and that
cheers

Thu Oct 20, 2005 7:16 pm

blue smoke on start up is the valve stem oil seals in the cylinder head. when they wear out, the oil around the valve gear and cam seeps down past the worn seal along the stem and into the combustion chamber, so when you start the engine, it burns the oil that has accumulated in the chamber.

If you have blue smoke whem giving it beans then you have the above and/or at least worn piston rings, meaning the rings don't seal on the edge of the bore and the car burns oil, you will have reduced power as well.

Thu Oct 20, 2005 7:18 pm

It looks like that can be cured ??

Thu Oct 20, 2005 7:40 pm

valve stem oil seals come with headgasket sets, so head off and valves out, you could do with a valve spring compressor to make the job easier, new cambelt whilst you've got the head off and water pump too. Maybe's worth lapping the valves in whilst they are out. Parts would cost you about Ãƒ”šÃ‚£150, couple of days messing about or 1 day if you are really swift

you'd probably be relieved of about Ãƒ”šÃ‚£350 from a garage i reckon

Thu Oct 20, 2005 7:44 pm

that is def a job to be done just to have the engine tip-top, the question pops-out by itself when reading your thread: is it possible for the average person to do this ?
Sorry for slipping out of the thread a bit: when I start my car - only in cold/humid days, there is a dense white cloud coming out of the tailpipe. you reckon this is related to the above ??

Thu Oct 20, 2005 7:53 pm

white smoke for a while after start up could be symptom of headgasket/ cracked head. Look for other signs such as white sludge under the oil filler cap before starting the car, signs of oil in the water. However, if could be nothing, it is colder in the mornings now remember, so it could just be condensation from in the exhaust system etc.

I am sure there is a guide to stripping the M20 cylinder head in the articles section.

Have a search around for some how to guides as far as head removal etc is concerned. If you have done some basic spanner work before and can follow a guide then yeah you can do it, but if not at all confident then best leave it to the pro's or sweet talk a local zoner into helping out

I did the cambelt on mine about 5 months ago, followed a guide on here and have never looked back.

That's what this place is all about

Thu Oct 20, 2005 8:05 pm

got it.
By the way good luck with your sale mate

Thu Oct 20, 2005 11:14 pm

JOSEMI wrote:Anyone know what are the signs of engine wear ? I don't know about you but I think every now and then when is the fun going to finish in my car (if ever! - 115k) and wondered if there is something to look out for...

This engine is barely run in. It says BMW on the rocker cover, not Ford!

Fri Oct 21, 2005 12:43 am

Brianmoooore wrote:
JOSEMI wrote:Anyone know what are the signs of engine wear ? I don't know about you but I think every now and then when is the fun going to finish in my car (if ever! - 115k) and wondered if there is something to look out for...
This engine is barely run in. It says BMW on the rocker cover, not Ford!

Here Here

I've done 197,000 in my is sounds a little rough in the morning, but still going strong...Bless her...

Fri Oct 21, 2005 12:50 am

White smoke can also be caused by unburnt fuel sitting in the exhaust system.
Could just be down to poor running. Have you had it serviced lately ?

Fri Oct 21, 2005 3:00 pm

Yes 2 months ago, but i am thinking of servicing it again, filters, oil etc in a week or so - have been searching for oils extensively- as I do not like the oil that is got now. It doesn't run well at the mo...

Fri Oct 21, 2005 3:24 pm

I find this a good website for bits and bobs if you want to do them yourself!!!

http://www.bimmerdiy.com/e30

Fri Oct 21, 2005 6:09 pm

JOSEMI wrote:Yes 2 months ago, but i am thinking of servicing it again, filters, oil etc in a week or so - have been searching for oils extensively- as I do not like the oil that is got now. It doesn't run well at the mo...

If it was seviced properly 2 months ago, and has been serviced properly and on time in the past, then it is unlikely to need servicing now.
Whatever oil you have in it at the moment is unlikely to make much difference to how it runs, but it might make a difference to how long it runs.
You say it doesn't run well at the mo. Tell us in what way it doesn't run well, and we might be able to lead you towards finding out why.

Fri Oct 21, 2005 6:24 pm

t11mfn: thanks for the info mate ! will have a look with time.

Brianmoooore,
1987 320i SE is my car, old but sweet, here is the rest... I was refering to an oil change because my car seems to be drinking too much fuel at the moment, which has increased since I last changed the oil. I believe it was magnatec 10/40w and I think it has been mixed a bit with the old oil left from the last service.
It runs ok when fully warmed up, although I notice some 'stiffiness' which does not go away. Its like the engine needs to make an effort to pull away, specially in 2nd gear. It actually 'doubts' and seems to get stuck, very noticeable when cold, for this reason I am thinking in re-doing the last service... There are a number of things that I am going to change in my car, manifold gaskets (blown), rocket cover gasket (leaking), new wheels, the exhaust tailpipe and later on - once I pass the MOT - add a new throttle body and an induction kit. I don't want boy racer stuff, just a light update on the engine.

My mate, mechanic, has been working in my car, and we think that we missed something last time and we want to redo the oil, to make sure that it runs ok. Will check the valvs when we change the rocket cover gasket. Now the white smoke (as above) only appears in humid days, and it does not smell of oil of unburned petrol, but it does look strange on a car that sounds and goes so well.

Your comments or anyone elses who knows the game are most welcome Brian
Ta Jose

Fri Oct 21, 2005 6:59 pm

Same answer as I just gave someone else.- For any fault temperature related, first change the blue temperature sensor onn the water outlet elbow at the front of the engine.

Fri Oct 21, 2005 7:04 pm

Brian,
kindly, you reckon that my problems described above are related to a temperature fault ? If so then it would be great as doesn't seem to complicated, sorry for being a pain, I am just in the middle of some much going on that the questions just pop up automatically !
Thanks jose

Fri Oct 21, 2005 9:12 pm

I have just stripped a 145K M20 325 engine and it was like new inside
All bearings were perfect and in spec
The cylinders too were perfect
It was the valve stem oil seals which were the cause of the blue smoke
Easy fix but the head has to come off

E30cabalan

Fri Oct 21, 2005 9:20 pm

the valve seals seem to be a common fix by the look of it... will check that too

Fri Oct 21, 2005 10:15 pm

If the head's coming off, take it to a engine machine shop, have them lightly reface the head, reface the valves, check the valve guides (exhausts usually wear) and replace as neccessary and then re cut and lap in the valve seats.
As E30cabalan has just said, the bottom end should be as new, so this will give you a top end to match.