excessive condensation/smoke in cold

Need technical Q/A then you're in the right place

Moderator: martauto

Post Reply
User avatar
Neily30
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 16
Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2007 11:00 pm

Thu Dec 13, 2007 5:39 pm

as the title says, the cars a 325, the engine seems to be starting/idleing ok but is producing way more steam/smoke than most cars on the road in the cold, there doesnt seem to be a drop in water level, my first thoughts were that HG was failing and leaking water into cylinder.. theres quite a strong smell of petrol too, any ideas.
User avatar
murran
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1683
Joined: Sat Jul 28, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: sheffield, good old sheffield!

Thu Dec 13, 2007 7:18 pm

mine 320 seems to be doin the same, v steamy exhaust. not so much petrol smell more co exhaust sort of smell. but my center box is blowing..... needs more weld on it!! :mad:
Image
e21 killing tyres with e30 325 powerzzz
drifting on the cheap......... www.trampdrift.com
e21zone........ www.bmwe21.net
Templ8e30
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 2801
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire

Fri Dec 14, 2007 1:22 am

The M20 is known to produce quite a bit of 'steam' in cold weather, all my M20's have.

As long as you're not losing water and all the spark plugs have a uniform colour then don't worry about it.

My 2.7 is smelling of fuel in the cold snap, probably just down to the fact that as the engine is colder it's adding more cold enrichment (choke).

Cheers,

Iain T
Image
2007 Mazda 6 2.0 estate
Political Correctness - A concept based on the idea that its possible to pick up a turd by the clean end !
bazza93
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1305
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: in corringham essex

Fri Dec 14, 2007 7:30 am

all e30's i owned have done this, its common and not a problem :) my 320 used to fog up my road in the cold mornings if i left it running for more than 10 mins warming up, at the lakeside meets on cold nights there would be a mist around mc donalds when we all started our cars to warm them up for the drive home :)
will be back in an E30 oneday soon !


THE BMW 3-SERIES. IT'S WHY SOME ENTHUSIASTS ARE MORE ENTHUSIASTIC,
smithy318i
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 5797
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Tyne & Wear

Fri Dec 14, 2007 8:39 am

Common across the whole range of engines.
My M40 belches lots of steam in the cold weather and so did my M10.
Image
slinky2000
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 617
Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Ireland - North(Portadown) and South (Limerick)
Contact:

Fri Dec 14, 2007 9:27 am

good to know as mine does the same lol. its like a smoke screen some mornings for the ones behind lol
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49358
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Fri Dec 14, 2007 9:55 am

slinky2000 wrote: its like a smoke screen some mornings for the ones behind lol
Try an LPG powered one!
daveyboy20
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 155
Joined: Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: The Wirral

Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:18 am

Oh good, mines exactly the same i find myself comparing my exhaust emmisions with everyone elses every day and worrying! (oo err :D ) Glad its normal! :D
User avatar
AlexBaur325
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 685
Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2007 11:00 pm

Fri Dec 14, 2007 11:16 am

+1
slinky2000
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 617
Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Ireland - North(Portadown) and South (Limerick)
Contact:

Fri Dec 14, 2007 12:42 pm

daveyboy20 wrote:Oh good, mines exactly the same i find myself comparing my exhaust emmisions with everyone elses every day and worrying! (oo err :D ) Glad its normal! :D

lol me too. Glad i'm not alone
User avatar
Neily30
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 16
Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2007 11:00 pm

Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:55 pm

cool, not so worried now, its just more noticeable than on cars previously owned.
Post Reply