Loads of white smoke/steam whilst warming up

[jimbom30cab]

I've got a lot of white smoke when the engine is warming up and it definately steam, if you hold you hand by the exhaust it gets very clammy quickly but doesn't smell really at all much.

When up to temp there is still some white steam coming out but not as much.

I have noticed a little drop in my coolant tank also, perhaps 100ml lost in about 150 miles

Do you think i'm getting water in the combustion chambers?

I've just done a compression test and it was 195 +/- 3 on every cylinder which is great.

Engine is a M30B35 in a 1992 e30 cabby (originally 318i)

I had the head refurbished and pressure tested when fitted back in the summer.

Anyone seen this before ?

[Grrrmachine]

Yes, it's called winter

[jimbom30cab]

LOL, you know you might be right there mate - don't tell anyone but i was worried it was overheating in the summer (i put it back on the road when it was like 30 degrees outside) , it's not overheating of course !!!

[Brianmoooore]

Yes, it's called winter

Word for word what I was going to post!
The 'correct' level for the coolant in an E30 header tank is level with the horizontal seam, but in my experience the level will stabilise at about 10 -15 mm lower.
As long as it doesn't continue dropping from this level over time, there's no coolant leak.

[pac1982]

as a very rough rule of thumb white steamy looking smoke is never anything to worry about its grey/black smoke that you want to be concerned about

[jimbom30cab]

Thanks Brian, that's exactly where my level seems to have settled about 1cm below the seam.

I'm pressing the car into daily use from Monday so i'll keep a daily eye on the level.

I'll keep the spare cylinder head at the alert 5 for now

[capnmchl]

Don't let it sit around idling from cold if you can help it