Smoke on startup

BigKutta · 06-12-2017, 09:36 AM

I have a 2012 528i (N20), and over the course of the 5 years of ownership, I have noticed that every once in a while the car will billow out a nice cloud of smoke on start up (which stinks btw), and then everything is normal. This usually happens after the car has sat for a few days.

I happened to notice this happened a couple of times recently after the car had only been standing for a couple of days, so wanted to as see if this is normal or something I should be concerned with. All thoughts appreciated...

interceptor428 · 06-12-2017, 12:25 PM

Turbo seals. I have a 2013 x1 and it does it too....started using Pennzoil 5w-40 and the smoking went away until the oil thinned out as it got close to oil change time..then change and no smoke again for 5000 miles....There's rumor of a one-way valve in a new oil feed line for the turbo that takes care of this. I'm going to rebuild my turbo in about 30 thousand miles so I'll change the feed pipe then (I"m at 100000 miles and going strong)

doug528xi · 06-12-2017, 08:25 PM

My 2013 does the same thing. Only happens after a couple days sitting. I'm not really concerned. Keeps the mosquitos down.

Tasmanian · 06-25-2017, 07:45 PM

I had the dealer fix mine under warranty. Same problem. I think it was the turbo seal and oil leaking back into the engine.

Tasmanian

BigKutta · 07-05-2017, 09:57 AM

So, this has gotten worse for me. Now if I dont use the car for even a day, this happens. Obviously something is not right.

How expensive is it to replace turbo seals, and to add the one-way valve to oil line?

interceptor428 · 07-05-2017, 10:09 AM

Question: how many miles since your last oil change; what oil did you use (weight and brand). As far as the one way valve: I was quoted about 1000 dollars by the dealer to put the updated oil feed line in place. As far as the seals go: you have to pull the turbo out of the exhaust housing and pull apart the turbo unit. The dealer will quote a whole turbo for about 1600 without labor but I already have a turbo that I will rebuild on my own (about 100 bucks in parts) and swap

djelement · 07-05-2017, 05:56 PM

i have the same issue!

Tasmanian · 07-05-2017, 09:02 PM

I had the same thing that was replaced luckily, under warrantly.

Tasmanian

BigKutta · 07-06-2017, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by interceptor428

Question: how many miles since your last oil change; what oil did you use (weight and brand). As far as the one way valve: I was quoted about 1000 dollars by the dealer to put the updated oil feed line in place. As far as the seals go: you have to pull the turbo out of the exhaust housing and pull apart the turbo unit. The dealer will quote a whole turbo for about 1600 without labor but I already have a turbo that I will rebuild on my own (about 100 bucks in parts) and swap

Oil changed in December 2016. Not sure weight, but pretty sure Mobil1. Could that have something to do with it. What brand/weight should I go with?

interceptor428 · 07-06-2017, 10:56 AM

I was curious about the number of miles since your last oil change...I think the 10k oil change intervals are bogus....I change mine every 5k miles and though I do get some smoke, I'm not getting clouds. I now use the 0w-30FE that the dealership threw in there when I got the last change (about 1k miles ago). before then I was using Pennzoil 5w-40..with the heavier weight oil I was not getting any smoke until I got close to oil change time; presumably when the oil is thinner. I think the ultimate solution is to replace the seals and get the one way valve

BigKutta · 07-06-2017, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by interceptor428

I was curious about the number of miles since your last oil change...I think the 10k oil change intervals are bogus....I change mine every 5k miles and though I do get some smoke, I'm not getting clouds. I now use the 0w-30FE that the dealership threw in there when I got the last change (about 1k miles ago). before then I was using Pennzoil 5w-40..with the heavier weight oil I was not getting any smoke until I got close to oil change time; presumably when the oil is thinner. I think the ultimate solution is to replace the seals and get the one way valve

It was probably 5000 miles, will check for sure. What is the long-term impact if the seals are not replaced right away?

ezaircon4jc · 07-06-2017, 11:29 AM

IMHO you guys are changing the oil way too often. I sold a car (that we bought new) that I changed the oil every year of 12K-15K miles. I did that after the free 12/12 dealer oil change. The engine had 180K miles on that interval and used no oil. I used Mobil1 mainly. I did use Royal Purple for a while until I read some not-so-good things about it.

Modern synthetics should last at least 12K miles, IMHO.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/

06-12-2017, 09:36 AM	#1
BigKutta Brigadier General 3904 Rep 4,048 Posts Drives: 2020 M2C, 2019 330xi, 2017 Q7 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Washington DC Burbs iTrader: (1) Garage List 2019 330xi [0.00] 2017 Audi Q7 3.0 [0.00] 2020 M2C [0.00]	Smoke on startup I have a 2012 528i (N20), and over the course of the 5 years of ownership, I have noticed that every once in a while the car will billow out a nice cloud of smoke on start up (which stinks btw), and then everything is normal. This usually happens after the car has sat for a few days. I happened to notice this happened a couple of times recently after the car had only been standing for a couple of days, so wanted to as see if this is normal or something I should be concerned with. All thoughts appreciated...
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06-12-2017, 12:25 PM	#2
interceptor428 Private First Class 29 Rep 100 Posts Drives: 2013 x1 28i/2015 428 m sport Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: florida iTrader: (0)	Turbo seals. I have a 2013 x1 and it does it too....started using Pennzoil 5w-40 and the smoking went away until the oil thinned out as it got close to oil change time..then change and no smoke again for 5000 miles....There's rumor of a one-way valve in a new oil feed line for the turbo that takes care of this. I'm going to rebuild my turbo in about 30 thousand miles so I'll change the feed pipe then (I"m at 100000 miles and going strong)
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06-12-2017, 08:25 PM	#3
doug528xi Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: 2013 528xi Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Three Lakes, WI iTrader: (0)	My 2013 does the same thing. Only happens after a couple days sitting. I'm not really concerned. Keeps the mosquitos down.
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06-25-2017, 07:45 PM	#4
Tasmanian Tasmanian 28 Rep 102 Posts Drives: 528Xi Tasman Green Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	I had the dealer fix mine under warranty. Same problem. I think it was the turbo seal and oil leaking back into the engine. Tasmanian
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07-05-2017, 09:57 AM	#5
BigKutta Brigadier General 3904 Rep 4,048 Posts Drives: 2020 M2C, 2019 330xi, 2017 Q7 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Washington DC Burbs iTrader: (1) Garage List 2019 330xi [0.00] 2017 Audi Q7 3.0 [0.00] 2020 M2C [0.00]	So, this has gotten worse for me. Now if I dont use the car for even a day, this happens. Obviously something is not right. How expensive is it to replace turbo seals, and to add the one-way valve to oil line?
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07-05-2017, 10:09 AM	#6
interceptor428 Private First Class 29 Rep 100 Posts Drives: 2013 x1 28i/2015 428 m sport Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: florida iTrader: (0)	Question: how many miles since your last oil change; what oil did you use (weight and brand). As far as the one way valve: I was quoted about 1000 dollars by the dealer to put the updated oil feed line in place. As far as the seals go: you have to pull the turbo out of the exhaust housing and pull apart the turbo unit. The dealer will quote a whole turbo for about 1600 without labor but I already have a turbo that I will rebuild on my own (about 100 bucks in parts) and swap
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07-05-2017, 05:56 PM	#7
djelement Enlisted Member 5 Rep 36 Posts Drives: 2013 528i Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: OC iTrader: (0)	i have the same issue!
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07-05-2017, 09:02 PM	#8
Tasmanian Tasmanian 28 Rep 102 Posts Drives: 528Xi Tasman Green Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	I had the same thing that was replaced luckily, under warrantly. Tasmanian
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07-06-2017, 10:56 AM	#10
interceptor428 Private First Class 29 Rep 100 Posts Drives: 2013 x1 28i/2015 428 m sport Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: florida iTrader: (0)	I was curious about the number of miles since your last oil change...I think the 10k oil change intervals are bogus....I change mine every 5k miles and though I do get some smoke, I'm not getting clouds. I now use the 0w-30FE that the dealership threw in there when I got the last change (about 1k miles ago). before then I was using Pennzoil 5w-40..with the heavier weight oil I was not getting any smoke until I got close to oil change time; presumably when the oil is thinner. I think the ultimate solution is to replace the seals and get the one way valve
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07-06-2017, 11:29 AM	#12
ezaircon4jc Major General 4482 Rep 5,362 Posts Drives: 2019 540i M Sport Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	IMHO you guys are changing the oil way too often. I sold a car (that we bought new) that I changed the oil every year of 12K-15K miles. I did that after the free 12/12 dealer oil change. The engine had 180K miles on that interval and used no oil. I used Mobil1 mainly. I did use Royal Purple for a while until I read some not-so-good things about it. Modern synthetics should last at least 12K miles, IMHO. https://bobistheoilguy.com/
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