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      10-14-2015, 09:21 AM   #1
e2vincent
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2012 Z4 sDrive28i intermittent white smoke from tailpipe at startup

Hi Z4 Gurus:

I have this 2012 Z4 sDrive28i with 64K miles, my wife and I been enjoying driving it.

Lately, we experienced some white smoke coming out from the tailpipe at startup. It is usually during the weekends when we are not driving it in the morning. I didn't really smell anything, but my wife said it smelled bad.

It happens once/twice in a couple of months. No error code. Not sure what is the real cause is since it is a turbo engine. I am a novice DIY person, any ideas/pointers where to start looking ?

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      10-14-2015, 09:40 AM   #2
3monkeys
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A puff of white smoke on startup is condensation in the engine or exhaust tract, nothing to worry about. If you have white puffs when the engine is warmed up, the engine is burning water/coolant in the cylinders, that is bad. Bad head gasket or cracked head are the normal culprits.
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      10-14-2015, 10:53 AM   #3
e2vincent
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Thanks 3monkeys for the insight. Just curious why only happens on the turbo engine. I currently have a 330i and 750li and we didn't see the same phenomena before...

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      10-15-2015, 12:19 AM   #4
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It may be that the turbo makes more heat than a naturally aspirated engine. More heat holds more water (humidity), so when the system cools it can make more water since it started with more. Could also be the muffler, most have drain holes to drain the condensation to prevent rust. I'll have to look and see if our z has a drain hole.
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      12-14-2015, 09:21 AM   #5
e2vincent
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Here is an article from CR (May 2010 edition) that explains smoke signals from tail pipe:
▶ Thin white vapor
Don't be concerned.
A thin cloud of white vapor that quickly
dissipates after leaving the tailpipe is probably
the result of normal condensation buildup
inside the exhaust system. The vapor is usually
accompanied by a slow drip of water from the
tailpipe. That is a common sight
when cars, even new ones, are first
started in the morning, because
condensation has built up overnight.
If a car has been sitting for several
days, a thicker cloud of white vapor
might be emitted.

▶ Blue or gray smoke
See your mechanic.
Thick blue or gray smoke that
doesn’t dissipate quickly is probably
the result of oil being burned in the
engine’s combustion chamber. It
might be something serious that will
require extensive engine work.
If your engine is burning
enough oil to produce visible blue
exhaust, then the vehicle's oil level
will drop over time and require
periodic, perhaps frequent,
top-offs. Worse, burning oil can foul
the engine’s spark plugs, causing
such problems as a rough idle,
reduced fuel mileage, hard starting,
and sluggish acceleration. It might
cause the catalytic converter to fail.
On turbocharged vehicles the
presence of bluish-gray exhaust
smoke might indicate turbocharger
failure. The turbocharger might need to be
rebuilt or replaced. The oil lines to and
from the turbo should be replaced at the
same time.
Regardless of what is causing that type of
emissions, you should have your vehicle
checked out by a qualified mechanic as soon
as possible.

▶ Black smoke
Have it checked out.
Black, sooty smoke is usually symptomatic
of an engine that’s burning too much fuel.
Because engines run inefficiently when they're
cold, they use extra fuel at start-up to ensure a
smooth idle and stumble-free acceleration. If
the smoke clears up as the engine warms to
operating temperature, it’s probably nothing
to worry about.
If the black smoke continues, a faulty
sensor or a clogged fuel injector, fuel-pressure
regulator, or other intake-system component
might be to blame.
Because of the vast complexity of modern
fuel-injected engines, your best bet might be
to have the car checked out by a mechanic
with specialized training in those types of
repairs. Black smoke is usually accompanied
by the "check engine" light.

▶ Thick white smoke
Call a tow truck.
Unlike the wispy white vapor
described earlier, billowing white
smoke is almost always an
indication of serious engine
troubles that warrant immediate
attention. If you continue to drive
a vehicle in that condition, the
engine could overheat and suffer
extensive damage.
Smoke of that sort is usually
caused by the engine burning
coolant and can be the result of
a blown head gasket, a damaged
cylinder head, or a cracked engine
block, the last of which requires an
engine replacement. Even a small
coolant leak can lower the engine’s
coolant level, which results in
overheating and can lead to
catastrophic damage to the engine.
A coolant leak into the engine’s oil
system might not cause tailpipe
smoke but could cause the oil to
become thin and milky-looking and
the coolant to look like brownish
sludge. Such a leak also requires
immediate attention.
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