325iX gas in oil, check engine light on

[ZuS]

So I took my 1988 ix to the mechanic due to the check engine light being on. Also, I notice a bit of white (milky like) liquid on the oil dip stick. When I informed the mechanic of this issue, he smelled the oil and said that it smelled like gas and due to that reason, he would not touch it.

I did some research on the white milky stuff, and it could simply be condensation due to the little driving I do with it and living in a cold place (up state NY). But I am not sure. I got recomemeneded to a different mechanic but he won't have time to look at my car until next week Monday!

Now, the car starts up fine and runs smooth (although after the mechanic told me that he smelled gas I stop driving it). There's no weird noises coming from the engine compartment.

I am simply trying to figure out what could be the worst case scenario and what the damage could be $$$ wise. And if for any reason any one happens to know of a good reliable mechanic up in the Watertown NY area, please let me know as most mechanics here tell me that they don't mess with BMWs or they never seen an e30 ix so they won't try to mess with it.

Any advise is appreciate it guys

[101]

The check engine light on these cars is very rudimentary and will only tell you about certain faults having to do with the O2 sensor, the TPS, the engine coolant sensor and some other item. Search "stomp test" for the details and the ability to diagnose this yourself.

If you're driving short distance trips in cold weather its very possible that what you're seeing is indeed condensation in the oil. I don't know how bad it gets on the BMW M20 engines, but I know its very common on Volvo engines and causes their owners a lot of needless concern this time of year.

Are you losing coolant? Is there any evidence of oil in the coolant overflow tank? Is the engine oil level rising above the full mark? Take your oil fill cap off and see what it looks like inside the valve cover. Chocolate milk throughout? Any white smoke coming out of the exhaust after the engine reaches full operating temperature? If there is a head gasket failure looming, some (or all of these) would be happening. And if they are indeed happening, do not drive your car further until it is checked out. You run the risk of not only a head gasket job but an engine overheat. A head gasket job is in the order of $600 - $800 doing it yourself and having the proper machine shop work done, or could be up to double that amount to have it done for you. Motor swaps are a possibility, but harder to accomplish since the IX block and oil pan are unique to this model.

If these are not happening, take your IX out for an extended drive and then recheck the dipstick and see if the "milky white" is still there.

As far as the oil smelling like gas - it could again be caused by short distance drives or sticking fuel injectors. If you car is otherwise starting and running OK the injectors can't be too bad off, but you might need to have them removed and cleaned. Not a hard job if you have some limited mechanical knowledge.

Good luck!





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[EyExR]

This sounds like a head gasket failure. A leak-down test might reveal this as air is forced into the cylinders and any "leaks" will present themselves. Air coming into the coolant tank would mean certain head gasket failure.

Gas in the oil could be another issue as well. You can see if you're running rich by examining your spark plugs. Usually a car that's running rich will cause the Check Engine light to come on, too. As stated above, a stomp test will reveal any lingering error codes.

Any GOOD mechanic should be able to work on the iX. It's not an entirely different animal from any other automobile, really. It's actually quite a simple car...

My advice would be to have the entire health of your engine checked out. This means check spark plugs, then a compression test, then a leak-down test. Then take it from there.

I would go ahead and change the oil and take a look for yourself.

[ZuS]

I appreciate your advice guys, I google the stomp test and I will give it a try. It seems easy to do but everyone says that it takes a few tries to get it down. Hopefully this won't be anything that will cause me a lot of $$$.

I just really want to get this vehicle working in great condition with no issues what so ever!

I will write back to let you guys know about the stomp test and to see what codes it gives me.

[The Dark Side of Will]

It doesn't sound like a head gasket failure, given the information you've provided.

RE: Gas in the oil:
There is only ONE problem that can cause gas in the oil: Leaking injector.
To diagnose this, use a fuel pressure tester on your fuel rail. Turn the key on the "prime" the fuel system and watch the pressure. The rail should hold pressure for hours. If the pressure drops in minutes or less, you have a leak. *IF* that leak is an injector into a cylinder, then that could result in fuel in the oil. Taking the car for a long drive should keep the oil hot enough long enough to evaporate all the fuel and water off the oil, and allow the vapors to be consumed by the PCV system. Over time, such a leak will wash the oil off the cylinder bore, cause that cylinder to wear faster than the others and lose compression. A compression test should show this.

RE: Coolant in the oil:
If the car has a head gasket problem, then then the level of coolant in the surge tank *WILL* drop over time. Either the coolant ends up in a "milkshake" in the oil pan OR is consumed by the cylinders. In the later case, pressurizing the cylinders using shop air pressure on a compression test adapter should blow bubbles out the surge tank fill.

The only thing that regularly kills BMW engines is overheating.