325E Smoke at Startup/Rough Running

[Simontibbett]

If you pull up the dip stick and the oil is white and milky you will never convince me that its normal.

Example

http://www.motorcycleforums.net/foru...1_edited-1.jpg

We're not talking that much. LOL

I'm saying a swirl, my old E30 even had that and had PERFECT compression at 400,000+ miles. It was from the vent, not saying my HG isn't blown here, but that's not the most accurate way to decide whether or not to rip your head apart.

[jlevie]

Correct!

A bit of milky residue on the dipstick or under the oil filler cap can be normal in colder conditions. A big clue is "milkshake" in the drain pan when you change the oil.

[Simontibbett]

Maybe I'll change my oil and see. lol

Any real good way to tell? I don't have any oil in the coolant and nothing on the dipstick, nothing weird on the coolant cap or oil cap.

It turns over but just won't start, in my experiences a car sort of looses power and really looses life when the HG is going, especially to the point where the car won't even run. It just simply shut off.

I'm about to check for fuel/spark, I just don't want to tear into a HG job if it's not really the problem here.

[monster89]

Im barely started geting in to the e30 but when i had my rolla it had the same milky oil and when i dismanteld it it had a big hole in the gasket

[Simontibbett]

Just found a HUGE crack in the distributor cap...LOL

[Simontibbett]

Started right up and purred.

Will test drive here in a little while and see if anything else pops up.

[Simontibbett]

Update.

Drove the car more and it was running fine, about 30 minutes into my hour plus drive noticeably in 5th gear I'd get a surge every now and then, like a small miss, up hills it or under load it seemed worst and got worst as the drive went on.

Then I pulled over to check my plug wires to find a very nice oil leak from God knows where, bad enough I had my extinguisher out, lots of smoke and snap crackle and popping. Luckily nothing happened. Got where I was going and tried to find the leak but can't, all I know for sure is it's on the back side of the motor.

Is this thing cursed or what!? Suggestions for the miss or anything for the leak? Possibly valve cover gasket? I checked the oil sender sensor that supposedly leaks sometimes and it's dry.

BLAH.

[paperplane94]

valve cover gasket?
rocker shaft seal?

[Simontibbett]

I'm going to replace the valve cover gasket, what's the rocker shaft seal?

[Simontibbett]

Just ordered a new:

Cap
Valve cover gasket
Oil pressure switch
Fuel filter
Oil pan gasket

Hoping maybe the miss is the cap, I put a used one on so maybe it was bad too.

I guess I'll just start wasting money replacing everything. :/

[paperplane94]

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...86&hg=11&fg=25

# 13 here:

[Simontibbett]

Cool thanks, I'll order those as well.

[BrandonG]

if its on startups after car has been sitting its valve seal i doubt headgasket cuz it would be overheating or always smelling sweet or smoking

[Simontibbett]

Oh yeah I forgot the smoking at start up is gone, ever since I made a catch can for it it has yet to smoke or run rough at start up.