oh no!

[93zk]

just rebuilt a 325i motor to put in my eta.
got everything hooked up and running, then white smoke started rolling out of the tail pipe.
checked the dipstick and there was foamy white bubbles.
i used a victor reinz head gasket.
is this normal when cranking up a new engine for the first time or am i screwed having to put on a new head gasket.

[Gary Horneck]

Not normal condition

[dnguyen1963]

You have a leaky HG. Did you torque down the bolts correctly?

[jlevie]

If you pulled the head on the engine, did you use new head bolts and did you have the head surfaced and checked for cracks. All of those are important.

[93zk]

I did use new TTY bolts and I torqued them properly. I did not however have the head surfaced or checked for cracks. Before I tore down the engine there was no problems with the head gasket. Would assembly lube cause this to happen? Or possibly left over lithium grease from honing the cylinders.

[93zk]

To be more specific, it's not foamy its more of just little whitish/clear bubbles. If I had a leaking HG then wouldn't the oil change to a milky color? The car is slightly leaning upwards on jack stands. I checked the oil 30 minutes later and there is clean oil on the dipstick. Am I just freaking out here? :[

[ADlBOO]

The smoke could just be some built up condensation in the exhaust burning off. How long did you let it run for?

[dnguyen1963]

What does your exhaust look like now...clear or white smoke?

[93zk]

Its only ran for about 5 minutes total. It was running a little rough probably from a few vac leaks. but once I revved it up a little, white smoke started rolling out and i shut it off as soon as I saw it. I haven't started it sense and wont until tomorrow.

[93zk]

Oh shit. I forgot I left my exhaust outside for a day in the rain. But that doesn't make sense that small bubbles would be on the dipstick.

[dnguyen1963]

Exhaust with the cat connected? The whole thing might be filled with water. It might take more than 5 minutes to get the cat hot enough to push out all the water.

[93zk]

Cat is gutted about to be straight piped. This happened as soon as the headers started heating up. Is there supposed to be a gasket for the oil cooler and filter housing? Cause mines dripping.

[MR 325]

I did use new TTY bolts and I torqued them properly. I did not however have the head surfaced or checked for cracks. Before I tore down the engine there was no problems with the head gasket. Would assembly lube cause this to happen? Or possibly left over lithium grease from honing the cylinders.

I say this over and over...

ANY TIME a head is removed it NEEDS to be decked.

It was running a little rough probably from a few vac leaks. but once I revved it up a little, white smoke started rolling out and i shut it off as soon as I saw it.

So you rebuilt the entire engine but you have a few vacuum leaks? Interesting.

[93zk]

Yeah, coming from the old throttle body that I slapped on in a hurry to make sure my first build didn't blow up

[bastianshaw]

I say this over and over...

ANY TIME a head is removed it NEEDS to be decked.


So you rebuilt the entire engine but you have a few vacuum leaks? Interesting.

lol
ouch
op pot pics of the oil