E30 Help

[Ed.]

Hi guys. I have a '87 325e that I've been trying to nurse back to life for quite some time. Last weekend, I removed all of the old gas (apparently it decays?) and put in new gas. The gas was removed from the line going into the intake manifold, so I believe the fuel pump still works. I tried to start it yesterday and not much happened. It cranked but never caught. I pulled the plugs and replaced them several weeks ago. After cranking the car, I removed the plugs again and they had burn marks and gas on them. In addition to this stuff, I checked the oil yesterday and there appeared to be a white goo in the oil. The coolant also seems to be disappearing, but there are no puddles beneath the car. Please help me. I really need it.

[Stephen]

Lets hear the possibilities...

Ive put a few hours into the car as well, would love to see it fire up

[Ed.]

Lets hear the possibilities...

Ive put a few hours into the car as well, would love to see it fire up

way more than a few hours man haha

[Stephen]

way more than a few hours man haha

Haha a few as in 20 or so

[jlevie]

"White goo" in the oil typically means a head gasket leak. If you find the goo in oil drained from the car the cause will almost always be coolant leaking into the oil. Finding it under the valve cover is not so clear cut and goo there may just be condensation.

If you are loosing coolant and can't see a leak, check the driver footwell. A leaking heater valve/core will dump coolant there.

The first steps in getting the engine running again would be to verify that there is spark when cranking over the engine, that there's normal fuel pressure at the inlet to the rail, that the injectors are firing, and that there are no large intake leaks.

[george graves]

Fuel filter could be grossly clogged. You might have a massive air leak to the motor. I'd pull the rotor and cap and clean up the metal edges with a screwdriver scraping away the bad metal (no reason to buy a new one at this point)

Check that air can flow through the air filter, and it's not a rotten mound of paper.

Get some starter fluid or propane and spray some into the intake boot and see if it trys to turn over. Flush the coolant and change the oil.

Pull the fuel pump out of the tank and see if it is gummed up on the filter on the bottom of it.

That's just a few things I would do.

[E30_fiend]

I would definitely try some carb cleaner rather than starting fluid. Starting fluid has shot flames in my face before and since then I have only used carb cleaner. If the car still doesnt fire then you know you have a spark problem. Once you have that done you can narrow it down from there. If it does fire after spraying fluid in there, then its more than likely a dirty or clogged fuel filter or a bad fuel pressure regulator. both of them are fairly cheap and very easy to replace.






Taylor

[Stephen]

So i guess first things first would be trying the carb cleaner, then troubleshooting further

Put it into the intake boot?

[E30_fiend]

Yep right in the intake boot. You don't want to spray it on the AFM side because the carb cleaner might just mess up the AFM. Spray it in, try turning it over if it fires, then its a fuel issue. If it just cranks and nothing fires, its a spark issue. From there look into coil problems, ignition wires and your cap and rotor.







Taylor

[bimmerboy12]

Yep right in the intake boot. You don't want to spray it on the AFM side because the carb cleaner might just mess up the AFM. Spray it in, try turning it over if it fires, then its a fuel issue. If it just cranks and nothing fires, its a spark issue. From there look into coil problems, ignition wires and your cap and rotor.







Taylor

Also may be reference sensor. I have two I can sell you cheap! :)

[Leeroy]

If it was running before and then just didn't start the next day it could very well be a reference sensor. See if it is a spark issue or a gas issue first.

[SpecM]

also, you can check spark with a screwdriver and some bravery

also, you can check fuel availability by unhooking the return line and turning the ignition on... also takes bravery... and a bucket

[Ed.]

If it was running before and then just didn't start the next day it could very well be a reference sensor. See if it is a spark issue or a gas issue first.

I don't think the car has run for several years

[Ed.]

Yep right in the intake boot. You don't want to spray it on the AFM side because the carb cleaner might just mess up the AFM. Spray it in, try turning it over if it fires, then its a fuel issue. If it just cranks and nothing fires, its a spark issue. From there look into coil problems, ignition wires and your cap and rotor.



Taylor

Excuse me being a complete noob, but where is the intake boot?

[george graves]

air filter > afm > 90 degree boot > throttle body > intake manifold

Stop what you are doing and go buy a Bentley manual, or get someone to help you get pointed in the right directions. All of the sudden I don't trust you with starter fluid - know what I mean???? Sorry - LOL.