Crack in engine, what should i do?
Discussion
Hello there! I am new to the forum as well for car buying
I purchased a 120i 2008 a few weeks a go with 88k kilometers and everything was fine. A few days a go while i was going to grocery shop (quarantine) i noticed blue smoke, i thought about gaskets, to change them, but yesterday i wanted to look something and i found this....
So, what should i do? This my first car, feeling bad, stupid and sad... hope any comments to see what could it be, if i just should sell that thing for a way lower price, try to repair...
Any way, thanks in advance.
I purchased a 120i 2008 a few weeks a go with 88k kilometers and everything was fine. A few days a go while i was going to grocery shop (quarantine) i noticed blue smoke, i thought about gaskets, to change them, but yesterday i wanted to look something and i found this....
So, what should i do? This my first car, feeling bad, stupid and sad... hope any comments to see what could it be, if i just should sell that thing for a way lower price, try to repair...
Any way, thanks in advance.
clarkson22 said:
That's just the exhaust manifold ? Is smoke actually coming out of the crack? Either replace the manifold or get someone to weld it pal, it's not a get rid of the car problem mate , easily sorted.
Hello clarkson! Thanks for the reply. I am not really sure if is the exhaust manifold, i have not noticed smoke coming out of it.This is the location of that part
efra486 said:
clarkson22 said:
That's just the exhaust manifold ? Is smoke actually coming out of the crack? Either replace the manifold or get someone to weld it pal, it's not a get rid of the car problem mate , easily sorted.
Hello clarkson! Thanks for the reply. I am not really sure if is the exhaust manifold, i have not noticed smoke coming out of it.This is the location of that part
Riggie said:
clarkson22 said:
That's just the exhaust manifold ? Is smoke actually coming out of the crack? Either replace the manifold or get someone to weld it pal, it's not a get rid of the car problem mate , easily sorted.
What he said I know nothing about that engine but from the position I would guess the cam cover gasket is leaking?
brman said:
I am struggling to work out whether it is the manifold or the heat shield, but if it is the manifold then it is covered in oil which is a pretty likely culprit for the smoke.
I know nothing about that engine but from the position I would guess the cam cover gasket is leaking?
What if it is the heat shield?I know nothing about that engine but from the position I would guess the cam cover gasket is leaking?
And yes, i am almost sure it is also leaking oil, but im not sure if it because of the gasket or the crack.
brman said:
... from the position I would guess the cam cover gasket is leaking?
If it's a cam cover gasket I wouldn't worry. Seems quite common for them to leak. I had mine changed because it was leaking and the new one started to do the same before long. It never seems to affect the oil level so it must look worse than it actually is.A thought, you don't say where the smoke was coming from but I assume under the bonnet or you would not be looking there?
Also, what sort of smoke? If the manifold was cracked and leaking I would expect at worse a slight gray haze. It will smell but there should not be clouds of smoke. If a decent amount of more light gray smoke then I would say it is likely oil burning off (or something else burning....). Oil burning would match a leak from the gasket and what is visible in that picture.
You also ask whether you should just sell it on. That is up to you but, if my guess is right, it should be a pretty easy fix (for a competent DIYer) and certainly isn't a sign the car is a dog. Like I said, I don't really know that engine but older bmws have a bit of a reputation for oil leaks from cam covers, oil filters etc.
Also, what sort of smoke? If the manifold was cracked and leaking I would expect at worse a slight gray haze. It will smell but there should not be clouds of smoke. If a decent amount of more light gray smoke then I would say it is likely oil burning off (or something else burning....). Oil burning would match a leak from the gasket and what is visible in that picture.
You also ask whether you should just sell it on. That is up to you but, if my guess is right, it should be a pretty easy fix (for a competent DIYer) and certainly isn't a sign the car is a dog. Like I said, I don't really know that engine but older bmws have a bit of a reputation for oil leaks from cam covers, oil filters etc.
brman said:
A thought, you don't say where the smoke was coming from but I assume under the bonnet or you would not be looking there?
Also, what sort of smoke? If the manifold was cracked and leaking I would expect at worse a slight gray haze. It will smell but there should not be clouds of smoke. If a decent amount of more light gray smoke then I would say it is likely oil burning off (or something else burning....). Oil burning would match a leak from the gasket and what is visible in that picture.
You also ask whether you should just sell it on. That is up to you but, if my guess is right, it should be a pretty easy fix (for a competent DIYer) and certainly isn't a sign the car is a dog. Like I said, I don't really know that engine but older bmws have a bit of a reputation for oil leaks from cam covers, oil filters etc.
No, it does not come from under the bonnet, It is a bluish smoke coming out of the exhaust, yea sorry i did not mention it, it comes from the exhaust.Also, what sort of smoke? If the manifold was cracked and leaking I would expect at worse a slight gray haze. It will smell but there should not be clouds of smoke. If a decent amount of more light gray smoke then I would say it is likely oil burning off (or something else burning....). Oil burning would match a leak from the gasket and what is visible in that picture.
You also ask whether you should just sell it on. That is up to you but, if my guess is right, it should be a pretty easy fix (for a competent DIYer) and certainly isn't a sign the car is a dog. Like I said, I don't really know that engine but older bmws have a bit of a reputation for oil leaks from cam covers, oil filters etc.
It smells which i think it could be the oil burning.
I really dont want to sell it as i really like the car. It is just that when i saw that crack i freaked out but if it is an easy fix, i certainly would be keeping it.
I really appreciate your answer
efra486 said:
brman said:
I am struggling to work out whether it is the manifold or the heat shield, but if it is the manifold then it is covered in oil which is a pretty likely culprit for the smoke.
I know nothing about that engine but from the position I would guess the cam cover gasket is leaking?
What if it is the heat shield?I know nothing about that engine but from the position I would guess the cam cover gasket is leaking?
And yes, i am almost sure it is also leaking oil, but im not sure if it because of the gasket or the crack.
efra486 said:
brman said:
A thought, you don't say where the smoke was coming from but I assume under the bonnet or you would not be looking there?
Also, what sort of smoke? If the manifold was cracked and leaking I would expect at worse a slight gray haze. It will smell but there should not be clouds of smoke. If a decent amount of more light gray smoke then I would say it is likely oil burning off (or something else burning....). Oil burning would match a leak from the gasket and what is visible in that picture.
You also ask whether you should just sell it on. That is up to you but, if my guess is right, it should be a pretty easy fix (for a competent DIYer) and certainly isn't a sign the car is a dog. Like I said, I don't really know that engine but older bmws have a bit of a reputation for oil leaks from cam covers, oil filters etc.
No, it does not come from under the bonnet, It is a bluish smoke coming out of the exhaust, yea sorry i did not mention it, it comes from the exhaust.Also, what sort of smoke? If the manifold was cracked and leaking I would expect at worse a slight gray haze. It will smell but there should not be clouds of smoke. If a decent amount of more light gray smoke then I would say it is likely oil burning off (or something else burning....). Oil burning would match a leak from the gasket and what is visible in that picture.
You also ask whether you should just sell it on. That is up to you but, if my guess is right, it should be a pretty easy fix (for a competent DIYer) and certainly isn't a sign the car is a dog. Like I said, I don't really know that engine but older bmws have a bit of a reputation for oil leaks from cam covers, oil filters etc.
It smells which i think it could be the oil burning.
I really dont want to sell it as i really like the car. So if it is an easy fix, i certainly would be keeping it.
I really appreciate your answer
brman said:
You should be able to feel around above the manifold. If the gasket at that point is wet with oil then it is the gasket, not the manifold. Maybe clean it well first then drive for a bit so you can pinpoint the source of the leak.
Okay, i will do that later today and I will be updating It looks like there are a couple of possibly associated problems.
Firstly it is really difficult to tell exactly what the cracked part is, it could, as has been stated, simply be a manifold, I think it looks more likely to be a web at the top of the engine that the cam cover bolts to, but can't be sure.
Secondly as there is oil in what is a VERY common place on these engines it seems that the cam cover gasket needs replacement & possibly if that is the case the both are definitely associated.
Your first port of call if you bought it from a dealer is to take it back & show/tell them the issue.
Firstly it is really difficult to tell exactly what the cracked part is, it could, as has been stated, simply be a manifold, I think it looks more likely to be a web at the top of the engine that the cam cover bolts to, but can't be sure.
Secondly as there is oil in what is a VERY common place on these engines it seems that the cam cover gasket needs replacement & possibly if that is the case the both are definitely associated.
Your first port of call if you bought it from a dealer is to take it back & show/tell them the issue.
brman said:
When does it do it?
Hot or cold engine?
Stationary at idle?
Driving gentle?
Driving hard?
Only when revving it hard or all the time?
It certainly does not occur when a cold start.Hot or cold engine?
Stationary at idle?
Driving gentle?
Driving hard?
Only when revving it hard or all the time?
It has happened when it is idle at a traffic light or sit for a minute or 2, when i shift into first and start accelerating, it is when you can see the blue smoke coming out.
It happens almost always when revving light, not when revving hard.
E-bmw said:
It looks like there are a couple of possibly associated problems.
Firstly it is really difficult to tell exactly what the cracked part is, it could, as has been stated, simply be a manifold, I think it looks more likely to be a web at the top of the engine that the cam cover bolts to, but can't be sure.
Secondly as there is oil in what is a VERY common place on these engines it seems that the cam cover gasket needs replacement & possibly if that is the case the both are definitely associated.
Your first port of call if you bought it from a dealer is to take it back & show/tell them the issue.
Not from a dealer, it was bought through some individual. But i will take it to the mechanics as soon as i can.Firstly it is really difficult to tell exactly what the cracked part is, it could, as has been stated, simply be a manifold, I think it looks more likely to be a web at the top of the engine that the cam cover bolts to, but can't be sure.
Secondly as there is oil in what is a VERY common place on these engines it seems that the cam cover gasket needs replacement & possibly if that is the case the both are definitely associated.
Your first port of call if you bought it from a dealer is to take it back & show/tell them the issue.
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