Oil dripping on to a hot exhaust smell like melting plastic?

[TonyRPH]

Couldn't get everything into the thread title.

Would synthetic oil dripping on to a hot exhaust smell like melting plastic?

I sometimes get a smell of hot oil, but this evening I got a strong smell of melting plastic, just like when a plastic bag gets stuck to the exhaust. At the same time, I could see pale white smoke coming through the vents and coming out from under the bonnet - it was only noticeable because the sun was catching it, otherwise I probably wouldn't have seen it.

My car doesn't use any oil - so I'm not convinced there is a leak (and I can't really see anything obvious).

But at the same time I can't see any plastic melting on to the exhaust either! I checked around the manifold and the down pipes but can't see anything worthy of note.

Car is an E39 523i by the way.

Would brake fluid cause this if it was dripping on to the manifold?

TIA.

[TonyRPH]

V6Pushfit said:

Same here from same engine! Like there's a plastic bag melting. It happens every couple of months and there's a faint smell of sulphur too. Very strange.

It always seem to be worse when the car is facing uphill on an incline. It's almost as if oil (or something) is pooling up somewhere and then running out.

[TonyRPH]

@McSam the boominess will be down to the "golf t" mod on the exhaust probably.

I had a 330i and I did the mod and regretted it.

As for the leak in my car - I'm not losing any oil (as visible on the dipstick) so I'm not even sure if the gasket is leaking?

Would it show as a change of level on the dipstick, or is it just a mist leaking out?

Is this a fire hazard?

[TonyRPH]

Ah ok. Sadly the valve in my exhaust had seized and I ended up drilling it out - so I couldn't reverse the mod...

And yes, access to the manifolds on the 3 series is rather tight!!!

[TonyRPH]

Mine's going in to my indy on Tues to have the gasket done.

Hoping it solves the problem.

[TonyRPH]

dhutch said:

Fox- said:

Your rocker cover gasket is leaking and oil is dripping onto the exhaust manifold. This is insanely common on M52 and M54 engined BMW's.

Got what I hope is this too, although I must say to me it just smells like burning oil.... ans light smoke.

I understand other common areas re the gasket between the block and the oil filter housing, and the vanos hose.


Daniel

Unfortunately in my case, the (plastic) cam cover had gone brittle and was breaking up rapidly.

No amount of silicon sealant could fix it.

Due to the lack of availability of a good used one, I ended up paying £300+ for a brand new one.

And a short while after, the oil filter housing 'o' ring failed too.

I have done a thread on my car, anyone looking to buy an E39 BMW 5 series would (should!) be put off by this..