Blue Puff on Cold Start

Googlyamnesiac · 01-30-2010, 02:15 PM

I'm not sure if this is related to my "potential" mass air flow meter problem but i've noticed the past two days when I start the car I get a big puff of bluey white smoke from the exhaust. It only seems to do this from cold. If I let it tick over for a few seconds and then put my foot down it's all clear as a whistle (well as clear as a dirty diesel gets!)

Can't get it to a garage until next weekend, should I be worried!!?

Need some reassurance more than anything!

mikeysix · 01-30-2010, 02:36 PM

Is that not a turbo issue? Seals or something possibly rob mate

jjbirch · 01-30-2010, 02:39 PM

my one has been doing this for a few months i put it down to cold weather pulls fine when driving just a few mins when cold

Googlyamnesiac · 01-30-2010, 02:57 PM

Makes me feel a bit better i'm not alone!

Dr Dave · 01-31-2010, 02:47 AM

You shouldn't get any smoke from a modern diesel upon start up!

Something is amiss.

Robbo - how many miles on the motor?

jjbirch · 01-31-2010, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Dave

You shouldn't get any smoke from a modern diesel upon start up!

Something is amiss.

Robbo - how many miles on the motor?

are cars havnt got DPF so it normal for a little puff, audi's are much worse i was following my cousin 07 plate A6 and that was puffing for 5 miles before it got warm,

Googlyamnesiac · 01-31-2010, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Dave

You shouldn't get any smoke from a modern diesel upon start up!

Something is amiss.

Robbo - how many miles on the motor?

66k I really need a job where I don't clock up 20k a year!

Carrera RSR · 01-31-2010, 07:48 AM

The puff needs to dress more appropriately in the cold to avoid going blue

bakili · 01-31-2010, 08:05 AM

its normal on diesels
my vw passat tdi did same, puff of smoke on start up.
changing glow plugs might inprove a bit, but i would not worry much about it.

Googlyamnesiac · 01-31-2010, 11:08 AM

It did it this morning too, but I did notice that the "yellow rope" warning light was still visible when I accidentally pressed the start enging button.

Could this cause it maybe? I need to get into the habit of putting key in and waiting a few seconds I think!

MEGA · 02-01-2010, 10:45 AM

pssh I've never payed any attention to the yellow squiggle thing I just start her up :S Didn't realise I was meant to wait. Googled for that dash symbol the first time it came up and didn't get any results!

Googlyamnesiac · 02-01-2010, 10:47 AM

It didn't do it this morning, I waited a few seconds this time. However I didn't see that yellow rope until I held the start/stop button down. Not sure how i'm supposed to wait for it to go out anyway!

mikeysix · 02-01-2010, 10:51 AM

The yellow rope is the glowcoil. You don't have to wait with modern denzils. They heat that quick that it's only on cold mornings you see it just to let you know if there is a delay. Your not doing any damage. Carry on just firing up as you do

themetz · 02-01-2010, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carrera RSR

The puff needs to dress more appropriately in the cold to avoid going blue

maybe it's a smurf?

dxb335d · 02-01-2010, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by idlerobbo

It did it this morning too, but I did notice that the "yellow rope" warning light was still visible when I accidentally pressed the start enging button.

Could this cause it maybe? I need to get into the habit of putting key in and waiting a few seconds I think!

Now you never guess what.

My van does this every morning. Someone mentioned glow plugs etc. I turned on ignition and left it a fe secs till that light went out and it didnt do it.

the 335d has never done it though

Googlyamnesiac · 02-01-2010, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeysix

The yellow rope is the glowcoil. You don't have to wait with modern denzils. They heat that quick that it's only on cold mornings you see it just to let you know if there is a delay. Your not doing any damage. Carry on just firing up as you do

You must be the expert with your -20 temperatures up your way!

So that explains why it stuttered and turned over a second or so before it fired...

chris330D · 02-01-2010, 02:06 PM

This may be a controversial post but I read my manual!! That said doesn't really answer the question. The 'yellow rope' is the pre-heat coil but the manual only says:

'When the engine is cold and the temperature is below approx 0 eg C, starting may be delayed by automatic pre-heating. In the instrument cluster, the preheat indicator light comes on.'

Certainly it always used to be the case that you wited fro the pre-heat light to go out before starting a diesel bu this doesn't seem too clear

themetz · 02-02-2010, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris330D

This may be a controversial post but I read my manual!! That said doesn't really answer the question. The 'yellow rope' is the pre-heat coil but the manual only says:

'When the engine is cold and the temperature is below approx 0 eg C, starting may be delayed by automatic pre-heating. In the instrument cluster, the preheat indicator light comes on.'

Certainly it always used to be the case that you wited fro the pre-heat light to go out before starting a diesel bu this doesn't seem too clear

the ignition won't spark until the pre-heat is automatically completed. in ye olde days you did indeed have to w....a....i....t... for the light to go before you could fire up. but now the waiting is done automatically until the system is ready.

BTW http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...highlight=rope

HighlandPete · 02-02-2010, 05:00 AM

On our push button start engines the 'delay', if any, is automatic. Most times even at around zero degrees the start is instant. I noticed when we dropped down to sub -10 degrees there would be a slight delay before engine cranking (from pushing the start button) and a flash of the glowplug light, as more time was needed.

Remember the glowplugs continue to work as necessary, up to a couple of minutes or so, on the warm up cycle, to assist combustion and emissions.

Blue/white smoke, even a few seconds after a cold start, can still be a glow plug issue.

HighlandPete

Googlyamnesiac · 02-05-2010, 10:01 AM

Turns out I have 2 glowplugs out. Supposedly this isn't too much of a problem, but want them sorting soon...

jinjur · 02-05-2010, 10:03 AM

Anyone know if NGK stuff will be ok for this car or is this another "BMW is best" scenario?

I too have the "lumpy as a top fuel dragster" start and lovely exhaust fog when cold.

Regards
Andy

Googlyamnesiac · 02-05-2010, 10:14 AM

The guy from the garage said the plugs would be about £14 each, would that be non OEM ones though?

I opened another thread too, so sorry for asking in two places but anyone know how easy they are to fit? He mentioned the manifold cover needs removing? Easy job?

01-30-2010, 02:15 PM	#1
Googlyamnesiac Captain 59 Rep 743 Posts Drives: 2013 F10 520D Join Date: May 2009 Location: Yorkshire, UK iTrader: (3)	Blue Puff on Cold Start I'm not sure if this is related to my "potential" mass air flow meter problem but i've noticed the past two days when I start the car I get a big puff of bluey white smoke from the exhaust. It only seems to do this from cold. If I let it tick over for a few seconds and then put my foot down it's all clear as a whistle (well as clear as a dirty diesel gets!) Can't get it to a garage until next weekend, should I be worried!!? Need some reassurance more than anything!
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01-30-2010, 02:36 PM	#2
mikeysix Lieutenant 25 Rep 482 Posts Drives: F30 318d m sport Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Kirkcaldy iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 e90 2.0d m sport [0.00]	Is that not a turbo issue? Seals or something possibly rob mate
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01-30-2010, 02:39 PM	#3
jjbirch Banned 75 Rep 2,927 Posts Drives: E60 530D M SPORT Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: england iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 320d m sport [0.00]	my one has been doing this for a few months i put it down to cold weather pulls fine when driving just a few mins when cold
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01-30-2010, 02:57 PM	#4
Googlyamnesiac Captain 59 Rep 743 Posts Drives: 2013 F10 520D Join Date: May 2009 Location: Yorkshire, UK iTrader: (3)	Makes me feel a bit better i'm not alone!
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01-31-2010, 02:47 AM	#5
Dr Dave Zummerzet Zyder Drinker! 112 Rep 5,541 Posts Drives: '06 330D Le Mans Blue Join Date: May 2009 Location: Somerset iTrader: (3) Garage List 2006 330d M Sport [0.00]	You shouldn't get any smoke from a modern diesel upon start up! Something is amiss. Robbo - how many miles on the motor? __________________
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01-31-2010, 07:48 AM	#8
Carrera RSR Colonel 75 Rep 2,937 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Location: Location: iTrader: (1)	Blue Puff on Cold Start The puff needs to dress more appropriately in the cold to avoid going blue
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01-31-2010, 08:05 AM	#9
bakili Lieutenant 37 Rep 427 Posts Drives: bmw e90 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Doncaster iTrader: (1) Garage List not old 318i [0.00]	its normal on diesels my vw passat tdi did same, puff of smoke on start up. changing glow plugs might inprove a bit, but i would not worry much about it.
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01-31-2010, 11:08 AM	#10
Googlyamnesiac Captain 59 Rep 743 Posts Drives: 2013 F10 520D Join Date: May 2009 Location: Yorkshire, UK iTrader: (3)	It did it this morning too, but I did notice that the "yellow rope" warning light was still visible when I accidentally pressed the start enging button. Could this cause it maybe? I need to get into the habit of putting key in and waiting a few seconds I think!
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02-01-2010, 10:45 AM	#11
MEGA Dieseasal 204 Rep 6,881 Posts Drives: LCI E92 335d M-Sport Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Harrow, London iTrader: (2)	pssh I've never payed any attention to the yellow squiggle thing I just start her up :S Didn't realise I was meant to wait. Googled for that dash symbol the first time it came up and didn't get any results! __________________ Previously: 2003 Peugeot 206 1.6 8v \| 2006 E90 320d M-Sport, 19" BBS CH, Full Ice-cold JL audio install, August 2010 Total BMW 6 page feature car. \| 2003 Nissan 350Z GT Coupe 286BHP Now:2010 E92 LCI 335d M-Sport
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02-01-2010, 10:47 AM	#12
Googlyamnesiac Captain 59 Rep 743 Posts Drives: 2013 F10 520D Join Date: May 2009 Location: Yorkshire, UK iTrader: (3)	It didn't do it this morning, I waited a few seconds this time. However I didn't see that yellow rope until I held the start/stop button down. Not sure how i'm supposed to wait for it to go out anyway!
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02-01-2010, 10:51 AM	#13
mikeysix Lieutenant 25 Rep 482 Posts Drives: F30 318d m sport Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Kirkcaldy iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 e90 2.0d m sport [0.00]	The yellow rope is the glowcoil. You don't have to wait with modern denzils. They heat that quick that it's only on cold mornings you see it just to let you know if there is a delay. Your not doing any damage. Carry on just firing up as you do
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02-01-2010, 02:06 PM	#17
chris330D Major 36 Rep 1,135 Posts Drives: F31 335d Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sussex, UK iTrader: (0)	This may be a controversial post but I read my manual!! That said doesn't really answer the question. The 'yellow rope' is the pre-heat coil but the manual only says: 'When the engine is cold and the temperature is below approx 0 eg C, starting may be delayed by automatic pre-heating. In the instrument cluster, the preheat indicator light comes on.' Certainly it always used to be the case that you wited fro the pre-heat light to go out before starting a diesel bu this doesn't seem too clear
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02-02-2010, 05:00 AM	#19
HighlandPete Lieutenant General 6659 Rep 15,858 Posts Drives: BMW F11 535i Touring Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Scotland, Highland Region iTrader: (0)	On our push button start engines the 'delay', if any, is automatic. Most times even at around zero degrees the start is instant. I noticed when we dropped down to sub -10 degrees there would be a slight delay before engine cranking (from pushing the start button) and a flash of the glowplug light, as more time was needed. Remember the glowplugs continue to work as necessary, up to a couple of minutes or so, on the warm up cycle, to assist combustion and emissions. Blue/white smoke, even a few seconds after a cold start, can still be a glow plug issue. HighlandPete
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02-05-2010, 10:01 AM	#20
Googlyamnesiac Captain 59 Rep 743 Posts Drives: 2013 F10 520D Join Date: May 2009 Location: Yorkshire, UK iTrader: (3)	Turns out I have 2 glowplugs out. Supposedly this isn't too much of a problem, but want them sorting soon...
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02-05-2010, 10:03 AM	#21
jinjur yes....spelt with J's 55 Rep 963 Posts Drives: F31 325D MSport Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NoRtH eYeLaNd iTrader: (0)	Anyone know if NGK stuff will be ok for this car or is this another "BMW is best" scenario? I too have the "lumpy as a top fuel dragster" start and lovely exhaust fog when cold. Regards Andy
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02-05-2010, 10:14 AM	#22
Googlyamnesiac Captain 59 Rep 743 Posts Drives: 2013 F10 520D Join Date: May 2009 Location: Yorkshire, UK iTrader: (3)	The guy from the garage said the plugs would be about £14 each, would that be non OEM ones though? I opened another thread too, so sorry for asking in two places but anyone know how easy they are to fit? He mentioned the manifold cover needs removing? Easy job?
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