Loss off water and massive cloud of steam from exhaust on my BMW 320D e91

LEEATKINSON

MEMBER
2006 BMW 120D
2.0L
4 CYL
TURBO
RWD
MANUAL
115,000 MILES

Hello I bought a 2006 bmw 320d 2 month ago and have had nothing but problem after problem with it. The car is using all its water within 5 minutes of running the car and filling the road behind it with a white misty vapour not smoke more like steam and all the water disaperes. The garage we bought the car from put it into the mechanics they use and they have come back with the idea of it being caused by the dpf and an airlock in the coolant system I assume this is wrong and they are trying to fob me as I was under the impression that for the steam to exit the exhaust the water must be getting into the engine and evaporating which I thought would be caused by cylinder head troubles. Could someone please give me some advise on wether or not the mechanic could be right as it doesn't make sense to me. The car also has a brake pressure sensor fault which is apparently being repaired as we speek. Thanyou lee

Thursday, June 25th, 2015 AT 11:04 AM

2 Replies

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
34,331 POSTS

You are right about the cylinder head, but it's typically the gasket that leaks. You can verify this by adding a small bottle of dark purple dye to the coolant, then search a little while later with a black light. The dye will show up as a bright yellow stain that you can follow back to the source. If a head gasket is leaking, you'll find the dye inside the tail pipe. Auto parts stores will have the dye, and those that rent or borrow tools should have a black light.

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Thursday, June 25th, 2015 AT 8:16 PM

LEEATKINSON