I started up my car today and it made a really odd noise. It wasn't like a knocking, maybe a slight clanking noise, but more like a swirly shakey noise. And then I opened my hood to listen carefully, but I did hear anything coming from the top half of the engine so I took the oil cap off while the engine was running. Now I may be an idiot and not have known this would happen, but when I removed the engine oil cap, the whole engine shuttered, so I quickly put the oil cap back on and it was fine. Does that indicate a problem, or is that normal for this engine? All this is added upon the original problem of the idle speed dropping to 500 then to 1000 then to 500 and finally to 750 after I came out of gear to drift. I have an appointment for friday, and I'm terrified that I'm gonna get horrible news of a piston broken or a valve fell out or something. I guess I should have prefaced all of this with the fact that my engine went into the red zone for about a second (6500rpms). I'm assuming this current problem is due to my stupidity. If any one can rest my fear that I'm gonna get really bad news please tell me. Also I haven't changed the oxygen sensor yet, and I got 112k on it.
follow-up to rpm inconsistency
- Thread starter selavia
- Start date
I'm trying to imagine the sound you are explaining but i can't. Any other way to explain the noise?
It is normal for your engine to shudder when you take off the oil cap. I wouldn't advise doing that on a different car like a toyota geo etc (not that you would own a geo). With some cars, oil sprays everywhere.
It is normal for your engine to shudder when you take off the oil cap. I wouldn't advise doing that on a different car like a toyota geo etc (not that you would own a geo). With some cars, oil sprays everywhere.
That's supposed to happen when you take the cap off. My car does that. My mazda 626 does it too. The engine needs presure to stay on. When you open that cap, your letting more air into where it's not supposed to go. (I think). but that's nothing. That happens all the time. I think it's normal for injector cars.
The noise is almost like a bearing doesn't have enough lubrication and sometimes is ok, and sometimes it's scratching the metal. But I don't think it's coming from the engine. Also someone else told me that its probably my clutch that's starting to go, and with the clutch some bearing (I really am not familiar with trannies) needs to be replaced. However, I do hear a slight noise similar to this when I'm using Reverse and 1st gear; but no other gear. If it is the clutch, how much am I looking at?
[bmwkick]
Oh, and btw, I used to drive a Toyota; so you're not too far off. lol. Thanks for the help. And do let me know if this bearing thing sounds about right.
haha me too... old 88 camry.
The bearing in the tranny is called the throwout bearing but that is only used when you depress (push in) the clutch. So i'm not sure that would be the problem
Can you hear that noise when you are sitting in the car with windows up and everything? I might have the same noise. haha. its been cold so i haven't inverstigated. It been going on for months.... i may look at it soon. Then again i have an e30, but maybe its an accesory (a/c or something like that) They could be the same.... anyway sorry i can't be more of a help.
also i doubt it is a result of redlining your car. It won't actually let you go past redline unless you have a chip but even then you can go up the slime redline without problem , just not into the thicker redline. thats 6500 right?
The bearing in the tranny is called the throwout bearing but that is only used when you depress (push in) the clutch. So i'm not sure that would be the problem
Can you hear that noise when you are sitting in the car with windows up and everything? I might have the same noise. haha. its been cold so i haven't inverstigated. It been going on for months.... i may look at it soon. Then again i have an e30, but maybe its an accesory (a/c or something like that) They could be the same.... anyway sorry i can't be more of a help.
also i doubt it is a result of redlining your car. It won't actually let you go past redline unless you have a chip but even then you can go up the slime redline without problem , just not into the thicker redline. thats 6500 right?
Not bad...I had a 95 Camry. Great car; although if you took that sucker even close to the redlines it would cause engine problems. THat's why I thought my actions with my BMW caused this.
I cannot hear the noise when I'm sitting in the car. But I can't hear it from the engine bay either. I'm thinking it probably has something to do with the tranny; most likely flywheel or something. Cause it sort of whines(the noise turns into a louder whine) when I get the car moving. THe closest sound I can think of is when a steeringpump has no fluid in it. That "oing, oinnggg" sound. But as soon as I get going, I really don't hear it. I dunno what the hec is going on. I guess I'll find out for sure tommorrow. I do have a habit of punching gears when I'm in a bad mood (and with my course load, I tend to be in bad moods during the end of the semester) and I sometimes hear something in the connection between the engine and tranny go "guhg". lol. Real descriptive huh? I'm glad that at least me taking into the nether regions did not cause this problem. THanks. And I'll let you know how it turns out.
I cannot hear the noise when I'm sitting in the car. But I can't hear it from the engine bay either. I'm thinking it probably has something to do with the tranny; most likely flywheel or something. Cause it sort of whines(the noise turns into a louder whine) when I get the car moving. THe closest sound I can think of is when a steeringpump has no fluid in it. That "oing, oinnggg" sound. But as soon as I get going, I really don't hear it. I dunno what the hec is going on. I guess I'll find out for sure tommorrow. I do have a habit of punching gears when I'm in a bad mood (and with my course load, I tend to be in bad moods during the end of the semester) and I sometimes hear something in the connection between the engine and tranny go "guhg". lol. Real descriptive huh? I'm glad that at least me taking into the nether regions did not cause this problem. THanks. And I'll let you know how it turns out.
didn't start
Well, last night I went to clean out my car before I dropped it at the shop this morning(Friday). And I thought, why don't I start her up and see if it's still making noise and such. So I attempt to start it and the mf doesn't start! I try several times, and one occasion I get it running, but then I let go of the gas and it died. So I thought really really rough idle. I checked the oil cap (with the engine off this time![[hihi]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_hihi.gif "Hi Hi [hihi]")
) for mayonaise; nothing. So I try it two/three more times and by pressing the gas and starting it, it starts. So I hold the gas at 1500rpm for about 40seconds, then let go and it was fine!?! WTF??? I I took it to the shop right then cause I didn't want to deal with that in the morning. I started right before I left the shop and it started great and it wasn't even making that f*ing sound!!! I beginning to hate my car. I'll post what the shop says.
Well, last night I went to clean out my car before I dropped it at the shop this morning(Friday). And I thought, why don't I start her up and see if it's still making noise and such. So I attempt to start it and the mf doesn't start! I try several times, and one occasion I get it running, but then I let go of the gas and it died. So I thought really really rough idle. I checked the oil cap (with the engine off this time
) for mayonaise; nothing. So I try it two/three more times and by pressing the gas and starting it, it starts. So I hold the gas at 1500rpm for about 40seconds, then let go and it was fine!?! WTF??? I I took it to the shop right then cause I didn't want to deal with that in the morning. I started right before I left the shop and it started great and it wasn't even making that f*ing sound!!! I beginning to hate my car. I'll post what the shop says.Conclusion; i.e. the rest of the story
Anyone who used to listen to Paul Harvey's radio broadcast would understand the title.
So anyway, I go to the shop Friday afternoon to speak to the guy about my car. I had driven by twice in the day (once at 10am, and the other at 1:30). Both times my car was being fiddled with. Since I assumed 10-1:30; I assumed really bad news, so I didn't bother to stop. So I go back there after I get off from my internship. The guy chuckles a little bit, and says your car is ready to go. I was like "awesome! What was wrong with it?" He said as far as the RPM inconsistency goes: He asked me if I had been flooring/racing my car lately? I responded "Well, yeah; sometimes. He's like what happened is when it gets cold outside, after it's been warm, and the engine is cold, the Throw-out bearing isn't completely functional. It does adapt very well to the weather change, expecially if it has 112k on it. He's like don't do that when it's cold and rainy, etc. And as far as it not starting; the engine was flooded cause I started it the day before and took the engine oil cap off. He said I should be very lucky that a flooded engine is all that happened. So basically, I'm an idiot. When I told this to my buddy, I ended by telling him that the bill was $40. He responded (quite amusingly) by saying, "shit, I could have told you're an idiot for half that." Well, that's the end of my saga. Oh, he did replace some air hose; he said that would have become a problem in about 6months, so he said might as well do it now. That was included in the $40, so I wasn't jacked or anything. I guess I should be happy the way things ended, but I kind of feel stupid. Oh well, live and learn. Comments on my stupidity are more than welcome; trust me, I've heard many so far...and some of them are quite funny.![[thumb]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_thumb.gif "Thumbs Up [thumb]")
Anyone who used to listen to Paul Harvey's radio broadcast would understand the title.
So anyway, I go to the shop Friday afternoon to speak to the guy about my car. I had driven by twice in the day (once at 10am, and the other at 1:30). Both times my car was being fiddled with. Since I assumed 10-1:30; I assumed really bad news, so I didn't bother to stop. So I go back there after I get off from my internship. The guy chuckles a little bit, and says your car is ready to go. I was like "awesome! What was wrong with it?" He said as far as the RPM inconsistency goes: He asked me if I had been flooring/racing my car lately? I responded "Well, yeah; sometimes. He's like what happened is when it gets cold outside, after it's been warm, and the engine is cold, the Throw-out bearing isn't completely functional. It does adapt very well to the weather change, expecially if it has 112k on it. He's like don't do that when it's cold and rainy, etc. And as far as it not starting; the engine was flooded cause I started it the day before and took the engine oil cap off. He said I should be very lucky that a flooded engine is all that happened. So basically, I'm an idiot. When I told this to my buddy, I ended by telling him that the bill was $40. He responded (quite amusingly) by saying, "shit, I could have told you're an idiot for half that." Well, that's the end of my saga. Oh, he did replace some air hose; he said that would have become a problem in about 6months, so he said might as well do it now. That was included in the $40, so I wasn't jacked or anything. I guess I should be happy the way things ended, but I kind of feel stupid. Oh well, live and learn. Comments on my stupidity are more than welcome; trust me, I've heard many so far...and some of them are quite funny.
ha, sounds like great news! I've done the oil cap thing many times. Never flooded my engine. I have to put oil in my car every few weeks.... well sometimes i'm too lazy to turn off my car. Its really not bad to allow your valve cover to breathe. In fact all cars have a PCV valve that does just that. Except it takes the air that is "breathed" and maps it to different (depending on in or out) places and is burned instead of going right into the air. It is monitored usually, and helps the car tell how much fuel it needs and what not. So i guess thats what happened. It probably messes with the computer quite a bit to bypass the PCV valve by taking off the oil cap. Oh well. Thanks for the heads up and edgumacation. (education)
Glad the noise was taken care of as well!
Glad the noise was taken care of as well!
New Development
Hey all,
Just when I thought this saga was over...a buddy of mine told me to get some fuel additive/ fuel injector cleaner. So I go to BMW cause I didn't know what brand to buy. I go into their little store and see that BMW sells it. I go to pay for it and it's only $2.10!! That really surprised the shit outa me. And what's more, when I put it in, then put Sunoco 94 Octane. After all that I was on Interstate 83 and I was coming on from a ramp and there was a bunch of traffic quickly approaching so I drop to fourth and give it some glorious gas. It starts to take off, and then it took off like it had a turbo on it. I literally felt a jerk and a substantial accelleration increase. I dunno what the hell was in my fuel injectors, or what was in that fluid but it really kicked ass!! Everyone should buy this fluid!![[whip]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_whip.gif "Whip [whip]")
Hey all,
Just when I thought this saga was over...a buddy of mine told me to get some fuel additive/ fuel injector cleaner. So I go to BMW cause I didn't know what brand to buy. I go into their little store and see that BMW sells it. I go to pay for it and it's only $2.10!! That really surprised the shit outa me. And what's more, when I put it in, then put Sunoco 94 Octane. After all that I was on Interstate 83 and I was coming on from a ramp and there was a bunch of traffic quickly approaching so I drop to fourth and give it some glorious gas. It starts to take off, and then it took off like it had a turbo on it. I literally felt a jerk and a substantial accelleration increase. I dunno what the hell was in my fuel injectors, or what was in that fluid but it really kicked ass!! Everyone should buy this fluid!
The BMW Tech place I took mine to, told me that there was an air hose that's near the back of the engine (1.8L; dunno about the 2.5L) and when it gets to the point where it starts to get all crack-ey and dilapitated, it sucks air from around the engine. And when it does that it makes a funny a$$ noise that sounds like it's coming from the tranny. Hence, I thought I have some issue with that region. He replaced it for me, and it doesn't make that noise anymore. I hope that's your problem cause it was really cheap for me to get fixed. But I really couldn't hear it when I released my foot off the gas, only when I threw the clutch in (and thereby allowing the engine to idle at 750rpm. If you have an automatic that might be the same thing. Anyway, good luck, and let me know what happens. ![[idea]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_idea.gif "Idea! [idea]")
Yeah, I know...I used to take the engine oil cap off my Camry and even a SUpra I used to drive and I never had any disturbance or any oil shoot out. That's what especially made me think something was odd with the E36. It only turns out that I'm judging a German Book with a Japanese background. haha. Hope that joke doesn't offend anybody. And I apologize if I did.
selavia said:
The BMW Tech place I took mine to, told me that there was an air hose that's near the back of the engine (1.8L; dunno about the 2.5L) and when it gets to the point where it starts to get all crack-ey and dilapitated, it sucks air from around the engine. And when it does that it makes a funny a$$ noise that sounds like it's coming from the tranny. Hence, I thought I have some issue with that region. He replaced it for me, and it doesn't make that noise anymore. I hope that's your problem cause it was really cheap for me to get fixed. But I really couldn't hear it when I released my foot off the gas, only when I threw the clutch in (and thereby allowing the engine to idle at 750rpm. If you have an automatic that might be the same thing. Anyway, good luck, and let me know what happens.
Dude sorry to hear that. Man, what dealership are you taking your baby too?!? The one where I live (BMW of Towson) has the best people working their. I mean they are absolutely the best at their job. I have a buddy who needed his 525 serviced and his tranny replaced; they put in a new; not reconditioned, new tranny and everything underwarranty. And his baby shifts like new. Try another dealership if these guys are that worthless. Good Luck man. ![[boxface]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_boxface.gif "Box Face [boxface]")