reddish or rust powder on plugs

klaasjoe · 06-06-2012, 10:31 PM

Hey guys my 335 has been having problems for a while and when we thought we fixed it we didn't. Anyways my wife was driving and it started to shake and went into limp mode. So I took it to my new mechanic and he pulled the plugs (which were new) and they have a reddish or rust colored powder on them. I am thinking head gasket or turbos? Anyone have any idea?

e90328i · 06-06-2012, 11:13 PM

sounds like coolant?? so head gasket

Ilma · 06-06-2012, 11:28 PM

If you ran any octane booster with MMT then that can leave a red residue on your plugs.

Thumperx · 06-07-2012, 01:05 AM

May have too agree about coolant. Check and remove oil cap to see if oil has been contaminated. Oil will turned milky brown if so.

Also tech may use a bore scope or remove intake to see condition of valves (see any reddish material is on valves). This may indicate the extent of problem and you may have head gasket problem.

AWD Addict · 06-07-2012, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ilma

If you ran any octane booster with MMT then that can leave a red residue on your plugs.

^That.

Speed_Addict · 06-08-2012, 07:45 PM

Been running Arco fuel? Long ago I ran that crap (even the Premium) and would see that type of fouling.

klaasjoe · 06-09-2012, 12:25 AM

No always run chevron and no octane booster. My mechanic thought it might be a head gasket but then he was thinking why would all the plugs be reddish.he called his buddy at the BMW dealer and asked him and the guy told him it has to do with the trial bovand the jb4. I don't know what to do now.

tcw · 06-09-2012, 11:09 AM

Replace the plugs and drive it and see if it resurfaces? Maybe it was bad gas or something along those lines.

JO3 · 06-09-2012, 01:24 PM

I had the same thing when I changed my plugs. Cylinders 4, 5, and 6. It got progressively worse going from cyl 4 to 6. There was even some orange color on the piston face in those cylinders. I was going to run the new plugs for a few thousand miles and then pull them and check again.

On other platforms, this is commonly caused by octane booster, but I've never run octane booster either.

imageautodetail · 06-09-2012, 04:30 PM

tech is probably right, the blow off valve caused it...lol

Lulz_M3 · 06-09-2012, 04:33 PM

Maybe whoever did the plugs used copper antiseize? That's common amongst some EU shops after finding out the regular antiseize can cause grounding problems.

klaasjoe · 06-10-2012, 01:05 AM

No anti seize used and this is the second set of plugs. It is my wife's daily she has said she has been smelling exhaust or smoke. Could this be from the turbos? If they are leaking and they are water cooled maybe explains reddish color on plugs

06-06-2012, 10:31 PM	#1
klaasjoe Enlisted Member 4 Rep 47 Posts Drives: 2007 bmw 335i sedan Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: los angeles iTrader: (1)	reddish or rust powder on plugs Hey guys my 335 has been having problems for a while and when we thought we fixed it we didn't. Anyways my wife was driving and it started to shake and went into limp mode. So I took it to my new mechanic and he pulled the plugs (which were new) and they have a reddish or rust colored powder on them. I am thinking head gasket or turbos? Anyone have any idea? __________________ 2007 335I sedan (jb4,tial bov,afe intake) 01 cobra (novi 2000,nos,aftercooler,550rwp) 92 supra (1jz,regulus body kit 353 rwhp) 99 disco2 dd 93 probe
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06-06-2012, 11:13 PM	#2
e90328i Banned 25 Rep 386 Posts Drives: 07 E90 335i Join Date: May 2011 Location: socal iTrader: (4)	sounds like coolant?? so head gasket
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06-06-2012, 11:28 PM	#3
Ilma Colonel 184 Rep 2,841 Posts Drives: 2008 135i Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mississauga iTrader: (0)	If you ran any octane booster with MMT then that can leave a red residue on your plugs.
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06-07-2012, 01:05 AM	#4
Thumperx Major 88 Rep 1,404 Posts Drives: 335I coupe Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: SE Michigan iTrader: (77)	May have too agree about coolant. Check and remove oil cap to see if oil has been contaminated. Oil will turned milky brown if so. Also tech may use a bore scope or remove intake to see condition of valves (see any reddish material is on valves). This may indicate the extent of problem and you may have head gasket problem. __________________ Name: Blanca \| 07 E92 \| AW-Blk \| ZSP \| Alcon BBK \| M3 Bits \| VM RR Links \| Koni \| UUC Sways \| V5 \| Dinan CAI \| ETS IC \| Fge DV \| ER CP \| Cyba \| Raden. Exh \| Mod Step \| Trunk Drawer \| Perf LED Wheel \| Illum Dr Sills \| IS Shifter \| Parrot \| Philps D1S \| 6000k fog \| MTECH RR \| CSL Trunk \| Aero \| Roof Spoiler \| PSS on BBS RS-GT 19s
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06-08-2012, 07:45 PM	#6
Speed_Addict Second Lieutenant 34 Rep 210 Posts Drives: Crimson Red 335i Coupe Join Date: May 2008 Location: Northwest iTrader: (1)	Been running Arco fuel? Long ago I ran that crap (even the Premium) and would see that type of fouling.
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06-09-2012, 12:25 AM	#7
klaasjoe Enlisted Member 4 Rep 47 Posts Drives: 2007 bmw 335i sedan Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: los angeles iTrader: (1)	No always run chevron and no octane booster. My mechanic thought it might be a head gasket but then he was thinking why would all the plugs be reddish.he called his buddy at the BMW dealer and asked him and the guy told him it has to do with the trial bovand the jb4. I don't know what to do now. __________________ 2007 335I sedan (jb4,tial bov,afe intake) 01 cobra (novi 2000,nos,aftercooler,550rwp) 92 supra (1jz,regulus body kit 353 rwhp) 99 disco2 dd 93 probe
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06-09-2012, 11:09 AM	#8
tcw Captain 52 Rep 748 Posts Drives: 2008 335i Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (2)	Replace the plugs and drive it and see if it resurfaces? Maybe it was bad gas or something along those lines. __________________ 2008 335I E92, AW, VFF700, 18" Forgestar F14, M3 front/side, M-tech rear, AMS IC, H&R Touring Cup Kit suspension, HID AE, ER Charge Pipe & Synapse BOV, CIC Retrofit, Quafie, DSS, Defiv Lockdown, SPEC 2+/Steel SMFW, Walbro 450
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06-09-2012, 01:24 PM	#9
JO3 Lieutenant 12 Rep 566 Posts Drives: a lot Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CA iTrader: (8)	I had the same thing when I changed my plugs. Cylinders 4, 5, and 6. It got progressively worse going from cyl 4 to 6. There was even some orange color on the piston face in those cylinders. I was going to run the new plugs for a few thousand miles and then pull them and check again. On other platforms, this is commonly caused by octane booster, but I've never run octane booster either.
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06-09-2012, 04:30 PM	#10
imageautodetail Captain 48 Rep 799 Posts Drives: 08 335 silverback Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: lou EVIL kentucky iTrader: (12) Garage List 2008 335 e90 [0.00] 2007 e90 335 [5.00]	tech is probably right, the blow off valve caused it...lol __________________ FBO...METH...BIG TWINS
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06-09-2012, 04:33 PM	#11
Lulz_M3 Banned 33 Rep 1,029 Posts Drives: AW 335i 6MT Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Jax, Fl iTrader: (0)	Maybe whoever did the plugs used copper antiseize? That's common amongst some EU shops after finding out the regular antiseize can cause grounding problems.
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06-10-2012, 01:05 AM	#12
klaasjoe Enlisted Member 4 Rep 47 Posts Drives: 2007 bmw 335i sedan Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: los angeles iTrader: (1)	No anti seize used and this is the second set of plugs. It is my wife's daily she has said she has been smelling exhaust or smoke. Could this be from the turbos? If they are leaking and they are water cooled maybe explains reddish color on plugs __________________ 2007 335I sedan (jb4,tial bov,afe intake) 01 cobra (novi 2000,nos,aftercooler,550rwp) 92 supra (1jz,regulus body kit 353 rwhp) 99 disco2 dd 93 probe
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