The Smoking BMW
Puzzler time.
Some years ago, we had a fan write in with this puzzler. Here it is.
Years ago, this guy tells us that he had a 1971 BMW 2002 and that he put it through its paces, as they say. He was basically driving it like a total idiot. He pulled a very hard left turn and to his utter dismay, saw a huge billowing cloud of white smoke behind the car.
After some time in the pre cell phone era in a very rural location, he realized he had to get back to civilization somehow, so he gingerly started the car and listened for ruinous noises. He heard none. He began driving home, and much to his amazement, the smoke cleared up. The guy drove home.
Over time, he was emboldened as the incident faded into oblivion. He was feeling like everything was okay with the car. That is, until it happened again.
The incident would repeat itself every so often, until the guy finally discovered its cause. Other than a few routine maintenance items such as tune ups, adjusting the valves and the carburetor, and tightening of the ever loosening fan belt and topping off the brake fluid at each oil change, he did nothing special to the car.
The puzzler question is, what was causing the smoke?
And I must add that back then, there were many cars to which this could happen. This just happens to be the one in question, but the vast majority of cars back then could have the same condition applied.
