Engine Failsafe Prog and Frozen Pulley?

[weiln12]

All,

When it was VERY cold the other day (-21*F) it started and gave me a "Engine Failsafe Prog". Also, since it's been cold it makes a "vroom" sound, like the sound on a toy when you pull the cord and get it spinning. It made that sound which then stopped abruptly. I tried looking into the engine compartment and I think one of the pulley's froze on the tensioner. Would that generate the "Engine Failsafe Prog", or would it be something else? I stopped and re-started and it didn't make any noise and no failsafe prog.

Long story short, I'm debating parking it for now until I can tear the whole front end off and replace everything. I don't have a garage to park it in overnight and I'm afraid these very cold temps are just going to kill it...

I'm hoping to have a garage within a month though.

[David.X5]

I don't think a frozen pulley can generate a code, at least not until the belt breaks and you loose alternator, etc. if it's been very cold, I would be especially worried about a CCV freezing up which can cause oil to be sucked into the intake and potentially hydro lock the engine. Try to get it somewhere warmer (above freezing) before starting it again.

[weiln12]

I didn't even think of the CCV issue. I know it's on my list to replace, but didn't think it could cause a problem that quickly. That's good to know.

[David.X5]

Hope it is just a pulley. That would be easy. But the CCV is something to think about this time of year. Just happens sometimes. I got hit 2 winters ago. Thought I had blown the engine. Started billowing smoke at the bottom of a highway ramp. It was like -20F (very rare here). Pulled into the nearest parking lot (a brewpub, my guardian angel was watching over me that day) and waited 6 hours for a tow truck.

Things to check before running it - Check your oil level. Look under the oil cap and see if you have "mayo" - a creamy mixture of water and oil - that is a sign water vapor is not getting cleared properly by the CCV. Also remove the intake pipe and push the throttle body open to look inside with a flashlight. There was about a quart of oil inside my intake...

To recover, I removed and cleaned the intake, and replaced the whole kit&caboodle, including the oil separator, CCV valve, the hoses and the metal return oil line running down to the oil pan. There is a retrofittable ccv hose heater available for the M62 4.4 engine as well. My dealer swore it didn't exist, but it does and there is a DIY posted here.

[weiln12]

Ugh, you may be right. I noticed driving home there was a TON of smoke coming out the back and it was more than just "fog" like usual. Engine was down on power, but no lights or anything were coming on. I let it sit overnight in a garage and it seemed OK the next day.

I tried to take off the oil cap, but it's frozen on at the moment. I may be able to get it off tomorrow, but at this point I'm planning for the worst. There is oil on the ground in the garage where the X5 was overnight, and now there's oil in the snow where it's parked. It's never done that before...

How much are parts to rebuild an M62??

[David.X5]

That sounds familiar. The good news is that can just be saturated with oil that was sucked up into the intake and not actually "blown". You will have to clean it up and check compression to tell.

All the parts of the CCV system are probably $200-$300 (CCV, oil separater, hoses, etc). My valve covers leaked shortly after, probably from over pressure, so if you want to be done with it in one go, should add those to the list, too.

Keep us posted of what you find, lots of people here have had this problem before and can offer advice.

If you haven't found it yet, you can look up the parts on realoem.com and order them online from ECSTuning, Husker BMW, Fairfax BMW, etc. for 20-30% off BMW list.

[weiln12]

Thanks for all that info. Yeah, my valve cover gaskets already leak, and it looks like they're leaking A LOT more now all of a sudden. Could be related??

My plan now is to leave it parked until I can get my garage, which should hopefully be in a month. Then I'll pull off the front, replace all the cooling/heating bits, valley pan gasket, and CCV. Essentially I'm hoping that by March/April I have redone most of the things. I'll try to keep everyone updated on this.

I also get parts from a variety of places. I've found good prices on FCPEuro and ECS Tuning. So unless those two are being lame, I go through them.

[David.X5]

Glad you have some parts sources lined up. I used both of those, myself. Good luck with your repairs. Don't wait too long to do a compression test just in case you have blown a head gasket...

Either failing CCV or a frozen-solid CCV can allow pressure to build under the valve cover, which would help blow out or un-seat an old valve cover gasket. So, I would say they are related. But, hard to say what is cause and effect here.