02 X5 3.0L - Block heater / Aftermarket Oil Separator Questions

[freebs]

Hi everyone,

Last winter was the first winter I had my 2002 3.0L X5 outside all winter and it definitely did not like it. I live in Calgary Alberta and we can get some pretty nasty temperatures out. So this winter I am looking to help solve some of the issues I came across.

For starters I know there are no OEM block heaters for the X5, but has anyone come across an aftermarket option that works? I would prefer one that screws into the block for best results. I know there will be people who say that these engines do not require this, but cold starting in -35C / -31F is hard on an engine and a block heater does in fact help out. I purchased this X5 from a friend who had owned it from new and was VERY strict with his maintenance and I have continued the same with regular oil changes every 10,000km with Shell Rotella T6. She may have 260,000km on her, but she is a very strong healthy engine still.

Secondly, I ran into an issue of excessive pressure on start up popping the valve cover gasket multiple times due to the oil separator being full and freezing. Had the CCV replaced with an updated part for "cold weather" climates and it still popped a gasket again. For the most part this vehicle sees mainly highway driving and I would try and drop it down a gear for a few Kilometres and allow more air to flow through it and clean it out, but this still did not help. Has any one installed a CCV delete kit? If so, which ones are decent quality and come complete?


The short version
- What block heaters work with the M54 engine?
- Which CCV Delete kit would you suggest?



- Josh

[andrewwynn]

I've seen a block heater for m54: it looks a bit like an egg carton and "Legos" into the side of the block.

I only have seen about them never saw one for sale.

The best alternative would normally be a freeze plug heater but alas no freeze plug on m54.

Leaving the last alternative: inline heater that goes into I believe a heater hose. It has a pump and a heater and will pump the earned m warmed water though the block.

I've been wanting to get a heater for myself as well.

[80stech]

The stick on oil pan heaters work REALLY well and don't use much power, you just need to patient with the install. I don't think there is such a thing as a CCV delete "kit". Everyone has their own idea about the CCV but for sure if you can get a little bit of fresh air into the crankcase it will help tremendously with the moisture problem. You're lucky you just blew out your valve cover gasket. I imagine they were aftermarket gaskets?

You might try taking the oil cap off with the engine idling for a minute before you shut it off to get some air into the crankcase. Dropping down a gear will do little because the crankcase is sealed. CCV= CLOSED Crankcase Ventilation.

[freebs]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

I've seen a block heater for m54: it looks a bit like an egg carton and "Legos" into the side of the block.

I only have seen about them never saw one for sale.

The best alternative would normally be a freeze plug heater but alas no freeze plug on m54.

Leaving the last alternative: inline heater that goes into I believe a heater hose. It has a pump and a heater and will pump the earned m warmed water though the block.

I've been wanting to get a heater for myself as well.

Yea I saw that lego style block heater you are talking about on another forum but after hours of searching, I couldn't find any for sale. And I also just learned that the M54 does not have any free plugs haha so that option is out. I am looking a bit more into an "in-line" style heater but not having much success either.

Originally Posted by 80stech

The stick on oil pan heaters work REALLY well and don't use much power, you just need to patient with the install. I don't think there is such a thing as a CCV delete "kit". Everyone has their own idea about the CCV but for sure if you can get a little bit of fresh air into the crankcase it will help tremendously with the moisture problem. You're lucky you just blew out your valve cover gasket. I imagine they were aftermarket gaskets?

You might try taking the oil cap off with the engine idling for a minute before you shut it off to get some air into the crankcase. Dropping down a gear will do little because the crankcase is sealed. CCV= CLOSED Crankcase Ventilation.

It is looking more and more like I will have to resort to the pan style heater. And if that is the case, I might even stick one on the Transmission as well.
Yea the shop I take the vehicle to said I got very lucky. Apparently it just lifted the cover enough with the pressure and blew between it and the gasket. It was a OEM gasket.

I never thought about pulling the oil cap off for a few minutes before I turn it off for the night. Is there any catch can that I could install and drain periodically that would help this situation?

[X5chemist]

M54 engine oil catch can. I've seen the video a few times. It's my guide so far to install a catch can. The oil usage on my X5 went down dramatically after replacing the oil filter housing gasket.