Oil burning smell plus 'check oil level' warning message.

alpac · #1 10-26-2007, 10:31 AM

In the last few days after driving on highway for a little while I have noticed a oil burning smell and smoke coming from somewhere underneath the back of the engine and the 'check oil level' warning message from time to time when I turn off the engine. The valve cover gaskets have been changed 9k miles ago and the oil breather 12k miles ago so it is not that for sure. This is a 4.4 with 90k on it. It is still under extended warranty but I usually try to figure out what the problem is before bringing it to the dealer so I can tell them what to look for.
One thing I have been thinking about was the oil separator lines. Did anybody experienced such smell and smoke?
Thanks

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lo_jack · #2 10-26-2007, 12:51 PM

You are probably on the right track with the seperator stuff. And just because the valve cover gaskets were changed 9k ago doesn't mean they aren't leaking again, especially if the seperator or sep lines are malfunctioning.

I would tell them to check all of that again. When you smell oil, you are usually right, and so is the low oil light.

But, if you want to, you can check the oil sender and see if it is leaking. Better yet, make them check that too.

alpac · #3 10-26-2007, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lo_jack

You are probably on the right track with the seperator stuff. And just because the valve cover gaskets were changed 9k ago doesn't mean they aren't leaking again, especially if the seperator or sep lines are malfunctioning.

I would tell them to check all of that again. When you smell oil, you are usually right, and so is the low oil light.

But, if you want to, you can check the oil sender and see if it is leaking. Better yet, make them check that too.

Good inputs

Thanks

Showtime · #4 12-06-2007, 11:40 PM

Yes, I'm starting to experience the same problem. 03' 4.6is

jst2878 · #5 01-29-2008, 04:03 PM

My only sign is leaking from the valve cover bolts. How do you know if you have to replace the oil seperator or just the hoses?

trooper · #6 01-30-2008, 09:56 AM

I also had an issue where I was driving and the STOP! Oil Pressure Low Warning light came on. The stealer said it was the oil separator that malfunctioned which caused the pressure to build, the gaskets to burst and allowed oil into the combustion chamber. Could be $2,000 to fix it all. Is it just me, or do these cars suck?

jst2878 · #7 01-30-2008, 10:56 AM

I agree with these x5's sucking......Sucking the consumer dry with all these bullshi3 repairs. If only they had the oil seperator miniheater and rubber gaskets instead of paper ones. I can't even afford this piece anymore.

lo_jack · #8 01-30-2008, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jst2878

My only sign is leaking from the valve cover bolts. How do you know if you have to replace the oil seperator or just the hoses?

To my knowledge there would be no reason to only do the hoses. Additionally, taking the hoses off and putting new ones on is nearly as much work as, if not extremely difficult to do without, pulling and replacing the seperator unit itself.

I would always do the whole thing. The parts are cheap compared to a new shortblock.

As far as the opinions on bad sperators goes...

The seperator issue, as I have stated before, is a matter of design and a choice by the engineers to make a system of servicable, replacable (read: need to be replaced occasionally) parts versus the standard built in, no service required variety. Though no service required is an upside, the performance and function of built in systems usually leads to two or so cylinders receiving the brunt of blowby, running lean and heating up while the other cylinders run as normal. This adversely affects both maximum performance and normal operation, fuel and oil consumption.

It is not a perfect system, but for what it was intended to do, it is not bad. Basically it is an active catch can with extra ports on it, but no external drain for the blowby...it all goes back into the system. It is arguably more like a 'race' purpose system than your average no maintanance system. Of course this excludes the low temperature problems with moisture and so forth that plague people in the North...the lack of heating provisions in the first iteration of the system is pretty sketchy.

It's a matter of design. If you do not want to accept the maintainance costs (and I am not speaking of critical failure type costs, only replacing parts that should be serviced, and this is one of them), then yes, it does suck and you should trade it in. You are not going to like BMWs in general, as they make design choices to use replaceable, servicable parts where others do not for the sake of performance.

jst2878 · #9 01-30-2008, 12:54 PM

replace the seperator it is. What causes peoples valve covers to pitt and peel the paint off of them? I know its high temp...so thats the reason you can tell if the seperator is bad?

trooper · #10 01-30-2008, 01:42 PM

I just got off the phone with an independent repair shop - Orr - and the guy said that if the valve covers are pitting, then he would recommend replacing them as the pitting could lead to a leak in another year or so. That's gonna cost another $1000. The replacement of the oil separator and hoses is only $230 and for my vehicle ('01 X5 4.4) there isn't an updated repair kit - just replacement parts of the originals. I'm not sure if the replacement of the valve covers was included in the BMW repair, but I've got them faxing over the repair and parts description so I can see what's what.

I will be trading my X5 in and going for something more reliable. I love the way it rides, just not the problems in between. For me, its just not worth it. For others, it may be and you may not have a problem with a $2000 maintenance bill every now and again. I'm not that fortunate.

I will say that everyone I've met on x5World has been AWESOME and I love this forum.

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