Hydrolock Anyone? NEED HELP!!! please.

[LadyFF26]

My mechanic has told me that my '02 X5 experienced what is known as a HYDROLOCK. After looking further into this issue, it looks like pre-'04 BMW x5's experience this regularly. Has this ever happened to anyone? Here is the explanation taken from a savy guy named Critter7r from bimmerforums.com...

The ambient temperature isn't the cause of the problem. The cause of the problem is not driving the vehicle for more than 30 minutes at a time.

Quick lesson: the CCV works by taking air inside the engine and separating out the oil vapor that is in that air by swirling it around (kinda like a centrifuge) inside the oil separator (or crank vent valve, or cyclone valve) and the oil sticks to the outside of the cyclone valve and drips back down into the [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]oil [COLOR=blue ! important]pan[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR], and the air gets sucked back up into the intake manifold.

What happens when you jump in your car and drive 4 miles to work is this: the condensation (that is inherent in raising the temperature of the oil while the metal surfaces of the engine remain relatively cool) coagulates in the oil passages. One of those passages is the tube from the cyclone separator that goes back down to the oil pan. Over time, this repeated short trip driving causes the coagulated oil and condensation to build up inside that passage that goes from the cyclone sepatator to the oil pan. Here's the important part: Since the cyclone separator drain tube is not under pressure, it's more prone to blockage by coagulated oil and water (also known as that milky whit sludge we've all seen). Here's the REALLY important part: When enough condensation gathers in the cyclone separator after the engine is shut off and the temp is below freezing - VOILA! Hydrolock cause by oil ingestion. Because instead of the oil drining back to the oil pan (the tube is frozen shut, remember?) it gets carried back into the [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]intake [COLOR=blue ! important]manifold[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR].

this explanation makes sense, but I need more details as to WHY this could happen in cold weather, especially if it's a major defect in the design....my aftermarket warranty company tells me that they will not pay for problems caused by "inclement weather"....I do not think that it's 100% because of cold weather, but I could use anyone's opinion...expert or not so I can gather ammunition to resolve an invoice that will total over $7,000 with the warranty company.