oil separator changed, though questions open

[vinuneuro]

You're in Milwaukee right, which dealer did you go to?

[lo_jack]

Depending on how attached you are to your oxygen sensors, you might pop the runner length adjustment butterfly and shoot some B-12 chemtool in there if there is a lot of oil in the intake manifold. I did that last week, then drove 500 miles. I got better mileage than I have in months, (22.3) but I got the SES light and it was 02 sensor related. I think they have been going out for a while, because my mileage has been slipping and I know oily sludge has been sitting in the intake due to the separator.

I ordered some new 02s, since miner are at 95k, and they aren't supposed to go but around 100k anyhow, but if you had new 02s or didn't want to change them, I might not recommend bombing the intake with carb cleaner.

[PJ1R1]

Originally Posted by primetime

tonydan..that grinding noise may be your belts re-aligning.. Our cars do that when they've been sitting in the cold... Its most likely not related to your seperator... Mine makes a grinding start when on super cold days..I've had the seperator replaced and taken care of... That noise is my belts warming up and trying to align properly...It does that because of the cold temps outside. After a few seconds the noise goes away..Also the noise does not happen unless the car has been left in the cold and sitting for several hours...

Furthermore, let this be noted. Oil seperators can fail at any temperature. Summer or Winter. They seem to fail more often in the winter because conditions are more favorable for failure, but that doesn't mean they won't fail in the summer too. The part itself is not a lifetime part, it will fail after 70k miles or so..Its not a question of if, its a question of when...

i have just washed valve cover down with diesel fuel being diesel dosent harm the o-rings and or the plastic parts valve cover is now clean from all sludge and new gasket in place i am trying to find out what else i need . i have the intake removed,fuel raid disconected and i have the seperator out ,it is full of milky white oil . (seperator i will replace ) if i cleaned all the tubes that i have with deisel do i really need new ones . are they updated or something .or is it just playing it safe! does anyone have some pictures posted that i can look at what they changed .i understand changing the valve cover gasket and the oil seperator but if i clean the the other lines and they look clear and have no leaks , do i keep them? can some1 be really specific on parts that should be changed there is also a rail on the top of the intake that has some white oil in it, do i need that also or wil cleaning it with desil and shooting compressed air threw it be good . and last thing is there is a line that runs down towad the tranny that looks like it is also a little contaminated what do you do with this .

[djbock]

Originally Posted by vinuneuro

You're in Milwaukee right, which dealer did you go to?

Actually back in Iowa. Got a quote from Markel in Omaha, which I have used before. Have the separator replaced at this point and the valve cover off. Will reinstall on Thursday when I ger home from work.

Appears that the middle valve cover seal is where it blew thorough and out through the ignition coil cover. There was condensation on the bottom side of that cover as well.

2 hours work down and hopefully only a couple more to reinstall the valve cover.

[lo_jack]

http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...ight=separator
Post #13.

The part on the intake is the distribution piece. Replace it. I would replace all the hoses. The total in parts is probably $150, and there has been one update on the hoses I believe since 2001.

Originally Posted by PJ1R1

i have just washed valve cover down with diesel fuel being diesel dosent harm the o-rings and or the plastic parts valve cover is now clean from all sludge and new gasket in place i am trying to find out what else i need . i have the intake removed,fuel raid disconected and i have the seperator out ,it is full of milky white oil . (seperator i will replace ) if i cleaned all the tubes that i have with deisel do i really need new ones . are they updated or something .or is it just playing it safe! does anyone have some pictures posted that i can look at what they changed .i understand changing the valve cover gasket and the oil seperator but if i clean the the other lines and they look clear and have no leaks , do i keep them? can some1 be really specific on parts that should be changed there is also a rail on the top of the intake that has some white oil in it, do i need that also or wil cleaning it with desil and shooting compressed air threw it be good . and last thing is there is a line that runs down towad the tranny that looks like it is also a little contaminated what do you do with this .

[tomgtv]

The hose that goes from separator to dipstick completely rotted off
on mine! Lots of oil. It was a pain in the azz to get it back in.
Can be done with intake manifold still on. Some write ups around on
the E46 fanatics website.
I did all hoses and the one on the top along the intake manifold.
There is an upgrade to bottom hose, now insulated, before just a little
braid insulation.

I'm still getting a slow oil leak. Seems to be Oil filter housing. $5 gasket
goes bad it seems. Dealers tell you that you need a new housing for $450.

BTW I'm at 204K and counting miles wise!

[lo_jack]

Wow, nice. The filter housing seal is a common failure. I wonder if it plays a role in separator problems or if it is independent, but because there is a pressure problem when the separator fails (valve cover gasket) I bet they are linked. Separators probably accelerate oil loss at the housing gasket if anything.

[Zoomie]

Hi guys,

New poster - been lurking on the do-it yourself part of the site for a couple of months now.

I am having an oil leak issue with my 2001 X5 4.4i - Dealer in Winnipeg says that the engine vents are frozen and needs the retrofit kit. He quoted me $4800 for three days of work! This seems extraordinarily high...

Am I correct in stating that the oil separator is similar to the crankcase vent valve - or are they two different systems? Talking with a mechanic buddy of mine online - he says that a PCV switch shouldn't be that big of a job.

How feasible is this job for me or for a local mechanic to take on? I don't really want to have to get the X5 flat-bedded to Winnipeg for some work if any shop can do it.

Thanks for any and all advice.

[primetime]

Originally Posted by Zoomie

Hi guys,

New poster - been lurking on the do-it yourself part of the site for a couple of months now.

I am having an oil leak issue with my 2001 X5 4.4i - Dealer in Winnipeg says that the engine vents are frozen and needs the retrofit kit. He quoted me $4800 for three days of work! This seems extraordinarily high...

Am I correct in stating that the oil separator is similar to the crankcase vent valve - or are they two different systems? Talking with a mechanic buddy of mine online - he says that a PCV switch shouldn't be that big of a job.

How feasible is this job for me or for a local mechanic to take on? I don't really want to have to get the X5 flat-bedded to Winnipeg for some work if any shop can do it.

Thanks for any and all advice.

The Crankcase Vent Valve is the same thing as the Oil seperator..And there is no way in hell its a $4800 job.. Takes a couple hours to do at most, and a few hundred dollars at most... I wouldn't take it to any local mechanic, make sure you take it to a shop that is familiar with BMW's or German made cars... This is not a Honda Civic...

[Zoomie]

Thanks for the reply Primetime.

I have done a little more research on here using the search function and figure I have two options.

I can replace the Oil Separator as it is - get new hoses, etc and clean up the oil mess and possible blown gaskets - all for relatively cheap.

or

I can get the special winter kit that BMW is selling for the X5 that has a heated Separator and insulated hoses - thus increasing the parts costs and the labour.

From what I have read - the separator is not the easiest thing to replace - the 3/8" return line being a PITA. I have a call in to the local Midas, who has all the technical manuals and have worked on BMWs before - we'll see if they want to take on the challenge.

Right now my X5 is sitting in my garage, slowly leaking off the chasis the 6 liters of oil it has vented overboard (yes I have replaced it, just not cleaned up underneath.) My biggest issue with not getting under the hood and doing it myself is that the ambient air outside is about -15F with the garage hovering around freezing.