BMW X5 CCV

[JCL]

Serial numbers of engine/chassis not matching would devalue it for some. Some may not care.

It would take months to make enough condensate to freeze again, if the thermostat is working. If it was mine I would inspect it annually, and go from there based on what I found. If there was no paste in the separator then there would be nothing to freeze.

[Sniffer]

Originally Posted by JCL

Serial numbers of engine/chassis not matching would devalue it for some. Some may not care.

It would take months to make enough condensate to freeze again, if the thermostat is working. If it was mine I would inspect it annually, and go from there based on what I found. If there was no paste in the separator then there would be nothing to freeze.

How sure are you about that? Even considering the extreme temperatures that Alberta sees? I know I seem like Mr Sceptical but if you're sure simply cleaning/replacing the separator was enough to see me through the winter I would probably trade the vehicle in the summer

I would be pretty sure the thermostat is working as the car gets up to temperature reasonably fast but I notice the oil takes a long time to hit 100 on the dash and I actually think that on the colder days it never fully gets there which makes me wonder if the condensate will return in a week or two

[JCL]

I told you what i would do. I was in Alberta over the holidays. Never worried about our X3. I watched temperatures.

If you are carefully watching temperatures why not just cover a portion of the radiator, a home made winter front? Every truck in Alberta seems to have one. I did when I lived in GP and Edmonton.

It is a good thing you are now thinking about how to get the engine warm, solving the problem, and not just focusing on the condensate freezing, accepting that it will happen.

[Sniffer]

Originally Posted by JCL

I told you what i would do. I was in Alberta over the holidays. Never worried about our X3. I watched temperatures.

If you are carefully watching temperatures why not just cover a portion of the radiator, a home made winter front? Every truck in Alberta seems to have one. I did when I lived in GP and Edmonton.

It is a good thing you are now thinking about how to get the engine warm, solving the problem, and not just focusing on the condensate freezing, accepting that it will happen.

So do X3s have issues along these lines too?

Thats the thing - I WAS running a "home made winter front" when this happened and the oil was still struggling to get to 100F during my 22 mile trip to work! Thats why I`m sooooo sceptical that it wont happen again if I simply go back to the standard setup

So if all this isnt enough to burn off the condensate what is required? A longer trip? (I did do longer trips occasionally) Drive it harder (I generally drive it pretty sensibly but thats because I am scared to rev the head off it as in my mind that will increase crankcase pressures to breaking point if it has frozen - a real "catch 22" situation)

Thoughts?

[JCL]

Originally Posted by Sniffer

So do X3s have issues along these lines too?

Thats the thing - I WAS running a "home made winter front" when this happened and the oil was still struggling to get to 100F during my 22 mile trip to work! Thats why I`m sooooo sceptical that it wont happen again if I simply go back to the standard setup

So if all this isnt enough to burn off the condensate what is required? A longer trip? (I did do longer trips occasionally) Drive it harder (I generally drive it pretty sensibly but thats because I am scared to rev the head off it as in my mind that will increase crankcase pressures to breaking point if it has frozen - a real "catch 22" situation)

Thoughts?

All BMWs have these issues, there is nothing specific about the E53 except that due to packaging constraints the separator is further away from engine heat that would help keep it warm.

Check and see what the oil temp is after a one hour drive, for example. Does it get properly up to temperature than, or is it still cold? This will help tell you if the problem is more one of overcoolong, or more related to not a long enough drive. You aren't going to burn off the condensation at that oil temperature IMO.

If it is not a long enough drive, ie it gets hot enough with more time, then an oil pan heater can help. If it doesn't get hotter with a longer drive, then a heater will have no impact. The only thing an engine heater is doing is giving the engine a head start on warming up, it isn't heating the CCV.

Once you get it warmed up somewhat each day, you should use some revs. These vehicles were meant to be driven. They don't take well to idling all day.