Oil leak and engine stalled

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by upallnight

Once you get the engine to run, if the engine is blowing a lot of smoke from the exhaust, your cats are toasted.

Not always the case... you can try running the car for awhile to attempt to clear out the cats. We had a Volvo that was really bad that had a turbo failure and dumped a ton of oil into the exhaust (at the indy I worked at) that took literally a week of running/driving to stop smoking. But once it did clear... all was well. Might be worth a shot before replacing the expensive cat... can't hurt.

[cn90]

1+,

Fix the cat ONLY when you have to.

[axgordon]

+1. Had same issue in February 2013 with my son’s 2001 530i. Followed same steps as cn90 provided earlier in the thread. Adding few comments based on the personal experience:

- Remove all 6 spark plugs. BTW, I use NGK Iridium if you want to search forum for that.

- Place a rag in each spark plug hole (to prevent the mess), then do a few quick cranking (2-3 sec each time) to expel the oil from the cylinders. There was huge amount of oil that came out from the cylinders – all rugs were blown away and the entire garage wall was covered with oil! I recommend suck as much as possible oil from the cylinders with the hand vacuum pimp, then spin engine few turns by hand (This will allow oil from the intake manifold to leak down into cylinders) then suck oil again. Then precede with the few seconds cranks using starter motor. I would still cover spark plug holes area with the heavy rugs to avoid the potential mess!
- Then do compression test in each cylinder, hopefully you didn't blow the head gasket or worse bent a rod.

- If nothing abnormal, then do the CCV overhaul (info in forum): basically new Oil Separator, and all associated hoses.

- Don't forget to add oil later.
- In my case, the residual oil made engine very difficult to start for the first time after the repair – keep cranking with the wide open throttle until it starts.
- The converters was full with oil and car was smoking like a steam train for at least 10 miles (Go for the first start-up /road test after dark, so not to scare neighbors)
- I did the full scan few weeks later using DIS and other OBDII tools and to my surprise both O2 sensors and cats operated with no issues.
- Good luck!

[Perrier]

Okay, so I finally managed to:

Vacuum cylinders through the spark plug holes. Once no more oil in cylinders I cranked the motor and a still got quite a bit of oil splashing everywhere causing a big mess.

Cranked the engine a few times until no more oil geysers

Replaced the CCV and it's associated 4 hoses

I did not do a compression test because I don't know how, nor know what it will tell me

Outstanding, and on schedule for Monday, is replace the throttle body gasket then install throttle body, hoses, and air box back in place. Then replace valve cover gasket since it cracked and was leaking and new spark plugs.

Anything else before trying to start it?

[upallnight]

There should only be a 5% difference between the readings. I would be concern with the low readings. Valve might might have been bent, but the other items that can bend are the connecting rods or you might have a head gasket leak. Remember oil like any fluid is not compressible so when the cylinder was full of oil that force has to go somewhere.

[Perrier]

Now then, ran out of ideas what to inspect next, so attempted to start the car. It started without much effort, lots of drama from smoke for about 10 minutes.

Car is running with the following problems:
1- idle rough. It sometimes dies when coming to a stop
2- power seems to be there
3- CEL is on
4- Traction control light was on but it turned off now. Possibly due to towing.
5- When driving it feels very rough, like a fouled up plug. I did put in new spark plugs before starting it up.

Where to now, St. Peter, for I am in your hands now?

[axgordon]

This is what I would do in this situation:
1. Read fault codes and investigate based on their description.
2. If codes inconclusive proceed with the following steps
3. Carefully inspect all components that you touched during repair work – vacuum hoses, idle control valve, electrical connectors, throttle body, DISA valve, etc. Make sure all seated correctly.
4. Remove spark plugs for inspection – large piece of gunk could easily foil new plug after the first start – clean with break clean and dry it out using propane torch.
5. Re-check compression – hopefully you’ll get more uniform readings
6. Assuming compression readings better (uniform) then previous test – re-install spark plugs and take car for a good test drive. It might take time to clear all of the oil from intake and exhaust.
7. Good luck!

[Perrier]

Okay all done.

Thank all of you guys, and St. Peter.

Lower left tube on the ccv came loose after installation. Due to the insulation on the ccv the clip on the hose didn't go in all the way. Pulled it back out and lubed it with some oil, then got enough pressure on it to push and click in place.

So back to normal operation, idle and runs smooth again. CEL also turned off.

Off side comment. I did notice the yellowish crud on the oil cap in the past and inquired at the dealer and was told all was okay and normal, nothing to worry about. Now that I had this problem and looking up many specific posts, it seems that everyone is saying the yellow crud will clog the ccv.

One last question, how long does the car have to be driven to be considered not a short trip? I live in the city, 15 km to work, everything else is within 10 km. weekend ski 20 km and I consider that long enough to run the car. Should it be run longer periodically like 100 km?

[srmmmm]

In my experience, it generally takes 20 minutes of highway driving for oil temperature to come up to normal ranges.

2002 X5 3.0 271,100 miles
2004 325i 118,000 miles

[StephenVA]

Congrats on the final out come. I am sure it comes with some relief.
I always recommend a good long weekend drive if you are doing short trips in cold temps weekdays. Go for an early morning drive with someone special who will not mind a few red-line punches through a few curves. See the city, town country, have breakfast/lunch, then come home. Trip time driving 2 Hrs. Speeds above 45 MPH 80%. Come home and give her a bath (the car) and vacuum all the crap out of the interior and give it a quick detail with some interior cleaner. Your suits will appreciate it and so will your passengers.