DIY Solution to M54-M52TU CCV problems

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by cn90

Did they (California) open the hood to look at your "art work"?

Yes, they did. The guy was even looking under the car with a mirror. Assuming to confirm downstream 02 sensors were in place.

Closed the hood, gave me my paperwork and I was on my way.

[cn90]

Update re smog test...

So E46 2003 325i with 100K with this CCV mod in San Jose CA.
I installed the beauty cover on top of the fuel rail.

- First shop is somewhat familiar with BMW. Checked error codes: none.
Opened the hood: saw the CCV Mod, decided to fail me and said it cost some $700
to install the stock CCV...Guys were smoking something, I said no thanks...lol

- Second shop (mostly Japanese cars). Checked error codes: none.
Used another fancier computer (another level above the basic OBD-II readers): no codes.
Never checked the tailpipe emission. He said tailpipe testing for pollutants such as NOx and CO etc. is for cars before OBD-II, such as cars before 1996 or so.
Opened the hood: did a quick visual check.
Passed with flying colors, zero codes.

The Smog station has a special computer that sends data directly to California DMV computers.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by cn90

Update re smog test...

So E46 2003 325i with 100K with this CCV mod in San Jose CA.
I installed the beauty cover on top of the fuel rail.

- First shop is somewhat familiar with BMW. Checked error codes: none.
Opened the hood: saw the CCV Mod, decided to fail me and said it cost some $700
to install the stock CCV...Guys were smoking something, I said no thanks...lol

- Second shop (mostly Japanese cars). Checked error codes: none.
Used another fancier computer (another level above the basic OBD-II readers): no codes.
Never checked the tailpipe emission. He said tailpipe testing for pollutants such as NOx and CO etc. is for cars before OBD-II, such as cars before 1996 or so.
Opened the hood: did a quick visual check.
Passed with flying colors, zero codes.

The Smog station has a special computer that sends data directly to California DMV computers.

$700 to replace the CCV? Ridiculous.

[ReneL]

Just did my 04 3.0 after a hydro lock(at idle -25c)
Had to remove plugs to suck oil out ,fortunately no damage.After two weeks
Noticed drastic decrease in oil consumption . Surprised since I had previously
run an 02 for two winters with same mod(done byP.o)as it was consuming
quite a bit of oil.My E46s seem less subject
to CCV freeze ups,all have cold weather kits
As Did the x5.Maybe tighter engine compartment has slower cool of for more
Drain time? Anyhow I am pleased one less
winter issue.

[Blackjetvette97]

Hi all,
Just returned from a smog check. Tech plugged in OBDII and test took 5 mins, no underhood check or anything. Passed no prob. Been 3 or 4 years with mod, getting smogs…..never failed. I live in LV, NV.

[Bmwe5320023.0]

I need to do this before next winter. I installed the catch can and it's constantly getting filled. Maybe it was just in the winter.
I'd drive like 500km and it'd be full.
Yesterday I drove about 500km in super warm weather, and the catch can is almost empty.

[Bmwe5320023.0]

I've also been in the waiting list for the GAS system but nothing is happening on there.

[Bmwe5320023.0]

Did anyone measure the vacuum with this mod?
Does torque app measure it properly?




I don’t think torque measure it properly.
I held my hand to the port for about 2-3 minutes, and it started hurting me lol.
It pulled enough that you can really feel the suction after a few minutes.
When I removed my hand, the vacuum stayed the same on the torque app, so obviously it's not right or it's meant to show something else.
My concern is that this much vacuum will damage the seals. I'm not that afraid about the VCG. If VCG got damaged from this mod, I can cancel the mod and replace the gasket.
It's the rear main seal I'm concerned about and don't want it to start leaking.

So I'm wondering if anyone had any seals/gasket damage with this mod and if anyone actually measure the vacuum?

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by Bmwe5320023.0

Did anyone measure the vacuum with this mod?
Does torque app measure it properly?




I don’t think torque measure it properly.
I held my hand to the port for about 2-3 minutes, and it started hurting me lol.
It pulled enough that you can really feel the suction after a few minutes.
When I removed my hand, the vacuum stayed the same on the torque app, so obviously it's not right or it's meant to show something else.
My concern is that this much vacuum will damage the seals. I'm not that afraid about the VCG. If VCG got damaged from this mod, I can cancel the mod and replace the gasket.
It's the rear main seal I'm concerned about and don't want it to start leaking.

So I'm wondering if anyone had any seals/gasket damage with this mod and if anyone actually measure the vacuum?

I haven't measured the vacuum, but yes, it is definitely increased. I've been running this mod for approx. 23,000 miles and have not noticed any issues with seals. I replaced the OPG, OFHG and VCG. I have no leaks. I would think that the excess vacuum would be pulling air in anywhere a seal would be leaking. I think the overall effect it actually has is pulling gunk out of the oil rings as well as oil from those rings so it doesn't have a chance to sit there and gum up the rings. That allows the oil rings to seal properly and reduce oil usage.

I have had reduced oil usage with this mod, but I also put a catch can in the system and it does catch oil, so it is not a panacea for oil usage, if the can wasn't there it would be getting sucked into the intake and getting burned off.

[Bmwe5320023.0]

Thanks for sharing, you're probably one of the most senior guys with this mod.
I wish someone had measured the actual pressure.
Could I ask you to put your hand over the oil cap and say how strong is the suction?

I'd love to leave this mod now that I've done it. I really don't want to pull the manifold to reinstall another CCV assembly.
I wish I had just installed a brand new CCV when I pulled the manifold last time.
I was fooled by people running catch cans and cursing the ccv system, so I naively believed that it was evil and wanted to get rid of it.

The issue with the suction is that I'm afraid it will pull on the oil seal too hard and bust it.
I have already ordered ac delco top engine cleaner, so that will clean and unstick the rings.

Now it's interesting that I've rear quite a lot of threads on this mod, maybe all of them, and lots of people said that it stopped oil consumption, so I do trust that.

It's also interesting that no one complained of the damaged seals. So either people it happened to were to embarrassed to post about it or maybe, truly, miraculously, no one ever had an issue.

I'm thinking of buying a vacuum gauge and testing the pressure, maybe I can find someone who has measured it for comparison. I wonder what's the safe limit.

On another note, I heard some people saying that with this mod, you get too much pressure, and your gaskets gets blown out. Kinda interesting, how do you get excessive pressure when you're having vacuum. Maybe something I don't get.

Now my opinion on catch cans, not directed towards you, they're complete junk.
First of all, it's too simple of a system to separate oil and vapors.
Like, while the blow by gases pass through the can, probably a very small portion will stay in there. It's only by gravity that some oil droplets will actually stay in the can, everything else will continue traveling into the manifold. So I think the catch can is just useless.
Actually I think it's worse than that. Especially in the winter, because of condensation the stupid thing gets filled up with mostly water all the time. That's why I think the oil catch can is the biggest gimmick...