need help identify source of vac leak (smoke test video)
 

today on my journey of trying to find the Vaccum Leak (for system too lean code) for bmw x5 2003 3.0 (M54 engine)

I replaced the DISA valve (when I opened it the flap was not moving back)

I got a smoke machine and I realized the source of the smoke is under the DISA valve but I am not sure where that is ... is that The idle valve ?
here are the videos (you can see on there is also a small leak on the Hose on top Left of engine and a bigger major leak in the Lower part under the DISA)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKutEA20G9E
this one better without the airbox in the way:
https://youtu.be/8zD-iUQqyI0?si=63mLKZhH93Qo0_G6



I am doing a wild guess that it should be the idle valve, I ordered "Grommet for Idle Control Valve" ... am I going to the right direction ?

I also ordered Intake Boot "Tube Elbow" - Throttle Housing to Air Boot

I am also suspecting, could it be the "Throttle Housing Gasket" ? so I ordered that part too




p.s:
so far I changed the following, fuel filter, ignition and spark plugs, disa valve.

Can't tell for certain.....but I think it is lower than the idle speed control valve.

Looks like the bottom drain tube from CCV to dipstick..Could also be dipstick o-rings, but this is less likely.

You probably have several leaks... find one, fix it, and move on to the next one.

You said below DISA but could it be bottom of the big o-ring disa seal? If you didn't replace the seal that's a very common leak. I used a couple wraps of high end Teflon tape to make the seal tight again without waiting for a replacement.

(The good stuff is pressure sensitive and changes color so you can do a test fit and confirm it's tight)

FASTape or blue monster.

Where is the bottom of big o ring disa seal? The disa replacement part had an orange o ring on it but on the engine itself there was no ring, do you have a pic or part number for it?

Big orange is the seal. I didn't know if you used a new seal. It should be good. IAC would be my guess and that the part you ordered.

Update: i did smoke test one more time
This time i found the real source of the leak, it is the big hose that is connected to the oil deep stick, the lower end of it is cracked

https://i.ibb.co/r52NmfL/IMG-6729.jpg

Does anyone any tutorial how to change that? Whats the part number?
I really hope i dont have to do ccv.

Is there a temporary fix that i could fix it for smog for now?
Video https://youtube.com/shorts/x5_DpGvrk...ABcHcJlxKSkrIx

Silicone repair tape. If I'm seeing correctly it's on the middle of pipe not at an end/connector/elbow.

It's a cheap hose...it goes from the bottom of the CCV to the dipstick. You can replace it without removing CCV...not too bad...I am not looking up the part number, you can do that on RealoOEM or FCP Euro....

You CAN change just the drain hose, but if it is cracked, the rest of your CCV is likely due for a replacement.

thank you, is this the right one in realoem ?

Vent hose 11157532628

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...94#11157532628

yes...

Hi - well done for finding the leak. There’s a really detailed diy by the 50skid on you tube (its quite old now) but he replaces the entire oil breather/pcv system on his e46 which has the 330i petrol (M54) engine. He also shows a quicker way in another video without the need to remove the inlet manifold - I had to change all of the hoses on our e46 325 (same engine in so far as the breather system etc) as they were all cracked, so I went the whole hog, and removed the intake manifold. Selection of videos on this below:


https://youtu.be/ZDP8Dma0nUs?si=FkELrugrSuZMMZJr

https://youtu.be/9X5cfqvx2Oo?si=_RkCl0UKzyBJfg9w


Quicker option:

https://youtu.be/btggLSedkxc?si=g7T4OxhOkkv-d4Hr

https://youtu.be/3OhyZBxM1vA?si=S5zel7jLVON3Sv3z

Inquiring minds want know.....which brand is that smoker! If you were nearby, I would ask to smoke mine. Mine has an entire new CCV system and new hoses everywhere.

The dipstick tube connects to the lower CCV unit. There are two more hoses underneath the intake. Use a mirror to check those too.

Thank you your posts were so encouraging to help me keep going I was close to give up. The smoke machine is amazing it has built in compressor.
The brand is
AutoLine Pro EVAP Smoke Machine Leak Tester with Built-in Air Pump

Thank you I love the 50skid channel, he explains really nice.

I am gonna replace only the oil vent hose first since seems to be easy and I pray that I don’t break the brittle ccv itself. The upper hose is harder one to change since I have to twist it according to the videos. I am excited for the parts to come and will update here with results. Thank you all for such a supportive forum community. Feels great be part of it

Do you know where those tubes you mean are connected to ?

Yeah i got this long handle mirror will try to utilize it

The smaller one goes to what BMW calls electric valve (11747810831). It's an emissions valve. I can't remember exactly where the big one connects too.

One thing that worries me is, the ccv that i have looks different i think…
And has a designed crack into it like i can put them apart see this pic

https://i.ibb.co/ynNfndY/IMG-6733.jpg

This is where the oil return hose is attached too. I can pull them apart from each other the left and right side, Doesnt look like the e46 one. But it doesnt look broken, looks like how it is designed, And doesnt leak smoke from that area. What do you think

Here is a video too
https://youtube.com/shorts/bE5xMTJLl...Cp36vuK0eaeTvo

Real oem has two parts one up to 10/2003 and one after

01 Pressure regulating valve 1 10/2003 11617501566 $57.63
01 Pressure regulating valve 1 10/2003 11617533400 $65.78

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...94#11157532628


I think I found out why

Mine is cold climate version
On pelican parts I saw this that also has a crack that seems like a jacket

https://i.ibb.co/B6qYMt1/IMG-0317.jpg

CCVs are the same. The CCV pic above has foam on it. It's designed for cold weather use. My climate is short winters. Super hot summers. The extra heat will help separate oil and fumes. The big rear intake hose goes to a check valve of some kind. The end connects into the air intake tube. BMW calls the assembly a sucking jet pump. :rofl:

Update and need help!

I ordered

Crankcase Vent Pipe - Return Pipe from Connecting Hose
Part #: 11-61-7-504-536-M58

From pelican parts and when i took out the original one ! I noticed there are two wires coming down all the way to the oil tube. And my new hose did not have the two wires. I assumed these must be for heating?
I tore apart the hose cover and i see the two white lines coming all the way down
https://i.ibb.co/bbDndCQ/IMG-6768.jpg
If you wonder whats the source of the wire, it comes from right top side of engine, here u see bellow
https://i.ibb.co/S3HJv28/IMG-6770.jpg

And now that i put everything together i get an new error

P0444
Generic
Current
EVAP System Purge Control
Valve A Circuit Open

44 Activation, solenoid valve, tank ventilation

And a nasty white smoke comes out of the car feels like from both under engine and exhaust.

I doubled checked the purge socket to see if is well connected and i noticed the female electtic socket only has one connector but the male part had two !

https://i.ibb.co/mSX3gYm/IMG-6771.jpg

Is that normal?

Plz help me did i destory the purge valve?

Or is it related to those wires that were coming down the oil hose. I left them open and taped them off and not connected to anything, am i supposed to make the close circuit?


Btw the old hose that had wire all the way down bas this part number on it

https://i.ibb.co/ZVwQSGn/IMG-6757.jpg

Plz help me

Update: I finished changing the oil return hose and cleaned the throttle body and idle Valve

Note that I did not change the upper hose or the CCV. But now my car makes white smoke and it’s very embarrassing…. Can’t drive it.

My question is why it did not smoke before changing the oil return hose ?

My theory is the old oil return hose was so melted that wouldn’t let any oil be vacuumed up ,,, and that means I need to replace CCV itself … am I right ?

Try this CCV test when it's hot. If the CCV is stuck, it will suck in extra air and fumes. It is possible the oil drain line was so clogged it couldn't suck vapors. Miss fires and lean codes are also possible with a failed CCV diaphragm. Mine had old miss fires and lean codes. They went away with new plugs and coils. Every now and then, it would record misfires but not set the engine light. Since replacing the CCV system, no misfires or other codes have been present.

Excess vacuum in the crankcase? Pull the dipstick and see if the oil burning goes away. Too much crankcase vacuum will pull oil past the VSS.


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@X5chemist


in this video he also says EXACTLY same thing as you,
he says if I seen clogging in the hose, i would need to "Drain Back Pipe", (min 9:35)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amHwxoFAl7I

What does it mean to Drain the Back Pipe, because thats what happened to me, the Return Hose was Melted and I dont think anything was going down there I didnt see any Mayo in the ends of it but it was so Melted it was not really a hose anymore.

so what do I need to do for "Draining Back Pipe", I really hope this be the Solution so I dont have to change the whole CCV.