When I configured my E53/4.4L for cold weather ops in Wisconsin I added heater pads to the engine and transmission oil pans as well as a battery maintainer. The battery maintainer I use nearly all the time when the vehicle is parked.

If you were parked in an area in deep freeze conditions and had access to an electrical outlet, this would mitigate starting difficulties.

Remember, many engine experts agree that something in excess of 70% of engine wear occurs at startup.

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Mike

I do indeed drive a lot of short trips. I do see mayo under the oil cap throughout the cold months, and wipe it out along with any moisture whenever I open the hood. However, I have pulled off a lot of the related hoses over the past year or two (as well as the vacuum manifold) and haven't seen any significant mayo there. When I replaced the whole system in 2016 (at about 90k miles) I had mayo everywhere. So it's not as bad as it was then.


The GAS solution is one retrofit I will consider when it comes time to replace everything again -- also the SULEV valve cover with the CCV integrated into it. Either one of those sounds like a permanent solution.

Not sure what I actually did to be honest
Heat would only blow full hot temp, would not self regulate even when turning it all the way down. Seem to happen after having the dash out to replace the blower 2yrs ago. AC worked and blew cold all summer. Figured I had swapped a plug putting the dash in and a blend door wasnt working or something.
Finally decided to look at it yesterday since it was kind of warm. Made sure the connector for the water valve was on, it was. doing some digging I found a thread here about looking at heater core temps with a scanner. I never use auto or max, but screwing around with the controls I hit them, and then, it seems to have fixed itself :dunno:

that post about GAS having a CCV mod sure was good timing, but not sure its worth $500 :O with all the 0F temps we had end of the year the 3.0L decided to suck in about 1.5qt of oil, has done this when supper cold a few times over the 8yrs.... and then had a few days of random bank 2 preCAT O2 sensor codes... ordered 2 new sensors and now the codes have gone away too :dunno:
Since it has 220K miles on it and the original O2 sensors they will be getting changed anyway

I looked at the GAS website and it says they are having staffing issues which are keeping them from fulfilling orders for their CCV replacement. May not be a good option for people unless you can wait.



Sandbagger, when did you last replace your CCV? And when was the last time you inspected the related hoses for mayo?

I only notice just the smallest amount of mayo in the winter, and its never bad, also its bone dry all summer. Just did the VCG last summer.

As for inspecting the hoses that you would have to remove the intake to get a good look at, yea, nope, not happening until its a real problem.

Like I said, it might happen once a winter, if that, and I check my oil level often enough that its not a problem, plus it will tell me if its low :yikes:
I can say that is has the updated/insulated hoses though

Detroit gets plenty cold but not cold enough to cause a lot of problems
If I had the problem more often, I would seriously consider the GAS upgrade, but I plan on living some place warmer in 2-3yrs

I don't think the GAS upgrade is necessitated in general, but it gets cold enough in Detroit that you probably want to do some closer inspection.



I bought my car from the original owner at 90k miles, and it had only been owned in Portland, OR (where it rarely gets below freezing) and it had incredible amounts of mayo at only 90k miles. The entire vacuum manifold was clogged with it. Depending on your driving habits it might be less of a problem (if you drive only long trips for example) but since it can torpedo your engine in multiple ways, it is worth checking. It's a five minute job to pop off the hoses in question.

Winter tires back on!
 

Blizzaks are back on the E53, I hate the noise they make but it beats being stuck or having a traction issue with dire consequences..... Bit late in the season but we have not had the conditions to warrant their use thus far. I will be heading for the slopes soon and a shake down to Pennsylvania is coming up. Followed by a trip to VT a few days later if all goes to plan.

Took me a while to figure out the best spacers as it had been a long time since I took these off last spring. The wheels are Rial 20x9 with 45m offset and tires are 275/45s (taken off my Cayenne which now wears Conti DWS.) First tried 45mm spacers in the rear and 20mm front but it looked too aggressive for the winter. So, this morning went back and put 30mm in the rear and 15mm on the front for effective offsets of 15 and 30 respectively. Roof bars are on and I can't wait to get going. :)

Planning to do an oil change in between these trips as I am just breaching the 3000 mile mark since I last did an oil service.

Well shit happened...

Yesterday on the way home (1st day without rain in 8 days) a Chrysler 300 tried to pass me on the on-ramp and bumped me.

On the negative side I have a little trim damage and wheel scuff, the plus side is that apparently my wheels are off a Roman chariot as they cut a nice line in his rear quarter panel. [emoji1]

I'll post all the crap I had to do to the White Witch since Christmas week [emoji849] https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...737518409f.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...22d95606bf.jpg

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that blows, any time I overseas it amazes me that people live.

While in Egypt in Nov had a cab driver go up on the sidewalk and through a market...... funny thing is, I didnt even get upset, its just how they drive

Exactly right.

The shitbag had a low two digit number plate so I got stuck with a 50/50 fault, didn't get a 100 fault only because of the General I work for...

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