CCV on my 06N62 - Concern?
 

Hello, could use some help!
I'm not sure what got into me to check out the CCV & hoses on my X.

I bought it in 09 with 65,000km and only drove it summer months.
(previous owner did use in winter 06-09)
Never been driven in the winter, in the years I owned.
Stored in my garage with trickle charger.
I have attached some pictures, also the inside of my Throttle body.

**Not sure what I should do?**
How do I clean all this up? any particular solvent?
Throttle body cleaner for the TB.
Change oil and drive her hard and change again?
Thing is I want to store her as winter is approaching...

I ordered new CCV caps to change out, but never bought the hoses (which I will be after I see this all cheesed up from condensation)

Looking for all the help I can get.
Cheers,
NS

It isn't caused by winter driving, it is caused by condensation. Lots of short trips, not warming it up completely to burn off the moisture, the moisture forms an emulsification with the oil mist, and then it collects over time. If you do experience winter temperatures, this is the condensate that can freeze and plug it the crankcase ventilation system.

Clean it out with a standard solvent. Check for soft hoses, and do those at the same time. Check the oil separator for any damage.

It is a reasonable idea to do a hot oil change, but that won't impact this as this component isn't in the oil circulation path so it won't be touched. If there is paste under the valve cover (check the oil fill cap) then the hot oil change will help clean that out.

Best solution going forward is to get it good and hot every now and then, as it was designed to be. What you are seeing here is a symptom of not doing that, not a problem in and of itself.

Thank you JLC (fellow Canuck :thumbup:)

Where are you in Canada? Edit: I see Toronto below. Toronto gets cold enough that that amount of paste could freeze and cause a problem.

The separator is the device shown in your photos.

If there is no paste under the valve cover, then there is less benefit to the hot oil change, but I would still do one myself. Just one.

I wouldn't use throttle body cleaner or compressed air. Just use a rag and solvent.

Do not warm up the vehicle idling in the driveway. That doesn't warm it up and is much worse for it. As soon as you have oil pressure (about 10 seconds) and it is safe to drive (windows not iced up) start driving, gently. The damage and wear from operating the engine cold is related to how long you operate it cold, so the faster you warm it up the better it is for the engine. Just don't use any high revs, or high loads. By getting it good and hot, I mean driving it long enough and with sufficient load that you burn off the condensation that occurs naturally in the crankcase. This needs to be done regularly enough (weekly or monthly) so that it doesn't build up over time, as yours has. Or plan to clean it out regularly, which is a PITA.

If I was storing the vehicle for the winter I would do so with clean oil in it.

I am in Toronto.
I will do one oil change before I store it, should I do one again in the spring?

Which solvent should I use? I can us the TBcleaner for TB.

I don't really sit and idle, I'm more of get in 10-15 sec and go.. keeping rpm under 2-2.5 and gentle driving. My work is about 10 km from home.
How long is long enough?

What should I do in the winter months?
I don't have snows and the latitudes treads are almost done.

I wouldn't do an extra oil change in the spring.

I would just use a general petroleum-based solvent/parts cleaner. I suspect the throttle body cleaner has something stronger in it.

Your short warm routine sounds just right. The 10 km drive is the problem. That will take 15 minutes or so, so the vehicle never gets and stays hot. You need to get out and drive for an hour regularly. It is the time spent at full operating temperature that burns off the moisture. If you can't drive it longer than 10 km at a time, then you should plan to service the CCV annually IMO.

Sitting for the winter doesn't hurt it if that is what makes the most sense for you. It is the constant warming and cooling cycles caused by short trips that causes it, not the cold itself.

my E34 manual used to say: operate once a month at highway speeds not less than 40 minutes... or something to that effect... i guess, they knew about this crap back then...

JCL hit it right on the head, your 10 km trip is like 6.2 miles! You barely are in the car 10 minutes most likely, and those short commuting trips is what's killing your oil separator with moisture and clogging.

Make it a point to take a nice long highway trip once a week in winter in my opinion, after cleaning out and replacing any clogged components obviously.

I make it a point in winter to not do short start/stop trips in my X, and my commute is 20 miles, 18 of which are highway, so its about just long enough at highway speed to keep my CCV happy thus far. However, if my wife wants me to make a run to the liquor store or home depot (about 4 miles max one way), I usually just take her car for those trips in winter.

I appreciate all the responses. I really want to keep the X in tip top shape and for something simple like this, I don't mind... I actually enjoy working on her.

Cheers Gentlemen!