Xoutpost.com - DIY Solution to M54-M52TU CCV problems

Xoutpost.com (https://xoutpost.com/forums.php)

- X5 (E53) Forum (https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-e53-forum/)

- - DIY Solution to M54-M52TU CCV problems (https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-e53-forum/99551-diy-solution-m54-m52tu-ccv-problems.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by trader4 (Post 1040926)

Trader4 – All good points. I am myself firm believer in the effectiveness of stock components and always try to use genuine parts for critical systems. This situation is little different. Let me try to answer some of your questions:

If you think having to add oil between oil changes is unusual with high mileage, 10+ year old cars, then you must have some exceptional
vehicles.
Ricky’s car is not high mileage car - less than 80k miles if I remember correctly. My 528i with m52tu engine did not consume a drop of oil at 180k miles

Of course BMW put the CCV system on for emissions. My point was
that if it results in a decrease in MPG compared to the simple PCV
type design, then they would have to be pretty dumb to use the oil
separator design when they are desperate to increase MPG.
All the other manufacturers of all kinds of vehicles are meeting EPA with PCV type designs.

Yes. Original BMW CCV system works perfectly fine on m52tu motors. I did not found any reference that m52tu ever hydro locked in cold climate. The only known mode of failure – slugged CCV causing oil leaks and drivability / idling issues. The only substantial difference in design between m52tu and m54tu is low-tension rings on the latter. I spoke with the reputable performance shop owner and he confirmed that he successfully fixed high oil consumption on two m54tu by replacing piston rings. My theory here that extra blow by gases reach in H2O on m54tu causing simply overload capacity of stock CCV system. Apparently, these low-tension rings starting to fail at 60k+ miles causing excessive blow by. This is why we do not see mayo on low mileage m54tu. It is frozen mayo causing catastrophic failure of CCV and hydro lock as of result.

Perception of peppiness is almost meaningless, given the high potential
for the placebo effect.

Cannot argue here. Nevertheless, I noticed better performance myself.

BTW, you didn't answer the question as to what the reference point
for these claimed benefits is? A new, stock CCV system? Or an old 100K,
stock one that is possibly failed, known failed, etc.

I was trying to provide this information in my original post. I used my car stats with old, new and aged CCV system. I thing that 5+ years routine of adding oil every 2k miles is reasonable reference point.

axgordon, interested now to hear about the shop owner's opinion on the piston rings. He believed that replacing piston rings on stock CCV setup on M54 would solve oil consumption in higher mileage vehicles? Or alternatively you could keep the low tension piston rings and do the "CCV Bypass/PCV install" like you have done and solve the same issue?

You are correct I just rolled 80k miles a week ago so I'm not as "up there" yet.

trader4,

I am talking about brand-new stock system from showroom. From an engineering standpoint, E23 is more simple than M52/M54 setup.

1. In the E23, the mixture of oil and vapor goes up the slope (the simple tube). Vapor keeps going up while oil, being heavier, drips back down the valve cover area.

2. In the E53 M54 setup, the Intake Manifold sits LOWER than the valve cover.
So the mixture of oil + vapor goes DOWN the slope and pools at the Separator area.
In theory, oil being heavier goes down the dipstick housing and vapor gets sucked into the Intake manifold.
However, when the membrane opens up (under certain vacuum condition), some oil gets sucked into the I.M.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby (Post 1040942)

Ricky,
let me clarify this - the oil consumption was corrected by replacing worn out piston rings with a new set of the stock rings from the dealer. The shop owner stated that old rings were worn out and did not seal / removed oil correctly.

I did not experiment or have an answer on possible re-positioning of PCV valve. Personally I am totally OK with the loop... for now:)

No worries, I imagine worn out rings would cause consumption, but is not the rule across the M54 nor is it something I've read that is something that is done often (replacement of piston rings)

If you guys want a real, OEM solution to delete the CCV, using all OEM parts, perhaps the E46Fanatics guys will tickle your fancy: (M56 Valve Cover with integrated oil separator, VCG, oil fill cap gasket, and breather hose is all thats needed), the M56 VC fits on the M54 with no issues.

The Permanent M54 CCV Delete - E46Fanatics

Quote:

Originally Posted by trader4 (Post 1040960)

... your PCV design...

@trader4,

It is not "my PCV" design, it is BMW engineer's design. I have nothing to do with the design.

The X5 M54 CCV setup is dumb. This is because the Intake Manifold sits BELOW the valve cover. In the process of routing oil + vapor mixture, BMW likes it or not, the mixture settles at the Separator.
BMW engineers hope that oil being heavier runs down the other hose to the dipstick tube, while vapor is sucked into the I.M.

Nice thinking but in reality, some oil is sucked in the I.M.

The E53 M54 CCV setup is dumb from day 1. Too complex for a simple CCV issue.
In Honda car, is is a simple valve.
In the E23 from 1980s, it is a simple hose, as conceptually illustrated in the mod in this thread.

Again, it is NOT my design, it is dumb BMW design. Engineers sometimes go forward, and sometimes they go backward. The M54 CCV is an example of backward thinking.

Quote:

Originally Posted by trader4 (Post 1041011)

...You make it sound like the
oil separator just relies on gravity to separate out the oil...

trader4,

I don't make it sound like anything. I don't want to argue with you how the CCV works, you may want to do more reading on the engineering aspect of it.

Most of the oil will go down by gravity, a little bit of oil will stay around at the Separator. When the diaphragm opens, vapor will be sucked in and some oil will be too.

The analogy is: when you open a door to a building and some unauthorized person sneaks in at the same time.