Great! Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like a Rob Siegel fix.

 

I can sense your sarcasm here.
What is a Rob Siegel fix?
He was a hack mechanic.

 

Very interesting. A very long but interesting thread. My cold weather CCV is almost 3.5 years old and has seen about 40K since the change. Over the last two OCI, I have noticed increasing oil consumption. It started adding about 1 qt/2,500 miles and increased to 1 qt/1,500 miles this winter. I thought it was either:
1) Not changing my dipstick tube the during first CCV replacement, or
2) The CCV getting plugged up again.
I tried this http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=672004&highlight= to try and slow the oil consumption down but there's been no improvement. I had resigned myslef to changing the CCV again but this looks like a possible reason. I am due for another oil change shortly and may try this to see if it helps the situation. Thanx for posting this up.

 

Yes, I think this is a very effective and elegant "fix". 02Pilot is monitoring it since February last year, and the results are positive. Also, the in-depth analysis he made, makes me think this "mod" is almost bulletproof.

 

Doru--Back when or after 3 different installs of CCV systems in my car , I was at my wits end to stop the oil usage--1qt per 1000 miles--I remembered my Hot rodding days and what Vacuum introduced into the crankcase would do. The first time tackling the problem, was to run the rubber hose to the back of the intake--just as you have discribed from the CCV unit. It seemed to work for a very short time but really, it didin't help much. By using the Catch can system I have now--I have the vacuum controled through a PVC valve which gives plenty of vac to the crankcase and in my case does stop the oil usage--in short --I tried the way your looking to go--but it didn't work for me--hope you have better luck

 

Very interesting. I've experienced the exact same thing (almost zero oil consumption, CCV changed to the insulated version then a significant and immediate increase in consumption). Do you know what the problem is with the insulated CCV that would cause this? Can the same thing happen with the non-insulated version?

 

Can the same thing happen with the non-insulated version?

My non-insulated version has. I've replaced the CCV twice, one about 60k miles ago (with a Febi) and I thought that went bad 30k miles ago, so I paid extra and bought the BMW branded CCV. Same thing, no oil consumption for around 10,000 to 15,000 miles, then gradual increase to where I'm filling in a quart around 800-1000 miles.

Absent any other fix (I've replaced valve cover, hoses to the CCV every time, OFH gasket, oil pan gasket) I'll give the CCV hose a try.

 

Doru i am in the same set up now with these 2 Port #15 and #6 + new CCV + i did oil "catch-can-separator" on my both E39

I don't have many miles yet on my both cars but here are my observations :

Car has more vacuum in crankcase , i think 20-30% vacuum increased ( need some vacuum manometer to be precise , this is from a "plastic bag" method )
One car looks like have very slight rough idle from time to time when hot , nothing critical but i am very sensitive to my cars and i know it's there and i think its because of more vacuum in a crankcase
Oil consuming decreased ( dont see any in last 300 miles to be precise ) but i think its mostly because of new CCV and new oil catch design I did ( love it ) + need more miles to see the whole story
Gas consuming is the same
Both cars looks like have a bit more power , not sure how it can be related but i definitely feel it from the dead stop

Planing to leave oil catch for sure ( catch some yellow foam weekly ) and remove join between these 2 ports ( should I ? not sure yet ... )

 

*** update

now when i think about this more the best thing is to upload some INPA adaptation data
Should be done before and after changes but i missed it ... LOL

 

I'm with Poolman, it's not a fix, it reduces some.

But, I agree how elegant the mod is.

 

Timely thread. I'm in the middle of my VANOS job on my 120k 2002 530 and had planned to do the CCV at the same time (probably still has original). Got genuine BMW cold weather CCV. Have had the car for about 18 months now and usually add 1 qrt of oil after 3000 miles and then make it to the 5000 mark for the oil change. This is using M1 5W30, which is a little on the thin side for this engine. So I don't think I have an oil consumption issue with the car. Based on this info I will still connect the rubber hose just in case and can close it off later if it creates a problem.

 

. Based on this info I will still connect the rubber hose just in case and can close it off later if it creates a problem.

exactly, to close it off is simple once it is installed
I plan to drive one tank of gas with this connector and w/o
Then i will decide to keep it or not based on oil / fuel consumption
The only things that bother me is a rough idle from time to time so i am 70/30 to remove this connector

 

Igor, I've been running with this mod for 6 months now, it has never exhibited any rough idle. It must be the additional chaotic bazookas bungs you added to it. :rofl:

 

Igor, I've been running with this mod for 6 months now, it has never exhibited any rough idle. It must be the additional chaotic bazookas bungs you added to it. :rofl:

This reply made my day........

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl: :beerchug:

 

alex
how many times you did your oil catch fix ?
i did it once and it works for me so i installed the same on my second car
and for the rest i really dont care dude

 

As more you try to help as more you burned
As Alex said "bazookas bungs" for someone who try to share some different opinion
I am retired from E39 forum anywhere ...dont see even 1 interesting thread in a whole week
I missed bimmerfiver ...
LOL

 

Igor, cheer up!. So what if I don't like your mod. As long as you like it that's all it matter.:thumbup:

But, I still don't like it...:rofl:

 

I wish I had come across this post and the referenced post earlier. I last measured my oil consumption about 3-4 yrs ago at 1 qt/1500 miles. I have not been monitoring since but I do add oil very frequently (growing weary of that) so I suspect it is about the same. I have noticed what I think is lifter noise and then a separate fluttering when I drive--usually at cold start, but can occur at other times. I have been using a thinner viscosity--M1 HM 5W30 mixed w/ M1 0W40. I recently changed to QSUD 5W30 in anticipation of winter. Last January in Boise we had 3 weeks of 0 degree AMs and 15 deg highs. The M1 0W40 in use at that time definitely felt too thick, prompting my desire for a thinner 5W30 this winter. Yes, I know it does not meet the spec, but I never seem to go past 5000-6000 miles anyway.
So, last night I did the CCV port to back of manifold port connection. By the way, I had 5/32 vacuum hose here at home and it works fine. My brief test drive afterward: The engine is smoother, quieter, no fluttering or lifter noise noted. The idle is a speck higher, possibly 50-100 looking at the dash gauge. So, now I will monitor the oil consumption.
Just wondering if others who have done this have noticed less oil consumption. If so, it does seem like a relatively simple fix. I know Poolman saw an initial benefit that did not continue.

 

here is some update for my set up

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/foru...82-My-%93new%94-2003-530i-Sport-Silver-thread-Evolution&p=26887905#post26887905

 

Interesting...
I did the Pilot mod - connecting a vacuum hose from the back of the intake manifold, to the plugged port on the CCV.
I did not notice any difference.
BTW, this was my 4th CCV install... LOL...!

 

Even though I don't have a car with the M54 and the 3 M52TUs in my family never burn a drop of oil (mileage 50K, 89K and 200K), I read 02 Pilot's thread with great interest. The thread is epic. I have also noted different results with his elegant mod.

This thread is a worthy continuation of 02 Pilots thread. Thanks for starting it Doru. Plus the banter between Alex and Igor has me in stitches. Keep it up, Guys.:thumbup::thumbup:

 

Glad you've found it entertaining John.

Update, with 02pilot's mod my 330Xi M54 still bleeding like no tomorrow 1 quart per 500 miles.

My latest attempt to stop the bleeding.

Switch to conventional oil.
A bottle of Techron in the tank.
Hill billy's tune up AKA Italian tune up (5000 RPM in third gear for more than 5 minutes).

If this doesn't improve a catch can is in order, but it will be an elegant one, NOT Igor's

PS. Jason, How the heck are ya? I miss Bimmerfiver.

 

Don't forget to use the PVC valve when making the switch over--you'll need that one item to control vacuum in the crank case--I used one for an old ford 6 cylinder engine,,worked great

 

Thank you Poolman. Happen to have the part number for the PCV you're talking about?

 

Sorry,,I don't have one. I looked it up in the little book at Advance Auto , thats around the air filters and such in their store's.

 

The catch can seems to be working very well for me also, on my 2001 325i.
I used an old fuel filter as the catch, 2 weeks ago and have yet to add oil.
good vacuum and smoother idle too boot.

 

My newer engine has started to use oil and I can't stop it while using the CCV system that is OEM. I have decided to stop try to work with it and go to an oil catch can, like was done with the first engine. I came upon this new PCV valve that I will try to work into my new build.
http://mewagner.com/?page_id=456

I like the idea that this part can be rebuilt and can be tuned for idle and for different flow rates while out on the road, (or if you will ), off idle. Any thought out there?

 

My low oil warning came on. Down a quart with 5000 miles on the last oil change. Engine has 203,000 miles. At first I was mad since in warmer weather barely 1/2 QT in 6500 miles.
After reading this thread with some seeing 1500/Qt, I'm quite happy. Since 52,000 miles when I bought this car it has had nothing but Pennzoil Platinum 5W30. The first 50K miles only had 3 oil changes with the ridiculous BMW oil change intervals. Can you say varnish in the engine.. Yes I can.

 

Low oil light doesn't come on when you're down a quart. It has to he much lower than that.

 

Spoke to a few BMW indy shops (people that fix only BMWs), they say M54 engine has low-tension piston rings, so oil consumption is higher than M52.

So, I am not sure how this mod reduces oil consumption. On one hand, I believe you guys who report less oil consumption.

On the other hand, my 2006 X5 3.0i (M54 engine) with brand-new CCV system still sucks some 1 qt/1,000 miles or so.

 

So what your saying (forgive my ignorance I'm new to the I6's) is that even in an '06 that engine still consumes oil, so it isn't just the early years. I've seen the different dipstick tubes and know they made a "cold weather" version, but what other parts did they modify? Better rings?

The way this mod works (my understanding from the thread linked in post #1) is by adding a vacuum control line from the intake manifold to the CCV you are correcting the pressure problem which causes the low-tension rings to flutter - no more flutter, better sealing, less consumption. That thread is long and technical...only got to page 7 and my head hurts.

And I do have a dog in this fight, I recently picked up an '01 330xi for $850 in great condition as far as I could tell without driving it because the smoke out the tailpipe is instant and massive!

 

CN90, the low tension rings where in all the M54 engines. Don't know if your engine were sent with the same rings or not. I think because of the low tension rings, the added vacuum must be the trick in helping to stop the usage, just wish that I had bit the bullet and gone over to the catch can on this engine before now. First year and a half no oil usage, then the bottom drain back tube went out and I replace the entire CCV and the car slowly started to use oil. Nothing would stop it. Once those rings get some baked oil around them, it snowballs from there.

 

I'm not so sure that the CCV deserves all the blame it receives for oil consumption. I accept that people have modified or eliminated their CCV and seen improvement. But I've had entirely different experience. Oil brand & viscosity, oil leaks & failed CCV have been more significant.

Bought the car with 111k km (~69k miles) and new looking oil exactly to top of the dipstick mark, but unknown brand or viscosity. The OFH gasket leaked and the sump gasket was weeping.
3k km later I was down a litre, ~1.8k miles/qt. Really disappointing.
Changed to 5W40 Total Quartz 9000 Energy, an LL-01 oil, which I've used since year round
5k km later down a litre, almost doubled (or halved, depending on your outlook on life ) at ~3k miles/qt. But still not very good.
4 1/2 years & 60k miles ago I replaced a failed CCV & all hoses with the BMW brand cold weather version, including new style dipstick tube. Also replaced the OFH gasket.
For the next several years I got 15k to 20k km/litre or 9-12k miles/qt (estimated based on dipstick reading at oil changes & assuming top to bottom markers = 1 litre)
In the last year leaks have started again, and have become worse than when I bought it, enough to leave drips on the driveway. Consumption has fallen to ~10k km / litre or 6k miles/qt. Putting on my Polyanna face, at least I don't have to add oil between changes.

Crankcase vacuum since replacing the CCV system has been in spec of 4-6" w.c. And I should point out that climate here includes fairly cold winters that challenge the CCV.

I can't explain why elevated vacuum and catch cans work for some people. But I suspect they are band-aides rather than root cause solutions. And I'm not defending BMW's CCV design - why such a complicated, expensive & difficult to service system was chosen over a simpler PCV concept is beyond my comprehension.