Reply With Quotemoves it back to near the top of the threads for best visibility. Thanks!
Assistance requested. Q about oil loss, here's what I am seeing...
Hi folks. First off, my thanks to everyone on this forum in advance. I used to rely heavily upon this place a few years ago, but kind of fell out of touch. Second, I am very sorry this is so long- I wanted to be as complete as possible.
I still have my 1993 M50 525i (manual trans.) and it's currently at 107K. Here's what I am inquiring about. Please bear with me, as I also have a Q about how the PCV system may play a part...
It seems to "dump" oil (about half a quart) once every 500 miles or so. I say "dump" b/c the oil level ever so slowly lowers, but then all of a sudden it drops suddenly. I have been over and over this engine for five years- it has some seepage that seems historically unchanged where the head meets the block, and it also seeps from the oil filter canister lid- but very little and at high revs (I have tried and tried to stop this, short of using Permatex or paper thin gasket material.) In short, I don't think these things account for my loss, especially the sudden drop in oil level. It also does not appear to burn oil. I am, by the way, using Mobil fully synthetic. I also had to change my valve cover gasket about 2 years ago (at about 90K) as it was leaking oil into my spark plug holes. That seems remedied.
Now one thing I did notice, over the past 10 months or so, is that there seems to be some kind of blow by that appears to be oil coming from the little rubber tube that attaches to the manifold directly to the right of the throttle body- facing it from the throttle body side (driver's side) of the car. This little tube to the right of the TB shoots whatever right into the manifold, and again I see some kind of over spray that appears to be oil on the manifold where it connects. About 2 inches before where this tube terminates and in line w/ the total tube is a white plastic piece shaped like a childs spinning top.
Is this stuff part of the PCV system? My guess is that it is. Could this blow by oil be part of my oil loss issue? What might this blow by be indicative of (please don't say it's a terminal issue.I sure would appreciate any guidance.
I have also had an on-going gradual loss of coolant issue since I bought it. Can't find it anywhere- I have checked and re-checked all suspect areas, replaced the radiator/pump, etc. My mechanic has thrown up his hands also. The issues do not appear, I stress appear, to be related. No telltale mixing of coolant and oil, odd smoking, or anything like that. Our guess is that it's seeping some place we can't see it and burning off, leaving no drips or other tell tale signs.
Do any of you M50 owners have a similar problem? I'd love to hear from you.
Overall the car is still strong. I struggle with keeping it though as I fear it's going to become costly soon. At about 90K I had all kinds of things done- flushed out all fluids, plugs, all filters, guibo, clutch, radiator, water pump, aluminum water pump housing installed, EAT chip, M5 sways, and a suspension kit installed also. Overall a nice car, but again I am growing fearful of it.
Last Q, I promise. I get a knocking noise (metallic engine knocking) upon acceleration from about 2-3K rpms most obvious in lower gears. been doing it for a long time. Could the EAT chip be causing some kind of detonation problem? Again, it doesn't appear to burn oil, so although it sounds like piston slap I don't think it's a major issue. Any input here also appreciated.
My sincere thanks to all who read through this.
Eric
Please forgive my replying to myself. :) I just want to see if this
moves it back to near the top of the threads for best visibility. Thanks!
3 Grand Master
please use this diagram
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.d...04&hg=11&fg=40
or enter your own vehicle data into www.realoem.com/bmw and go to "11 engine" then "11.40 intake manifold" to point out to us which one of the lines you are referring to. i've been under the intake manifold a fair bit, and my car does not appear to have any white fittings.
It's odd, as neither diagram matches my car. You see, I have
only one rubber hose going into the manifold just to the right of the throttle body, and I know for a fact that my car is a late '93 M50 Vanos engined 525i. I do appreciate the link though- great site. I guess what I'll have to do is get someone to take a digital pic and then I'll try to figure out how to post. I do appreciate your attempt to help- I thought that with something this basic (i.e. one tube, the only tube, to the right of the throttle body) it would be straightforward. Alas, perhaps it's with BMW's as with other cars- no two are alike!
Eric
By the way, it's not under the manifold but right on the side,
parallel to the ground, straight into the same side edge that the throttle body mounts into, near the top edge so that the "blow by" oil actually mists up on top of the manifold. FWIW...
3 Grand Master
does your car have the electronic throttle maybe? i don't know if that is different, but it might be the cause.
Last edited by ryan roopnarine; 09-12-2006 at 02:47 PM.
3 Grand Master
if you are talking about a 3/4 in fitting that is directly behind the throttle body and has a big and a small hose coming out of it, you are referring to item 10+9 in the diagram. if it is leaking from the mating surface between the manifold and fitting, as you can see from the diagram, there is an o-ring that goes in between there, and that might be the cause. ill wait and see if this is what you are referring to.
First off, I truly appreciate your efforts and patience! I
took another close look at the diagrams, but again it just doesn't represent my set up. I see what you are talking about (10-9) but that seems to be on the "inside" or underneath the intake manifold. The hose I am referring to, at the risk of being redundant, is the only hose on that same flat side of the manifold (the same flat side the TB bolts to) to the right of the TB if standing on the drivers side facing the TB. For instance, you're looking at the TB and then, just to the right and the only thing there, the hose connection I am referring to.
I'll see if I can't get my buddy to photograph it this weekend and I will see if I can post it.
Ryan, I know how frustrating it is to do this by description, and again I really appreciate your willingness to help and your patience!
Have a great evening-
Eric
3 Grand Master
its the brake booster hose on the same side. now i know what you meant by "white" and "looks like a top". it isn't in that diagram. its the thing with the irremovable hose clamps. it may just be that they are tired. you or your mechanic can pry them off and put adjustable hose clams on there if it is leaking from where the hose meets the manifold.
Ryan, you are of course right. It is to the brake booster
...and I am ashamed to admit I didn't realize that before.
Also, and not to take advantage of your kindness and expertise, any idea on how to approach my oil loss issue as well as how to approach the detonation issue (i.e. in what order to start attacking/troubleshooting... knock sensors first? etc., etc.?)
Many thanks!
Eric
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