1qt / 300 miles now!! Not CCv or gude tube!

Guys,
I swear this is the last time you hear of this issue from me. My oil consumption has gotten worse over the past week. If I drive it slightly hard I get a qt gone in 300 miles or even less!!

Things ive done :
- ccv and all hoses
-vcg
-guide tube (old one is still awesome tested by blowing through it.
-mobil 1 0w40 oil
- spark plugs

Other facts:
- zero leaks
- awesome performance
- no codes
- no problems whatsoever
- no oil in spark plugs
- no oil near cat converter
- no blue smoke or any smoke whatsoever!!
- oil consumption is proportional to hard driving. If i super baby the car (under 3k rpm) i lose a qt every 1000 miles.
- i can see a miniscule leak thats still there on the vcg but no smoke or anything.
- indie mechanic says he has no idea since ive done what he would do.

Gonna test compression next. Could valve seals really be a problem? I mean could i really lose that much oil without it smoking out the exhaust?

Also would a tiny vcg leak cause such a huge oil loss?

Thanks guys. Last thread about this problem i promise

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Even a moderate to severe oil leak won't create a big loss on the dipstick, in my experience. I had an e30 that would mark its territory when parked overnight, and I added a quart <1K miles on it.

Compression test won't tell you much. Do a leakdown. You omitted your mileage, but it sounds like valve stem seals. Yes, even that much probably won't smoke to where you can see it. No 007 smokescreens.

Hmmm where can i get a leakdown done from? Would any indy shop be able to do it?

Im in the bay area if anyone has recommendations. Thanks guys!

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I can just do it myself. Stupid question but Do i need a air compressor for the leakdown testers?

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I got about 137k on the engine

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Have you had somebody drive behind you to confirm it's not blowing blue smoke when you hammer on it??

There is 3 places oil can go, one is on the ground, one is in the cylinders, and the other is through the CCV. If CCV is good, and there is no oil in your skid pan, then I don't see how you aren't blowing blue smoke??

Beats me as well dude! ill do some more extensive smoke testing but my friend really couldnt see anything even at wot


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OP, did you do the ccv yourself or have a shop do it? If shop, did you get cold weather package and a bill for intake manifold gaskets?

Just curious about the ccv install...as my 'sense' of things from many years of reading threads like this is that it can often be a little thing...the hose was loose, bolt was loose...sort of thing.

Oil loss like you have without an oil leak is almost always ccv.

Have you checked underneath yourself for leaks...with a great led flashlight like the xl50 available at HD for only $30?

This new guidetube you got...was it fresh from dealer? If from a junkyard, consider that. You don't blow through them to see if there's a clog, so much I don't think...you'd need to blow through from the inlet from ccv drain, since that seems to be where the clog comes in...that tube within a tube.

If you install cold air ccv, did you hook up that vac hose again onto the valve's port? It's plugged up on new ccvs, but on mine, I need it...presume you do too.

Anyway...not challenging you...just the assumption that all of what was done was done properly.

Can you detail the ccv install for us? Again, just checking...if you just reported that one symptom, you'd hear ccv as solution and 99% of the time, that'd be it.

Also, ccv source? Dealer or elsewhere?

Finally, you said there are no leaks. Is this from you checking underneath yourself or from indy mech telling you or from lack of drips on the floor?

Originally Posted by Viktimize

Have you had somebody drive behind you to confirm it's not blowing blue smoke when you hammer on it??

There is 3 places oil can go, one is on the ground, one is in the cylinders, and the other is through the CCV. If CCV is good, and there is no oil in your skid pan, then I don't see how you aren't blowing blue smoke??

not surprising, i know of an m54 in an x5 that lost 2 qts in 5k and i was baffled as well, now it's getting an autorx treatment, op read the sludge thread on page 2

Dmax,
Thanks for the detailed post. I do most of the work on my car myself so everything i speak of was done by me.

- ccv install didnt require pulling the intake.
- the vacuum port on the ccv came plugged. Where does this go? I left it plugged since schematics dont even show that hose.where would the pipe from this go? I dont think my old ccv had anything there but i may be mistaken. I have a 2003 330ci if that helps
- all pipes are tight. I checked. I left one loose (one near the vanos) but fixed it later.
- i didnt get a new dipstick. I took the old one out and blew on it from the ccv end. Air came right through there were no blockages.

Maybe attaching that 4th ccv port to manifold vaccuum will help? Where do you connect it to the manifold vacuum though? A pic would be nice if possible or a schematic if u can find one

Theres little vaccuum in the cranckcase and dip stick tube like all the posts here say should be.

Ive inspected oil leaks by dropping the sheild and putting car up on ramps. Its squeaky clean!!!

Thanks dmax!

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Originally Posted by wasp9166

not surprising, i know of an m54 in an x5 that lost 2 qts in 5k and i was baffled as well, now it's getting an autorx treatment, op read the sludge thread on page 2

I read the sludge thread but he is talking about a project car with gunks and turds of oil in the engine. Luckily thats not me yet is that what you were talkin about?

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Dmax: ccv and all hoses are bmw ordered from bimmerspecialist. I got the cold climate version and it has that vac port you are talking about

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No, I thought you had a 2000 (in your info) and thus had that vac hose. If you don't have it, don't try to add it. The port on valve then needs to stay plugged as is is.

The guidetube could get plugged from the ccv drain down, so that sounds like it's probably clear.

Anyway, make sure you tell us what year/model it is in the first post...it can make a difference.

What oil you using? How long have you had the car...and good luck. I don't want to say I haven't a clue, but that's a lot of oil to lose!

You use OE ccv?

Had the car for a 4 months and bought it with this problem. Obviously didnt realize it till later and the owner conveniently forgot to mention this "small" issue. The cars so clean and awesome that it wont even cross your mind!


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frk2, I think we did chatted on the other thread but I cant recall the details.

Some of the things that you have make sure. I am not asking anything about the problem with the block because you mention there is no smoke coming out of the exhaust.

1) Did you replace the o-ring on the guide tube?

2)Also, the vacuum port has to be plugged on the CCV itself. You can use the stopper from the old ccv.
Since you got the cold weather version, you have to remove the insulation to see that port.

3)Another source of leak may be a 5mm allen bolt behind the engine block, right infront of the firewall. There is a thread on it, but just couldnt find it.

4)VANOS oil line, did you use new crush washers?

5) How about OFHG, did you check that area?

6) Did you do oil change after all this? You might want to check the oil drain bolt for any leak.

7) What oil are you using?

Trj,
Probably have. I keep posting about this issue since its over my head. To answer your questions:

-The ccv came pre plugged. Yes i checked by opening the insulation up
- mobil 1 0-40
- new oring on guide tube from dealer! Also seated it in properly so it wasnt dangling outside the oil hole
- what allen bolt? Can you expand?
- there are no visible leaks in the car. Ofhg / vcg have been replaced by me for precaution and blind issue hunting more than anything else
- botton shield is squeaky clean. Cleanest ever ive seen
- vanos oil line not opened but squeaky clean and no leaks
- oil bolt squeaky clean

Thanks guys. I really am losing hope of a simple diy fix here dont wanna blindly do a valve job and have it eating oil again!

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have the same problem, no leaks and have done all the maintenance

i burn 1 qt every 2000 kms no idea why, no blue smoke either

frk2 and madlow.

My speculation is a faulty CCV.
Even the new one may be faulty.

I dont see oil going anywhere if its not leaking and not burning(no blue smoke).

This is the thread I am talking about.
Doesnt hurt to check.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=798286

Originally Posted by frk2

Had the car for a 4 months and bought it with this problem. Obviously didnt realize it till later and the owner conveniently forgot to mention this "small" issue. The cars so clean and awesome that it wont even cross your mind!


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why, have you taken motor apart? should def be considered as a cause for oil burning

Originally Posted by trj

frk2 and madlow.

My speculation is a faulty CCV.
Even the new one may be faulty.

I dont see oil going anywhere if its not leaking and not burning(no blue smoke).

This is the thread I am talking about.
Doesnt hurt to check.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=798286

is the ccv the same as the osv?

and if so, if faulty , where does the oil go?