How To Guide Pikey CCV fix

[peteslag]

When I picked up my 2004 Z4 3.0 the engine didn't feel very responsive and it used a considerable amount of oil. It had only done 51,000 miles so the oil consumption surprised me. After a bit of research the most likely culprit was the crank case vent valve (CCV). Apparently they get clogged up and cause excessive oil use. The procedure for replacing it looked painful so I resigned myself to regular oil top ups. I took the car to Cadwell on a track day and took some extra oil with me as I fully expected to have to top it up. Strangely, it didn't use a drop. Even more strangely it didn't use any oil for another 2 months after. The oil consumption came back but it was much less. I did another track day last year at Bedford and it hasn't had a top up ever since. I'm wondering if the previous owner drove the car slowly causing the CCV to clog? Maybe a good ragging is what it needed to free it up?

So, to sum up. If your zed uses a bit of oil drive it like you stole it!

 

[Low Rider]

I'll have to give that a go

 

[Ianmc]

Machinery, (cars of whatever) always benefit from being regularly used within their design parameters, with mechanical sympathy and proper servicing. Low mileage cars are often highly valued for this reason alone; to my mind this is a crazy fact of life.

 

[Eddie Zedder]

A good ragging always does wonders for your car and for your soul!

 

[peteslag]

Actually, thinking about it the brakes were a bit lifeless when I first bought the car. They are pin sharp now.

Genuinely, I think my anal attention to servicing and my "brisk" driving style really suits this car. Treat it mean, keep it keen!

The roof still won't go down on its own though, I would absolutely love it if that particular problem would fix itself!

 

[Lee]

I've actually done the CCV repair on the wife's 2.2 (2.2 & 3.0 are the same M54) a few months ago along with a new rocker cover gasket. It's massively changed the oil usage down to a litre every 3 months now but its still an issue. What I have noticed is every now and then a little puff of blue smoke under heavy load but its only occasional. I cant seem to pin point an exact cause.

Some photos of the CCV swap.

 

[peteslag]

Thanks for the pics, you can see it is well gummed up. Maybe there is method to my madness, a prolonged good thrash would help clear that out though ultimately best to replace I suppose.

As for the puffs of smoke, I've had it on two of my previous cars. One was a poorly turbo, the other was worn valve stem oil seals. The worn valve stem seals were most noticeable when pulling away after the car had been sat idling for a while.

 

[Lee]

Thanks for the pics, you can see it is well gummed up. Maybe there is method to my madness, a prolonged good thrash would help clear that out though ultimately best to replace I suppose.

As for the puffs of smoke, I've had it on two of my previous cars. One was a poorly turbo, the other was worn valve stem oil seals. The worn valve stem seals were most noticeable when pulling away after the car had been sat idling for a while.

I keep racking my head. I get no smoke from her car when its idle or been sat over night. It's only occasionally when giving it welly. It might be worth giving it hell for an hour and see how I get one it's an excuse to take the wifes car out I suppose.

 

[Gundun]

When I picked up my 2004 Z4 3.0 the engine didn't feel very responsive and it used a considerable amount of oil. It had only done 51,000 miles so the oil consumption surprised me. After a bit of research the most likely culprit was the crank case vent valve (CCV). Apparently they get clogged up and cause excessive oil use. The procedure for replacing it looked painful so I resigned myself to regular oil top ups. I took the car to Cadwell on a track day and took some extra oil with me as I fully expected to have to top it up. Strangely, it didn't use a drop. Even more strangely it didn't use any oil for another 2 months after. The oil consumption came back but it was much less. I did another track day last year at Bedford and it hasn't had a top up ever since. I'm wondering if the previous owner drove the car slowly causing the CCV to clog? Maybe a good ragging is what it needed to free it up?

So, to sum up. If your zed uses a bit of oil drive it like you stole it!

As strange as it might sound, that's exactly how it goes.
I work with heavy duty engines and it's not uncommon to have oil consumption field reports during the first hours of operation of the machine. Sure enough the oil consumption disappears after the machine goes through a fair load cycle.

This happens (if the valve seals are not the culprits) because what keeps the oil that lubricate the pistons from passing in the chamber and burning together with the mix, namely the piston rings, work at their best when the pressure differential between the combustion chamber and the oil sump is high, forcing them to expand against the piston wall...so, to speak, when the engine is fairly loaded. This is crucial during the break-in of the engine and it's true when they used to say that a new engine needs every once on a while a good whipping.

Don't be afraid to gun your beauties, they were born for it.

@Lee an excessive blow-by could be a symptom of high crankcase pressure (worn piston sleeves or broken rings)

 

[Lee]

As strange as it might sound, that's exactly how it goes.
I work with heavy duty engines and it's not uncommon to have oil consumption field reports during the first hours of operation of the machine. Sure enough the oil consumption disappears after the machine goes through a fair load cycle.

This happens (if the valve seals are not the culprits) because what keeps the oil that lubricate the pistons from passing in the chamber and burning together with the mix, namely the piston rings, work at their best when the pressure differential between the combustion chamber and the oil sump is high, forcing them to expand against the piston wall...so, to speak, when the engine is fairly loaded. This is crucial during the break-in of the engine and it's true when they used to say that a new engine needs every once on a while a good whipping.

Don't be afraid to gun your beauties, they were born for it.

This seems to ring true with what the American forms say, quite a few of them have removed the CCV altogether and fitted an oil catch tank, this in turn increases the crank case pressure and has cured all the engines its fitted to.

I wonder!

 

[Gundun]

This seems to ring true with what the American forms say, quite a few of them have removed the CCV altogether and fitted an oil catch tank, this in turn increases the crank case pressure and has cured all the engines its fitted to.

I wonder!

I am still not sure why yet, but I don't trust 100% oil catch cans: turning a closed loop circuit to an open loop has consequences on the pressures balance, especially if the oil catch can is not perfectly looked after...once is full or clogged it ain't pretty if you don't notice it.

Best thing to do is to regularly service the CCV filter like you did and if it still uses too much oil switch to a semi-synthetic instead of a full-synth.

 

[peteslag]

Don't be afraid to gun your beauties, they were born for it.

I LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT

 

[TaffZee]

Watching with interest, my 3.0 doesn't drink oil but it certainly uses more than my Z3 did (never used a drop), I need to put around a half litre in it every three or four months, It may be me being anal, but I noticed it seems to smoke in the mornings while waiting at traffic lights and the such, not a massive amount just a few wisps, I think this is more to the outside temps than oil usage as never noticed any smell associated with it and the smoke disappears quickly (Condensation?), seems to smoke more than other cars parked at the same lights though. It does not smoke under power just on tick over.

 

[peteslag]

Watching with interest, my 3.0 doesn't drink oil but it certainly uses more than my Z3 did (never used a drop), I need to put around a half litre in it every three or four months, It may be me being anal, but I noticed it seems to smoke in the mornings while waiting at traffic lights and the such, not a massive amount just a few wisps, I think this is more to the outside temps than oil usage as never noticed any smell associated with it and the smoke disappears quickly (Condensation?), seems to smoke more than other cars parked at the same lights though. It does not smoke under power just on tick over.

Hmmmmmm. My car used oil because the previous owner drove it like miss Daisy. If your cruises are anything to go by this is non-applicable in your case Jim.

If yours is using I sincerely doubt it will be your CCV. The smoke is more likely to be steam. Maybe a weepy gasket? Half a litre every 3-4 months is bugger all to be fair.

 

[peteslag]

I can't believe it auto censored b u g g e r. Surely that isn't sweary enough to censor?

 

[t-tony]

I can't believe it auto censored b u g g e r. Surely that isn't sweary enough to censor?

'kin' is Pete ! My car occasionally gave a bit of blue smoke on start up after I first got it, it doesn't anymore so I think your theory is correct text mate.

Tony.

 

[hard top]

Surely that isn't sweary enough to censor?

Gaz thinks so.....

 

[peteslag]

Gaz thinks so.....

In my capacity as a forum founder member I think I should be allowed to swear. I also believe my username should be in a gold lined typeface. @GazHyde make this happen!

 

[GazHyde]

In my capacity as a forum founder member I think I should be allowed to swear. I also believe my username should be in a gold lined typeface. @GazHyde make this happen!

I censor everything to annoy hard top.

 

[Lee]

I censor everything to annoy hard top.

I find hardtops face offensive.....