Possible Valve Stem Seal Failure

[evnmopwr]

If you are careful enough when removing the old CCV and you don't break any of the pipes, just re-use them and replace only the CCV.

You may have to replace the rubber piece at the bottom which drains into the oil pan via the dipstick (common failure) but you can use any fuel hose of the correct size there.

It is possible to remove & replace the CCV without taking off the manifold, I have done it 4 times already (on 4 different cars) so normally the upper pipes don't come off and are OK to re-use unless they are also blocked (easy to check).

There is a trick to how the CCV must be rotated to remove it once all pipes to it are disconnected, but once you figure that out, the job is relatively easy.

I replaced the CCV on 2 E46s i had before this with the intake on
Honestly, i do not have the patience for that. LOL

so I'm going to pull the intake as its much quicker and my history with parting out E46s, i know the process well. lol

Will rather replace all the hoses 1 time in that case as i do not want to do it again anytime soon.

 

[evnmopwr]

I would personally go the dealer route since the OEM one has lasted that long. You going through all the effort so replacing the pipes at this opportunity is a good idea vs having them break in a few months time.

MotoEuro parts are crap quality I would only use it as worst case.

OEM
Febi / Meyle

I seen the Febi one at master parts, the plastic looks CHEAP to be honest and the edges are rough.

maybe will opt for the Agents CCV and the pipes i will buy at GW.

Thanks for the advice/Guidance guys. Will keep you posted on whats puchased, and the outcome once installed

 

[osiris]

All I want to know about in this thread is how the hell do spark plugs rust within the head? If my plugs came out my motor looking like that I would be severely concerned about the health of my motor?

🤷‍♂️

 

[Tinuva]

All I want to know about in this thread is how the hell do spark plugs rust within the head? If my plugs came out my motor looking like that I would be severely concerned about the health of my motor?

🤷‍♂️

Is that rust or oil you see? I see lots of oil. I must be blind.

 

[osiris]

Is that rust or oil you see? I see lots of oil. I must be blind.

I mean who knows....I see rust coloured corrosion but it could be oil too. I would have to see in person I guess, either way those plugs look manky AF!

 

[evnmopwr]

All I want to know about in this thread is how the hell do spark plugs rust within the head? If my plugs came out my motor looking like that I would be severely concerned about the health of my motor?

🤷‍♂️

Not rust bud.

Its oil actually. And the Discoloration on the White Part is probably from the heat/Oil i suspect but no clue what that is. It does rub off.

i usually do spark plugs every 15000km but this time round, they about 25-30000km on them

 

[evnmopwr]

I mean who knows....I see rust coloured corrosion but it could be oil too. I would have to see in person I guess, either way those plugs look manky AF!

Let me put your mind at easy, its definitely not rust. lol.
This the engine comes from a car that has seen extensive Maintenance done at agents and Brilliant Mechanical Workshop up to 165 000km.

Thats when i bought the car for the drivetrain. and its seen even more Preventative maintenance etc since then

Also need to correct the kms, i see i have the kms as 280 000km. its only 228 000km. lol.

but im happy to report the compression test looks good.
also, each morning on start up or after work, There is neve blue smoke out of the exhaust.
So i suspect BlueShirt Nailed it with the CCV being the issue.
I never replaced the CCV as the suction at the oil cap and Dipstick was fine. and still is, It could be pulling alitte stronger at the oil cap but i dont have another car to Compare it to. lol.

It is actually the Only part that needs replacing as everything else has been done.

I went with the Dealer CCV and pipes just for piece of mind.
CCV + the 4 hoses will be replaced and i will be doing the O2Pilot mod as well.

Im also going to open the old CCV to check the diaphragm.
Will Post up what i find

 

[Blue Shirt]

I suggest that you also pull the dipstick tube and clean out the drainage channel for the bottom drain pipe from the CCV. If that becomes blocked (which is often the case) you will have excess oil build-up in the CCV which will increase consumption and even tailpipe smoke as more vapours are burned off which should have drained into the sump.

 

[Blue Shirt]

@evnmopwr

Did you get to the bottom of the issue? I am curious to know if the CCV was the real culprit or if your M54 is the rare beast with worn valve stem seals.

 

[evnmopwr]

@evnmopwr

Did you get to the bottom of the issue? I am curious to know if the CCV was the real culprit or if your M54 is the rare beast with worn valve stem seals.

hi

Just got all the parts yesterday so Saturday im going to tackle the CCV replacement and O2pilot mod.

Will definitely update thread once done

 

[evnmopwr]

So Saturday Past i done a new CCV and the 4 hoses.

When i pulled the Pipe that connects to front of the engine, it was excessively oily.

Pulling the DISA, it was Crusty carbon but not oily like that pipe mentioned above.
Also, no oil in the intake

Valves did not show any oil on them when looking into the Intake ports
Also, no carbon build up ontop of the valves

What also noticed, it had a Vaico branded ccv.
This could be the New one which i unstalled on my 325i engine before the 330i swop and i may have installed it on the 330i. cant remember
but this Vaico ccv was full of oil too.
i did not notice any rips in the diaphragm when i pulled the CCV apart

As i was putting everything back, i managed to drop 1 of the Disa valve bolts onto the lower pan/Splash tray. :|
So i had to pull the splash tray/sumpguard etc etc to get 1 bolt.

to my horror, i see they coated in oil. and the steering rack, oil pan, bellhousing is all FULL OF OIL!!
i could not understand as i saw no leaks on the engine block when the intake was off.

so i washed all the oil off and started the car while i watched from the bottom for leaks.
And looks to me like 1 of the Washers on the vanos Banjo bolt on the oil filter housing was leaking.

I removed and refitted a few times and it carried on leaking.
Eventually i replaced the washers on oil filter housing side with the 2 straightest and flattest ones i had.
It still leaks but very very little now.

Ordered new washers from SMG Century city, they had 5 in stock so i just bought all.
Will replace those this evening if weather permits

Once thats done and no more leaks, i will then need to install the O2Pilot mod

Will keep you all posted. have not seen smoke puff since. but i still need to take a proper oil reading to confirm what level its at.
once the leak is done, will monitor the Oil usage and Smoke in rear

 

[evnmopwr]

Update:

After above Saga, The Vanos Feed line washers replaced and no more oil leaks
bee running the O2pilot mod for few weeks now, im happy to report no more burning of oil.

Prior to the O2 pilot mod, and after i replaced the CCV and hoses, i did notice smoke out the back.
But since the O2 pilot mod was completed, No more smoke.

My oil level has been in the same spot for about 2 weeks now which never happened before.

So @Blue Shirt , you were 100% correct. Valve Stem seals were not the issue in my case.
Piston ring Gunk most likely but O2pilot mod Done it!!!.

Just a Warning to others doing O2 pilot mod, Dont open the oil filler cap while its running. LOL
Learnt that the hard way and mad a mess in the bay and car ran weird.

Happy happy happy

 

[Tinuva]

Update:

After above Saga, The Vanos Feed line washers replaced and no more oil leaks
bee running the O2pilot mod for few weeks now, im happy to report no more burning of oil.

Prior to the O2 pilot mod, and after i replaced the CCV and hoses, i did notice smoke out the back.
But since the O2 pilot mod was completed, No more smoke.

My oil level has been in the same spot for about 2 weeks now which never happened before.

So @Blue Shirt , you were 100% correct. Valve Stem seals were not the issue in my case.
Piston ring Gunk most likely but O2pilot mod Done it!!!.

Just a Warning to others doing O2 pilot mod, Dont open the oil filler cap while its running. LOL
Learnt that the hard way and mad a mess in the bay and car ran weird.

Happy happy happy

I also read on e46fanatics to not open the oil cap at the top after the mod. Also not good for the engine. So be sure to turn off before opening oil cap at top.

 

[evnmopwr]

I also read on e46fanatics to not open the oil cap at the top after the mod. Also not good for the engine. So be sure to turn off before opening oil cap at top.

I only Saw that when after i already done it
the50skid advised not to open it after the mod.

but just glad its all sorted now