Oil seperator warning

[Solo Man]

Guys, had to replace the loo type filter with the later cyclonic oil separator on two diesel BMW's recently. The first one, a 2002 E46 320d with 180k kms, when I took the loo type filter out it was hard as stone. I thought that maybe it is supposed to be like that. Wrong, it is supposed to be soft and spongey. On the second car, also 2002 E46, but 330d, the filter was nice and spongey and the turbo is running smoothly and quietly. On the first one the turbo sounds like a police siren(some say a sure sign of impending failure) but funnily enough, after I put the cyclonic oil separator in, it still starts of sounding a bit like a police siren but as the engine gets hotter, the sound is less and less. When I had the cats taken out on this particular car I checked for play on the turbo shaft but it was better than my E39 530d as it had no play what so ever. My E39 had a bit of in/out play but when I checked the bearing after I replaced the turbo with a brand new one, the bearing of the old turbo was still like new. My warning to owners of diesel BMW's is to get the old loo type filter replaced with the cyclonic type as soon as possible!

 

[Kish2604]

Moved to Diesal fanatics and made sticky! :ty:

 

[DieselFan]

Yeah I dunno about being stickied. Kind of common knowledge in the diesel world. But good info nonetheless. At the very least replace the loo filter ever so often. Vortex filter never needs to be cleaned.

 

[samman325]

Some more info on the loo filter please (or maybe pointed to an existing thread).

Are they present on the e90's as well or just e46's? The OP only made mention of 2 of the latter

 

[DieselFan]

Some more info on the loo filter please (or maybe pointed to an existing thread).

Are they present on the e90's as well or just e46's? The OP only made mention of 2 of the latter

This is only for e46s, e90s have the vortex.

 

[CliftonH]

Hi dieselfan. I think on previous discussions it was found that some of the early E90 did have the loo roll type as well.

Thanks.

 

[Waseem 333i]

I still need to do this on my car. Where should i get the vortex filter from? BMW or goldwagen. Do you have the part number for e46 330d 150kw version and price of part?

 

[ChefDJ]

Guys, had to replace the loo type filter with the later cyclonic oil separator on two diesel BMW's recently. The first one, a 2002 E46 320d with 180k kms, when I took the loo type filter out it was hard as stone. I thought that maybe it is supposed to be like that. Wrong, it is supposed to be soft and spongey. On the second car, also 2002 E46, but 330d, the filter was nice and spongey and the turbo is running smoothly and quietly. On the first one the turbo sounds like a police siren(some say a sure sign of impending failure) but funnily enough, after I put the cyclonic oil separator in, it still starts of sounding a bit like a police siren but as the engine gets hotter, the sound is less and less. When I had the cats taken out on this particular car I checked for play on the turbo shaft but it was better than my E39 530d as it had no play what so ever. My E39 had a bit of in/out play but when I checked the bearing after I replaced the turbo with a brand new one, the bearing of the old turbo was still like new. My warning to owners of diesel BMW's is to get the old loo type filter replaced with the cyclonic type as soon as possible!

My turbo also had no play on the shaft but the turbo was shot. Broken vanes. Get it replaced before it leaves you standing, waiting for a tow truck.

I recently replaced my oil breather (was also the old sponge one) and it was hard as stone. I think it had never ever been replaced before. This fixed my oil leak.

I still need to do this on my car. Where should i get the vortex filter from? BMW or goldwagen. Do you have the part number for e46 330d 150kw version and price of part?

G-Drive :thumbs:

http://www.g-drive.co.za/shop.html?...uct_id=3247&category_id=5428&keyword=breather

 

[RAArmstrong]

Yeah I dunno about being stickied. Kind of common knowledge in the diesel world. But good info nonetheless. At the very least replace the loo filter ever so often. Vortex filter never needs to be cleaned.

Common knowledge to those of us in the diesel world. Good advice for those new to diesels, it's right here for them to see


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Solo Man]

Checked a 2006 E90 320d this morning and it had the new vortex type oil separator. Hopefully they all have them in but I would make sure if I had an early model E90 diesel just in case!

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On the broken vanes. Checked the exhaust vanes, they were perfect. My question is why is it sounding like a police siren when cold but fine when hot?

 

[WesleyM]

Hello Soloman. Did you perhaps take any pics of the loo type filter that was rock hard?

 

[Solo Man]

No, did not take pictures. Iirc., very small would say about 30mm long x about 12 or 15mm diameter (using memory here) but is immediately obvious when opening the separator casing. Sure you will find pictures on Youtube/Google

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Must add that i have since removed all kinds of filters, even the cyclonic one, from my three diesel cars as my E60 3l diesel came without one at all. Just do regular oil and oil filter changes at around 10k to 12k kms and you should be fine. Your choice though!!