[SocialDrifter]

Hello everybody.
I was wondering why there is no such thread so far, since the issues from the oil that returns to intake are pretty much known and all direct injection engines suffer.
So, what have you done so far in order to prevent oil getting stored into intercooler and also avoid carbon builtup on intake valves?
Has anyone done any inspection so far to report what is going on?

p.s: a friend of mine inspected his mini cooper s r56 valves recently (car has only 10,000km) and he almost cried. Major carbon builtup in each valve. He put an oil catch can the next day, hoping to prevent things going worse.

[BGM]

absolutely no idea, can you exaplin further? any vids on youtube showing the issue?

[SocialDrifter]

Originally Posted by BGM

absolutely no idea, can you exaplin further? any vids on youtube showing the issue?

There is an a certain amount of steamed oil that is released from the crankcase. Manufacturers are forced to 'recycle' this waste by leading it to the induction again through the pcv valve. Because of the design of the direct injection engines, it is not mixed with gas but only with air before it enters the cylinder to get burnt. But when it contacts the hot intake valves, it leaves a residue that it develops into carbon because of the temprature. The amout of carbon buildup is increasing overtime with car use, causing from efficiency and performance issues to CEL lights and other more complex problems.
Guys do some googling. There is no exception of this rule, every modern turbo engine suffers, from 1.4 tsi golfs, to biturbo BMWs and V8 Audis
I post a link from a mini cooper forum which includes many photos to get an idea:
http://www.northamericanmotoring.com...sus-count.html

Then comes the oil catch cans, where they collect this oily steam and they prevent it from entering the engine again.

[tawia]

BP Ultimate cleans this away.
You would think if it was such a bad thing oil catch can would be part of engine design?

[tawia]

Is this a petrol only issue?

[SocialDrifter]

BP ultimate, or any other fuels or fuel cleaners do nothing, because in direct injection engines the fuel does not touch the valves, since is getting sprayed after the valves directly into the cylinder.

Here is a video from a 335i engine before and after cleaning.

Note: the cleaning procedure is totally a rip-off (around $1000) and needs to be done periodocally. On the other hand if can eliminate this thing happen, u will have clean valves and also clean turbine, hoses, intercooler, pipes etc.

The PCV valve in 116i/118i is located right before the turbine.

[BGM]

Originally Posted by tawia

Is this a petrol only issue?

+1 to this

[SocialDrifter]

Originally Posted by tawia

Is this a petrol only issue?

I am sorry but my knowledge stops here.

[ovekvam]

There is more oil in the intake on diesel engines than petrol engines.

[hwelvaar]

In the US, this is a "hot issue" and every tuner has an oil catch can in their list of products available for a specific car.

http://www.google.be/#hl=nl&output=s...+catch+can+bmw

In the EU, nobody seems to care.

So is it a real issue or not, I don't know...

[SocialDrifter]

Everyone who is aware of how serious this thing is, considers it as a hot issue.

[Jameson]

This makes me wonder... I have a doubt between buying a 118i or a 118d...So if you consider thay what I value most is reliability, what would you choose? I want petrol, but, I´m in doubt.

Thanks

[SocialDrifter]

Originally Posted by Jameson

This makes me wonder... I have a doubt between buying a 118i or a 118d...So if you consider thay what I value most is reliability, what would you choose? I want petrol, but, I´m in doubt.

Thanks

IMO, N13B16 aka 116i engine is a brilliant one.
Too bad in US they put their hands only in big block engines (n54/n55). 1.6 needs attention as well and has also great potential for performance gains and reliability.

(If you are interested in tuning, get the 116i. The only difference with 118i is remap and downpipe, it doesnt worth the extra cash bmw charges for +34hp.)

[ovekvam]

Originally Posted by SocialDrifter

(If you are interested in tuning, get the 116i. The only difference with 118i is remap and downpipe, it doesnt worth the extra cash bmw charges for +34hp.)

According to that logic, it would be even better to buy a 114i.

[SocialDrifter]

Originally Posted by ovekvam

According to that logic, it would be even better to buy a 114i.

114i has many other differences that cover the price difference. But 116i has the poential to go over 200hp with remap and still be cheaper than the 118i.

Please lets keep this thread clean. No more

[frashed]

FYI I had an R56 MCS and also had trouble with carbon buildup, as did the majority of owners, if they bothered to look.

I'm on the lookout for a catch can daily, no doubt they'll be coming out eventually, but 125i development is painfully slow, probably due to the attention the M135i is receiving.

[SocialDrifter]

Originally Posted by frashed

FYI I had an R56 MCS and also had trouble with carbon buildup, as did the majority of owners, if they bothered to look.

I'm on the lookout for a catch can daily, no doubt they'll be coming out eventually, but 125i development is painfully slow, probably due to the attention the M135i is receiving.

Only custom applications with universal kits are available so far and i dont think this will change in future. The truth is that most of the owners are unaware of how these engines operate. The funny thing is that in US forums, the pcv/occ threads have the most written pages and views.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Jameson

This makes me wonder... I have a doubt between buying a 118i or a 118d...So if you consider thay what I value most is reliability, what would you choose? I want petrol, but, I´m in doubt.

Thanks

Diesels also have their issues. Here in the UK it is not uncommon for diesel users who make lots of short trips, to coke up the inlet tract and valve porting. I've read that it can be so bad the valves don't seat properly and compression can be compromised. BMW diesels are not immune, we have an X3 2.0d driver with this very issue at the present moment on another UK forum.

It is all about emission controls, petrol or diesel. Each has its issues, remember diesels can have major DPF issues as well as internal emission and EGR recirculation problems.

Don't think modern diesels are more reliable due to design, no longer the case. Both engines are now very complex, choose what you want and enjoy!

HighlandPete

[SocialDrifter]

I spent some time today inspecting the engine and i came up with these findings.
The pcv is linked with a 19mm hose which is conected with the intake right before the turbine. So, whoever wants to grt involved into a DIY occ has to inset the occ circuit to this point.

[SocialDrifter]

Today I modded the pcv pipe.
I disconnected it from the intake hose and with 1 meter 19mm flexible silicone hose i ventilated to atmosphere to a low spot of the engine. I also put a custom silicone block to the hole left in the intake hose.
I gave it a spin and it was not smelly too. If it gets smelly i will put an oil catch can.

[will-w]

Originally Posted by SocialDrifter

Today I modded the pcv pipe.
I disconnected it from the intake hose and with 1 meter 19mm flexible silicone hose i ventilated to atmosphere to a low spot of the engine. I also put a custom silicone block to the hole left in the intake hose.
I gave it a spin and it was not smelly too. If it gets smelly i will put an oil catch can.

Dependent on where you are this is illegal

In the UK it will fail an MOT with it venting to air, this is why catch cans are so popular in the UK.

As for a question earlier; if anything it is more important to have a catch can on a diesel as the intercooler pipes are coated with a thin oil covering within no time at all

[SocialDrifter]

Originally Posted by will-w

Dependent on where you are this is illegal

In the UK it will fail an MOT with it venting to air, this is why catch cans are so popular in the UK.

As for a question earlier; if anything it is more important to have a catch can on a diesel as the intercooler pipes are coated with a thin oil covering within no time at all

You will not fail any MOT, cause it is reversable in 5'. So you can return to stock to pass emission tests. It is the same for all direct injection engines. If you want a healthy, athletic engine you should isolate these nasty boys. Oil catch can, oil catch can to atmosphere, or straight to atmosphere (my case) is the solution to this problem.
On the other hand, it is always fun to hear: 'bmw/audi/porsche knows best, they cant sell an engine that hurts itself'