Does anyone have an oil catch can on there FI BMW? Is it nessesary, I am getting a significant amount of blow by oil in my turbo piping and intercooler. Does anyone else have blow by oil in there piping and is it a problem?

It sounds like you have a bad seal on your turbo. I don't know of any turbo bmw's with an oil catch can. Maybe you should look into getting it fixed.

Where in Detroit are you located? I'd like to check your car out sometime.

Take Care,

I bet it's caused by that silicone hosing for the oil return line ... another thing to add on my to do list

Nosoup4u-

What do you mean? My hose is not working properly.

Mikea-

The oil return line coming off the turbo is what I'm referring to. On my car, there is a silicone hose and from what I hear can kink over time because of the angle of the fitting coming off of the turbo and going into the oil pan. This will eventually block off the oil return line from the turbo and blow out the seals on the turbo. This is what I am guessing happened to yours if your seals are blown. Although, I could be wrong.

I am going to upgrade to a braided stainless steel hose. Oil and silicone hosing don't exactly go well together ;) . For about $150.00 people can upgrade this portion.

This is a suggestion to you HAM specifically if you are reading this!

Do I have to take the turbo apart to see if the seals are blown?

Mikea

All turbocharged M3s must have a oil separator kit. It is also called as oil breater or oil catch tank.

ýf you have one, add a second and you ll see no blow by.


Mert
www.da-motorsport.com

Originally posted by mertdastan
Mikea

All turbocharged M3s must have a oil separator kit. It is also called as oil breater or oil catch tank.

ýf you have one, add a second and you ll see no blow by.


Mert
www.da-motorsport.com

Mert, I disagree with you. On my turbo M3, I didn't have one. The breather hose was connected from the intake pipe (between the HFM and turbo) directly to the valve cover. I had no blow-by or oiling issues at all.

In addition, whenever I checked the intercooler internals, there was never any oil film or sludge.

Originally posted by NickG
Mert, I disagree with you. On my turbo M3, I didn't have one. The breather hose was connected from the intake pipe (between the HFM and turbo) directly to the valve cover. I had no blow-by or oiling issues at all.




Question, what is the breather hose and how does it work?


Thanks

Originally posted by 328DTM
Question, what is the breather hose and how does it work?


Thanks

The breather hose is used to vent the pressurized gasses from crankcase into the intake stream. This way, the gasses get reburned instead of released into the atmosphere. It also keeps the pressure from building too much in the crankcase and blowing out the seals.

NickG-


Why do you think I have oil in my piping? I know other turbo charged cars have oil catch cans. Could my seals on the turbo be the problem?

Originally posted by Mikea
Does anyone have an oil catch can on there FI BMW? Is it nessesary, I am getting a significant amount of blow by oil in my turbo piping and intercooler. Does anyone else have blow by oil in there piping and is it a problem?


it is normal depending on the type of turbo, and the amount of boost, and as long as it is not alot of oil........
excessive blow by oil can be the result of a few things....

1. turbo seals is weak
2. ring issues
3. poor ventilation

I am not sure the //M3 motor (if that is what u have) has a spot
for crank case vetilation/breather.


I use this type on my cars as a crank case ventilation system...

http://www.jegs.com/photos/71085465.jpg

e34biturbo-

I have 95 3.0l //M3 motor and breather hose is connected exactly like NickG. The type you use seems to only have one inlet, I don't think that type will work for me because I have to run the hose back into the intake between HFM and turbo.

( Any AA turbo guys use a oil catch can?)

Originally posted by Mikea
e34biturbo-

I have 95 3.0l //M3 motor and breather hose is connected exactly like NickG. The type you use seems to only have one inlet, I don't think that type will work for me because I have to run the hose back into the intake between HFM and turbo.

( Any AA turbo guys use a oil catch can?)

the bottom release valve can be removes and replaced with a an nipple to reroute back to the intake......

Is'nt that the drain for blow by oil, if that is done then oil will be flowing right back into the intake again.

Originally posted by Mikea
Is'nt that the drain for blow by oil, if that is done then oil will be flowing right back into the intake again.


I will post the pic of the right one/type you need

It sounds like you need something similar to an air compressor water catch tank. It will let air flow into one side and out the other, but catch oil in the tank (just like e34biturbo's tank). They also have a drain petcock on the bottom.

So...where in "Detroit" are you? I want to check out your car. You should stop by my house/garage some time and see my cars. I have a little fabrication left on my turbo....its getting very close.

EMC-

I moved to Toledo, OH. I have family in Dearborn Hts. so I vist often. We will have to meet up sometime.

Originally posted by Mikea
NickG-


Why do you think I have oil in my piping? I know other turbo charged cars have oil catch cans. Could my seals on the turbo be the problem?

In which pipes do you see the oil? Is it in the pipe before the turbo (between the HFM and turbo)? Or is it after the turbo (between the turbo and IC)? Some oil is acceptable (like a light film); if it's puddling up I'd say it's too much.

NickG-

Its after the turbo between the turbo and intercooler. Only a light film of oil. Can this be prevented with a oil catch can or is it normal with turbo cars. I checked TB did not see any oil at all.

If it's only after the turbo, and not before, then it's probably coming from the turbo seals and a catch can won't prevent it. I wouldn't worry if it's just a light film of oil. Sounds normal.

Thanks for your insight NickG.

It is normal to have a little blowby on FI cars. But if you are seeing oil in your intercooler especially on the intake side then I would suggest you do a leak down test because you may have some ring issues.

You dont want to drive the car without checking into that because the oil will increase the crankcase pressure and start blowing seals and stuff.

I have already performed a leak down test check out great. I think I am fine. If a little oil is normal I think Im okay, I was worried cause I have not read or heard any BMW FI guy disscuss blow by oil. I know a few supra guys, and all have catch cans for blow by oil at high RPMs. Does any BMW FI guys have an oil catch can? I am thinking about installing one, you guys think its nessecary for our cars? I think its a standard applaction on turbo cars.

A catch can wont hurt, its actually used by the Supra guys because the crankcase pressure gets so high it starts to blow out the seals. Alot of race cars actually have a seperate pump that is used for that main purpose. I would use it if it was necessary for me.

I'm not having any blow by issues, but this is the catch can I installed.

Looking at pic where are all the hoses going? In pic I see 2 large on top and one small on the side?

Jcarp-

How often and how much oil is dumped out of you catch can.

So far none, I put it on there because of all the blow by I had with the bad rings on the old engine. Although I like that it prevents the oily film from accumulating on the SC and aftercooler.

My car also has oil leaking out of the turbo seals. I just installed a used mosselman kit on my four banger.
The turbo hangs so low that the oil drains almost horizontally to the pan. So when the car sits, the oil level in the turbo is above the seals.
Not a good situation. Every morning I get a damn cloud of smoke. Now this is a used turbo, so I'm not sure if why the seals blew.
But I am going to install an oil sump or breather before I install new seals in the turbo. I want to see if this helps the problem.
I'll post results in the next few weeks.
Michael

Have you checked your oil pressure going to the turbo?

Has anyone pulled out there crankcase vent hose during idle to see if any black smoke is coming out? I did this yesterday a friend suggested it, to see if my rings were bad I did not see any black smoke the smoke I noticed was like exhaust smoke is that normal, could it be unburned gases? I think the purpose of the crankcase vent hose is to release crankcase pressure and route back unburned blow by gases......I might be wrong.