[QUOTE]Originally posted by TFota:
[B]

 

The smoke is from the crankcase ventilation as mentioned above. My car (E30 M3)comes stock with a device to eliminate that problem. It's a vertical cylinder under the throttle bodies which automatically separates the air and oil. The oil drains back to the sump via an extra hose at the bottom of the cylinder. That way only air goes to the intake and only liquid (deaerated oil) goes back "home". If you're going to track the car alot it would be a good idea to make sure that any sump baffles are up to the task. A mechanical oil pressure gauge is a good idea too. In my case I am able to use a higher than stock baffle and an extra pint of oil which leaves the level safely below the the stock windage tray. The air/oil separator would probably work on any car, BTW.

Stan

 

Mikey - my car did it at Summit after turn 6-7-8-9 up the hill towards turn 10. I thought my engine was done, and I had a total of 1700 miles on the car at the time.

it is just splashing and burning (hows that for technical).

I am certain i didn't overfill my oil!

Scot

 

the handfull of people who saw the car do this all knew it was related to coming out of all of those turns and it was just burning the oil. no black flag and no problems. Others have reported the same thing.... those other guys probably over filled their oil though

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mikey:
[B]Scot:

You should consider having a talk with the zone office.

 

<<You should consider having a talk with the zone office. I know I would if I suffered big clouds of oil smoke. >>

Based upon that which has been posted so far, ya can't get there that way. A new part would have to be designed, built,(or procured, tested, fitted etc.

If it's a problem you want to fix asap then the most expedient solution might be to add an air/oil separator. The hardest part could be where to send the oil back to the sump so that it can recirculate. My car has a specific fitting on the sump for this purpose. The oil returns to a safe, low turbulence area away from moving parts. Later M cars have an extra hole near where the dipstick tube enters the block. Maybe the dipstick tube could be used if it lays out right and you are clever.

Stan

 

Rev, what part of this don't you understand?

 

Once again E30M3, I had a catch can setup on my car for about 4000 miles. It collected only a couple tablespoons of oil during that entire time (normal for a non-boosted car). When my friend ran his supercharged civic without one, there wasn't any real noticable difference. The car had slightly leaky valve seals and puffed smoke between shifts either way. But with the catch can setup, he would collect about a cup of oil PER WEEK. This is because he was running boost. Once he took the supercharger off, he stopped getting oil in the catch can. But he never got clouds of blue smoke either way. The PCV is not the reason for the smoking people are describing. Everyone insists they aren't overfilling with oil - fine. But there are other ways to get oil in the intake. I agree with Scot that it's just general splashing and burning. I am impressed that BMW includes a catch can in a stock setup, however I do not recommend running a return line from a catch can. The oil you get from a catch can is VERY dirty and should not be returned to the sump. They do that on your car because it's a stock car and they know most people wont think to empty the can periodically. But if you're going to set up your own system, run a closed can and drain it periodically (usually every oil change is sufficient for non-boosted cars).

I know from the past that you (E30 and RT) just really like to argue with me, but I have serious doubts that this is PCV related. Anyway, someone with the smoking problem, go set up a catch can and see for yourself. I'd be very surprised if you collected more than a few table spoons between oil changes.

BTW, I dropped the overfilling arguement when Scot said he definitely checks and did not overfill. Other than that, you'd be surprised how many people overfill a car with oil. Hell, you ever see what they do at Greese Monkey? They have a hose that they drop into the oil filler hole and they just let that **** run all day long.


[This message has been edited by The Reverend (edited November 01, 2000).]

 

I haven't heard any discusion about the SAE weight/type of oil used in the different cars with/without this problem. The oil return ports from the head to the block on new cars are very small, and a heavy weight oil will build up very quickly in the head at high rpms, possibly causing the aforementioned PVC vent problems to the intake manifold. Synthetic oil is very thin at racing temperatures and is unlikely to cause this problem. Some oils also 'foam' at higher rpms, which could be a factor as well. Easier to change the oil than to add a separator. Just a new thought from an old racer who dislikes spending big $$$ fixing simple problems.

 

<<Once again E30M3, I have a catch can setup on my car for about 4000 miles.>>

I'm not referring to you specifically!!

<< The PCV is not the reason for the smoking people are describing. >>

This might be hard to say for sure Rev. Are you saying it's simple overfilling? Or what?

<<Everyone insists they aren't overfilling with oil - fine. >>

Can you describe the pan layout on the S2K? Does it have a scraper and track developed baffles? Problems down low can stir up and bubble the oil, create drag etc. If you could look into the sump at high revs it would look chaotic and hurricane like.

<<I am impressed that BMW includes a catch can in a stock setup>>

That was 15 years ago too! Some of the newer motor have multiple oil pick ups, even multiple pumps.

<<, however I do not recommend running a return line from a catch can. The oil you get from a catch can is VERY dirty and should not be returned to the sump.>>

We disagree on this one!

The oil getting into the intake just came directly from the top end of the motor essentially and is just as clean as that oil. Any oil that gets into the manifold is no good anymore though. Maybe that is what you are talking about. No problems AT ALL have been found on Bimmer motors using this long proven strategy. The oil never gets to the intake in this case and has not been contaminated or dirtied. Maybe you have experienced inadequate implementations of this idea? Please expand upon your POV.

<< They do that on your car because it's a stock car and they know most people wont think to empty the can periodically.>>

Nope. It's a real race car tamed for the street - a homologation car. Using the same basic engine that won the Formula 1 championship in 1983 in 1.5 litre turbo form. Up to 1300 HP for qualifying. Stock block. Up to 12-13000 RPM. Properly set up there is no reason at all not to drain back to the sump.

<<But if you're going to set up your own system, run a closed can and drain it periodically (usually every oil change is sufficient for non-boosted cars).>>

I wonder if my car's maintainance free, proven air oil separator would be useable in this case. I have a spare or two I will look over.


<<I know from the past that you just really like to argue with me, but I have serious doubts that this is PCV related. >>

Are you still sore about the wheel weight thing? Learn from it and move on. I have helped folks out for many, many years. Those that listen go very fast indeed!! I'm happy to help you out too!!

<<Anyway, someone with the smoking problem, go set up a catch can and see for yourself. I'd be very surprised if you collected more than a few table spoons between oil changes.>>

It doesn't take very much oil at all to generate amazing amounts of blue smoke. It only happens under certain conditions though. i really don't think this is an overfilling issue as it would have to be quite a bit extra above the fill mark. Maybe there is a top end overoiling condition - this happens on some cars to the extent that the top end fills up with oil under prolonged, steady high revs.

Stan

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by E30M3:
[B] Based upon that which has been posted so far, ya can't get there that way.