|
|
|
11-09-2012, 12:56 PM | #1 |
Captain
75
Rep 642
Posts |
What the hell is this in my OCC?
While I was changing my oil today I decided it was a good time to also check my oil catch can. This was my first time checking the can since it has only been installed for maybe 2-3000 miles tops. I was shocked when I found this in the bottom of it. A mixture of mostly water, rust?, and a little bit of oil. Where the hell did the rust come from? Is this whats going through the motor on a regular basis? Somebody please post a valid explanation or best guess of whats going on here.
__________________
|
11-09-2012, 01:35 PM | #2 |
Joint Chiefs of Staff
4918
Rep 115,980
Posts |
It's a mixture of water from crankcase condensation, fuel vapors, and oil. Just the sort of crap you want to get out of the system.
Mike |
Appreciate
0
|
11-09-2012, 01:40 PM | #3 |
aiming for 450.....
303
Rep 2,910
Posts |
Wow Wade........That is scary. The oil you changed didn't look like this did it?
__________________
Quote from Ezeedee regarding car mods:
"you're only done when you sell the car " |
Appreciate
0
|
11-09-2012, 01:44 PM | #4 |
Captain
75
Rep 642
Posts |
I understand the crankcase condensation. In fact I've seen pictures on here showing a soupy water and oil mixture in the catch can so I think that is probably pretty normal, especially on a N55. I am a little concerned where the rust is coming from though. Is it coming from the crankcase? Is it in the oil? Has anybody else ever seen something similar in their OCC?
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-09-2012, 01:53 PM | #5 |
Captain
75
Rep 642
Posts |
The oil looked pretty "normal" I guess. Actually it looked good considering it had been through stelvio, lots of high speed runs on the autobahn, and numerous ring trips, it definitely was not rusty looking or odd smelling. The magnetic drain plug had the typical light coating of a fine grey graphite like material but nothing abnormal.
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-09-2012, 03:30 PM | #6 |
Lieutenant
99
Rep 508
Posts |
Just changed mine and while it was not exactly like yours it was similar. I would not be concerned unless your oil from the drain plug looked like this. I am very happy to see the catch can doing its job!
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-09-2012, 05:15 PM | #7 |
Major
66
Rep 1,267
Posts
Drives: AW 135i
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waterford, Mi
|
where do you see rust?
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-09-2012, 05:21 PM | #8 |
European Editor
10589
Rep 22,992
Posts |
I guess the rust your talking about is that scum floating in that broth/mixture?
Maybe use a magnet to pick out the rust particles ? Or have whats in your OCC sent to an oil lab. As far as where the "rust" is coming from... with your OCC install... did you use any steel T's to plumb it in? Just a guess. ?
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-09-2012, 06:02 PM | #9 | |
Captain
75
Rep 642
Posts |
Quote:
As far as I remember there were no metal fittings used only rubber and plastic that came with the kit. I guess it could be from one of the fasteners holding the baffle in place but I think that is unlikely. It's starting to sound like this may be normal. Either way I'm going to check it regularly for a while to satisfy my curiosity.
__________________
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-09-2012, 07:27 PM | #10 |
Brigadier General
2416
Rep 3,550
Posts |
If you know you have small metal particles in the oil, and there is oil in the catch can, and there's also vapor in the catch can, then did the metal particles get rusty after they were trapped?
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-09-2012, 07:36 PM | #11 |
Major
66
Rep 1,267
Posts
Drives: AW 135i
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waterford, Mi
|
I do not think you have rust in your catch can. I don't know where it would have come from, since this is an aluminum engine. Also rust doesn't smell, so i'm not sure what smell you are talking about.
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-09-2012, 07:38 PM | #12 |
bimmerphile, technogeek
998
Rep 3,784
Posts
Drives: 2012 E82 6MT Sport
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: SoCal
|
Oil Catch Can?
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-09-2012, 10:46 PM | #14 |
Captain
302
Rep 913
Posts |
if the oil out of your pan didn't look like a frothy milkshake, it's all good. the catch can isn't a good indicator of things like blown headgaskets. don't get freaked out
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-09-2012, 11:32 PM | #15 |
Private First Class
8
Rep 128
Posts |
Out of curiosity, is it getting really cold there?
This is my first winter season with my 135i, but not the first season with a catch can on one of my vehicles. On other vehicles I had to watch and dump the OCC more frequently in the winter. It came out looking just like yours in the winter. Just food for thought. |
Appreciate
0
|
11-10-2012, 12:54 AM | #16 |
Second Lieutenant
24
Rep 273
Posts |
Quick question.. are there any differences in OCC's between n54 and n55?
If so.. whats the best bet for the n55? Had a BSH OCC on my Cooper S and it worked great! Only saw there listing for n54.. and it made me wonder. |
Appreciate
0
|
11-10-2012, 01:46 AM | #17 | |||
Captain
75
Rep 642
Posts |
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
__________________
|
|||
Appreciate
0
|
11-10-2012, 04:31 PM | #18 |
Captain
555
Rep 735
Posts |
Never had any water at all in my occ, but its pretty warm here in San AnTonio so maybe only people in colder climates get enough condensation to see something like that in their catch can. Nothing but straight black oil in mine.
|
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|