What does the oil separator do in BMW?

The BMW crankcase vent system separates liquid oil from the air inside the engine and intake. When working correctly, oil is removed from the intake air and returned to the oil pan. Oil vapor remains and is burned up in the combustion chamber.

What are the symptoms of a bad oil separator?

General indicators of an air-oil separator failure include the check engine light illuminating on the gauge cluster, excessive amounts of oil being used, spark plugs coated in a layer of engine oil, sludged up oil, white smoke from the exhaust pipe, and whistling noises while driving.

How does an engine oil separator work?

The Moroso Air/Oil Separator is plumbed into the PCV system between the crankcase and vacuum source. As pressure is drawn from the crankcase, it’s routed through the separator canister. Inside the canister, it runs through a series of baffles and steel mesh, which separates oil and moisture from the airflow.

How much is an oil separator?

Purchasing costs of an oil water separator can range from $2,500 to over $1 million depending on the specifications.

What does a BMW PCV valve do?

The PCV valve, or the positive crankcase ventilation valve, is the part of your BMW that is in charge of releasing the unburned fuel, unburned oil, and exhaust from the engine block into the intake manifold as opposed to the atmosphere.

Is an oil separator worth it?

Oil separators are good for any vehicle with a hard-working engine or those with a forced induction system. They’ll help keep the intake system nice and clean for optimal performance.

Do I need an oil separator?

If you have a direct injection engine, you should have an AOS. When you go bigger on horsepower, you should have a quality AOS. Even if your vehicle is otherwise stock, and AOS can greatly improve performance and economy over time. They work well when installed correctly, it’s the right product for your engine.

Whats better catch can or AOS?

Air Oil separators and Oil catch cans are made to capture oil vapors going through the PCV system and catch oil residue. During cold days the sweat and water vapor from the engine condenses, filling the can with water. An AOS is more superior to a catch can. It is designed to take the collected oil back to the engine.

How do you size an oil water separator?

As a rule of thumb, some experts recommend a ten minute retention time in a gravity oil water separator. To achieve this, the separator chamber should be sized at ten times the flow rate. For example, a 1,000-litre chamber is recommended for a flow rate of 100 litres per minute.

What is the difference between an air oil separator and a catch can?

They key difference between the two is what they do with the oil that is captured. In the case of a Catch-Can, it will simply hold any oil or liquid captured until it is drained. An Air-Oil Separator on the other hand will have the addition of a drain, which will let the oil captured to drain back into the oil pan.

What should I do if my BMW air oil separator fails?

The best way to avoid an air-oil separator failure is to have a mechanic you trust perform routine maintenance on your BMW to catch possible problems early on or avoid worse issues altogether.

What are the indicators of an air-oil separator failure?

General indicators of an air-oil separator failure include the check engine light illuminating on the gauge cluster, excessive amounts of oil being used, spark plugs coated in a layer of engine oil, sludged up oil, white smoke from the exhaust pipe, and whistling noises while driving.

Does your BMW need an oil change?

Having any type of oil-related issue in your BMW is not a good sign and is something that should be addressed immediately. Taking proper care of the oil and oil systems leads to a healthy and happy BMW engine for better efficiency, longevity, and cleaner running.