2000 528i BMW dead

CJH1925

MEMBER
2000 BMW 528
6 CYL
118,000 MILES

This is a wierd one. A week ago the car suddenly lost power and then died. When I turned around to coast down hill to get off the road I noticed a huge smoke screen behind the car. The engine was also seized. When I pulled the dipstick it had a vacuum in the crankcase and made a strange gurgling sound. A few days ago I pulled the plugs and found all 6 cylinders full of oil. Engine now turns, no evidence of coolant leakage into the cylinders. Any ideas as to what could cause this. I suspect the PCV system since oil has to be getting in through the intake manifold downstream of the throttle assembly. Also, what damage could this do, if any, to the cats? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have the Bentley manual but I can find nothing in it about the PCV system. (There has to b a better manual out there for these cars!)

4 Replies

DOCHAGERTY

MECHANIC
9,601 POSTS

The question in my mind is if the engine is seized, how was it drawing a vacuum into the crankcase? You may well have an inoperative cyclone separator which could fill the motor with oil, although it seems somewhat extreme to have it seize the motor. Cat damage may not be a factor at this time, lets get through the oil issue and then deal with the cats.