BMW and emissions components.........

[OVERKILL]

This is an interesting observation, as today I took the M5 for its E-test (which it passed BTW) and the Ontario Drive-Clean program has changed since the last time the car was tested.

The usual Drive-Clean program consisted of your typical dyno-test where the car is run on a dynometer with a tailpipe sniffer and the emissions measured.

The new program, which has replaced the dynometer program, is based on the OBD2 protocol for emissions compliance. Essential, as long as you don't have a CEL (and BTW, running that Shell gasoline in the M5 eventually fixed my EVAP solenoid CEL FWIW) you are pretty much guaranteed to pass.

The print-out from the M5 (which shows the items tested) reminded me that BMW doesn't appear to be a fan of our typical emissions components. My car has two HUGE catalytic converters (they are cylindrical, about a foot and a half long an at least 6" across) but that's about it. I have no EGR and no PCV. Just an air pump to pre-heat the cats which runs for a few seconds on cold start.

Are there any other marques that have taken this approach? I mean, my '87 302 in my Mustang had EGR, PCV, 4-cats AND an air pump. Yet I managed to make that bugger pass an E-test with only the EGR and PCV being functional. BMW seems to intentionally omitted the EGR and PCV stuff for whatever reason......

 

[OVERKILL]

I must add, that I find it comical that on a car with something like SIX ECM's, EIGHT throttle bodies, quad-VANOS, dual MAF's, a semi-dry sump....etc that in all of that complexity, that the evaporative emissions component of the car consists of nothing more than a couple of breathers with air/oil separators attached to them.

 

[randomhero439]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
I must add, that I find it comical that on a car with something like SIX ECM's, EIGHT throttle bodies, quad-VANOS, dual MAF's, a semi-dry sump....etc that in all of that complexity, that the evaporative emissions component of the car consists of nothing more than a couple of breathers with air/oil separators attached to them.

Being a gear head, i find it very comical as well lol.

 

[bdcardinal]

You can eliminate EGR on any vehicle with variable cam timing. The car probably has a PCV of some sorts, even a fixed orifice.

 

[Lead Shoes]

They must have engineered the car so much it made them obsolete *sarcasm*, I am also very curious as to why they don't have those systems....

 

[NMBurb02]

My Burb does not have an EGR valve or air injection, despite it being manufactured to meet California emissions standards. There is a block off plate where the EGR tubing would normally connect with the intake system and there is a flat area on the front of one of the exhaust manifolds where the EGR port would normally be, but it is solid. The setup is stock, AFAIK. I have only had it smogged once and it passed with flying colors!

 

[mechanicx]

Engine generally have emission equipment necessary to meet emission standards. Aluminum head engines, 4-valves and VVT don't always require EGR valves. Most cars don't have air pumps. So tight control of the Air/Fuel ratio (ignition and valve timing) along with Cats is primarily how cars meet emissions.

It seems your BMW has about as much emission equipment as any other late model. I'm sure you have an evap system. And while the crankcase ventilation may not have a PCV per se, I'm betting the crankcase ventilation system is somehow connected to the intake. A lot of BMWs have a more complicated crankcase ventialtion system than a typical vehicle.

 

[Lyman]

My 99 Ranger has no EGR from the factory. I know for a fact that most of them do come with one. Mine came over from Hawaii. The intake manifold is solid where it would normally go. Passes CA smog test no problem.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
I must add, that I find it comical that on a car with something like SIX ECM's, EIGHT throttle bodies, quad-VANOS, dual MAF's, a semi-dry sump....etc that in all of that complexity, that the evaporative emissions component of the car consists of nothing more than a couple of breathers with air/oil separators attached to them.

My car has no EGR and no provision for one. No air pump either. I also have an elaborately designed oil pan that smacks of keeping the parts 'dry'.

And no variable valve timing here either. Enough overlap and who needs egr!

I like fewer parts...

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
You can eliminate EGR on any vehicle with variable cam timing. The car probably has a PCV of some sorts, even a fixed orifice.


My 91 does not have EGR nor variable timing. Perhaps the cam profiles just overlap a little bit all the time?

Mine does not have a PCV, but it is all plumbed back to the intake...

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
You can eliminate EGR on any vehicle with variable cam timing. The car probably has a PCV of some sorts, even a fixed orifice.


Well the car has no intake manifold, so any form of vacuum-assisted valving wouldn't work. The air/oil separator breathers I mentioned are the only thing used to vent the crankcase. It has one for each valve cover.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: mechanicx
Engine generally have emission equipment necessary to meet emission standards. Aluminum head engines, 4-valves and VVT don't always require EGR valves. Most cars don't have air pumps. So tight control of the Air/Fuel ratio (ignition and valve timing) along with Cats is primarily how cars meet emissions.

It seems your BMW has about as much emission equipment as any other late model. I'm sure you have an evap system. And while the crankcase ventilation may not have a PCV per se, I'm betting the crankcase ventilation system is somehow connected to the intake. A lot of BMWs have a more complicated crankcase ventialtion system than a typical vehicle.


See post #2

It has a breather setup that has the typical air/oil separators. They dump the oil back in the pan, and they breath into the plenum. it certainly isn't very complex, with about 4 parts total.

My old Ford's all had air pumps, so I'm used to seeing those. Of course the Expedition doesn't have one, being newer, but it has EGR and a PCV system with a significant amount of plumbing, along with 4 cats.

And with respect to this era of Ford, they use the DPFE setup with the tubes coming from the exhaust to manage the EGR, not the least complex of systems out there, that's for sure.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
I must add, that I find it comical that on a car with something like SIX ECM's, EIGHT throttle bodies, quad-VANOS, dual MAF's, a semi-dry sump....etc that in all of that complexity, that the evaporative emissions component of the car consists of nothing more than a couple of breathers with air/oil separators attached to them.

My car has no EGR and no provision for one. No air pump either. I also have an elaborately designed oil pan that smacks of keeping the parts 'dry'.

And no variable valve timing here either. Enough overlap and who needs egr!

I like fewer parts...


Sounds like a great setup

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
I must add, that I find it comical that on a car with something like SIX ECM's, EIGHT throttle bodies, quad-VANOS, dual MAF's, a semi-dry sump....etc that in all of that complexity, that the evaporative emissions component of the car consists of nothing more than a couple of breathers with air/oil separators attached to them.

My car has no EGR and no provision for one. No air pump either. I also have an elaborately designed oil pan that smacks of keeping the parts 'dry'.

And no variable valve timing here either. Enough overlap and who needs egr!

I like fewer parts...


Sounds like a great setup

It certainly has been proven reliable. Since August 05 I have bought tires, brake pads, rotors and motor mounts. I only broke one (at the strip) but they were updated so I bought all three, total was under 150 bucks!

God help me if the computers or such ever take the big dump, 9 of them on a CANBUS setup is very intimidating to me. But I committed to keeping this car at 3 years of ownership. It's a real sweetie...

 

[Vikas]

Quote:
CEL (and BTW, running that Shell gasoline in the M5 eventually fixed my EVAP solenoid CEL FWIW)

Come on, you are here long enough to know that is not how it works! You are an engineer and I expect rational reasoning from you unlike many other contributors here.

Many of you would really benefit from a molecular scientist who does some weekend wrenching for fun and has posted fabulous videos. I just discovered him over the weekend.

His Channel:-
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnIQ-_hRpyHR68f23dQQHUg

 

[rslifkin]

My Jeep has a cat, but no air pump, no EGR. Just a PCV and all the evap stuff. The older versions of it had EGR, but they tweaked the cam timing / computer tune a little in 96 for the OBDII cutover and no longer needed it to pass the tests.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
Quote:
CEL (and BTW, running that Shell gasoline in the M5 eventually fixed my EVAP solenoid CEL FWIW)

Come on, you are here long enough to know that is not how it works! You are an engineer and I expect rational reasoning from you unlike many other contributors here.

Many of you would really benefit from a molecular scientist who does some weekend wrenching for fun and has posted fabulous videos. I just discovered him over the weekend.

His Channel:-
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnIQ-_hRpyHR68f23dQQHUg


Well fine, the detergents in the gasoline I was using ate away at the varnish that causes this solenoid to stick and it began sticking less and less and now hasn't done it in over 6 months

That better? I could explain the routing of the system if needed? LOL!

 

[SteveSRT8]

Never forget the obfuscation, it is critical to sounding "extra scientific"!

 

[Vikas]

You have the scanner. Get the mode 6 data associated with the EVAP parameters (that in itself is going to be a challenge without having the correct BMW decoder ring). Look at the test results and see if any are on the borderline. There are quite a few other environmental variables (such as temperature and humidity) which would have more impact on the EVAP system than the octane rating of the gasoline.

And the thing is you bloody well are aware of all this but just to play with plebeians here, you go and throw the blurb about Royal Shell gasoline fixing your EVAP code. And here I thought you were on the secret Mobil 1 payroll

But rather than fight with you, I am going to join you. Next time, I going to put Shell Premium in my 99 Camry to fix the pesky P0446. And if the code goes away, I will eat your shoe!

 

[OVERKILL]

Already there! And I have the BMW "decoder ring"

Join me!!!