Bought vacuum tester - how to connect it to E34?

[Jazz_89]

Hello guys,

recently I bought this vacuum tester, which looks pretty sweet. It comes with a rubber tube and a T-connector.
8491

On which vacuum line should I connect it?
-The positive crankcase ventilation line is difficult to access and there is very limited room for the T-connector
-The fuel pressure regulator line is very stiff attached. Cannot remove it, I am afraid that I will do damage.
-The brake booster pipe is too thick.

Are there any other lines?
Thank you

[whiskychaser]

No spare port on the one-way valve in the brake booster line?

[shogun]

The 535 with the M30 has a lot of vacuum hoses http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/hose_map.jpg
In order not to cut the original hosess, buy 1 meter more vacuum or fuel line, then you can disconnect the original vacuum hose for example from the fuel pressure regulator, add a piece of your newly purchased hose and then connect that to one side of the t-piece and the other side of the t-piece to the original hose.

[Jazz_89]

Alright, so I tried it at the small vacuum line from the crankcase ventilation, right nect to the valve cover. But I only got about 7-10 inches of Mercury. A healthy engine should suck at around 17-22 inches of pressur right? :/

I will perform the test at the furl pressure regulator and let you know whether there is (hopefully) a better reading

[whiskychaser]

Alright, so I tried it at the small vacuum line from the crankcase ventilation, right nect to the valve cover. But I only got about 7-10 inches of Mercury. A healthy engine should suck at around 17-22 inches of pressur right? :/


Yes. But have you factored in your altitude above sea level?

[shogun]

Do you have any info on nominal data? Here it says (but M30 is not listed there, should not matter, I assume):
A properly functioning pressure control valve is designed to maintain a slight vacuum (approximately 10 - 15 mbar ) in the crankcase which assures reliable crankcase venting during all engine operating conditions.
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5989795
Testing and Inspection
Notes
Crankcase Ventilation System Check

MODEL: All with M42(from 1/94), M44, M52, S52, M60, M62 and M73 engines.

Situation: All current BMW engines incorporate a pressure controlled crankcase ventilation system. The crankcase ventilation systems use various different crankcase ventilation valves depending on the engine type as shown in the illustration below.
(1) M52 / S52
(2) and (3) M73 uses two valves per engine
(4) M42 from 1/94 production / M44
(5) M60 / M62

Although the valves all look different they function similarly using a spring and diaphragm assembly to control the crankcase pressure. A properly functioning pressure control valve is designed to maintain a slight vacuum (approximately 10 - 15 mbar ) in the crankcase which assures reliable crankcase venting during all engine operating conditions.

A malfunctioning crankcase ventilation valve may cause the following complaints:
Engine runs rough
Whistling noise from crankcase ventilation valve
Check engine light on - possible DME faults stored: misfire all cylinders, oxygen sensor/mixture faults, etc.
Note: DME faults stored in memory will vary depending on the DME version.
To assist in troubleshooting the above complaints a special tool part number 99 00 0 001 410 has been developed to quickly check a pressure controlled crankcase ventilation system. Also refer to service information bulletin number 04 08 98 for further information regarding the slack tube manometer tool.
The slack tube manometer tool consists of:
(1) Slack Tube Manometer
(2) Connecting Hose
(3) Modified Oil Filler Cap

Procedure:

Follow the instructions included with the slack tube manometer for the initial tool set up and general operating proceedures.

Connect the slack tube manometer to the engine oil filler neck.
With both valves (1) open approximately 1/4 turn, zero the sliding scale using the knob (2) as shown in the illustration below.

Start the engine and observe the column of water.

With all electrical consumers and the air conditioning switched off and engine at operating temperature the reading should indicate from 3.0 - 6.0 inches of water at idle.

Note: The values on both sides of the slack tube must be added together to get the proper reading as seen in the illustration below.
xample: 2.5 + 2.5 = 5.0 inches of water (The readings may fluctuate 0.1 to 0.2 during the measurement which is normal and does not indicate a defect.)

If a crankcase ventilation valve is defective (damaged diaphragm) the column of water will indicate an off of the scale reading (all of the water on one side of the slack tube) which indicates a high crankcase vacuum.

Note: A higher than normal crankcase vacuum will also cause the crankshaft seals to leak outside air into the crankcase during engine operation. A whistling or howling noise is usually heard coming from the seal areas (front or rear) at idle when this occurs.
http://www.justanswer.com/bmw/338u4-2003-bmw-x5-4-4i-blowing-alot-smoke-crankcase-vent-valve.html

http://www.aa1car.com/library/pcv.htm

[Jazz_89]

Yes. But have you factored in your altitude above sea level?
Good point.
But I live about 500m above MSL, so it should not matter I think

[Jazz_89]

Do you have any info on nominal data? Here it says (but M30 is not listed there, should not matter, I assume):
A properly functioning pressure control valve is designed to maintain a slight vacuum (approximately 10 - 15 mbar ) in the crankcase which assures reliable crankcase venting during all engine operating conditions.
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5989795
Testing and Inspection
Notes
Crankcase Ventilation System Check

MODEL: All with M42(from 1/94), M44, M52, S52, M60, M62 and M73 engines.

Situation: All current BMW engines incorporate a pressure controlled crankcase ventilation system. The crankcase ventilation systems use various different crankcase ventilation valves depending on the engine type as shown in the illustration below.
(1) M52 / S52
(2) and (3) M73 uses two valves per engine
(4) M42 from 1/94 production / M44
(5) M60 / M62

Although the valves all look different they function similarly using a spring and diaphragm assembly to control the crankcase pressure. A properly functioning pressure control valve is designed to maintain a slight vacuum (approximately 10 - 15 mbar ) in the crankcase which assures reliable crankcase venting during all engine operating conditions.

A malfunctioning crankcase ventilation valve may cause the following complaints:
Engine runs rough
Whistling noise from crankcase ventilation valve
Check engine light on - possible DME faults stored: misfire all cylinders, oxygen sensor/mixture faults, etc.
Note: DME faults stored in memory will vary depending on the DME version.
To assist in troubleshooting the above complaints a special tool part number 99 00 0 001 410 (tel:99 00 0 001 410) has been developed to quickly check a pressure controlled crankcase ventilation system. Also refer to service information bulletin number 04 08 98 for further information regarding the slack tube manometer tool.
The slack tube manometer tool consists of:
(1) Slack Tube Manometer
(2) Connecting Hose
(3) Modified Oil Filler Cap

Procedure:

Follow the instructions included with the slack tube manometer for the initial tool set up and general operating proceedures.

Connect the slack tube manometer to the engine oil filler neck.
With both valves (1) open approximately 1/4 turn, zero the sliding scale using the knob (2) as shown in the illustration below.

Start the engine and observe the column of water.

With all electrical consumers and the air conditioning switched off and engine at operating temperature the reading should indicate from 3.0 - 6.0 inches of water at idle.

Note: The values on both sides of the slack tube must be added together to get the proper reading as seen in the illustration below.
xample: 2.5 + 2.5 = 5.0 inches of water (The readings may fluctuate 0.1 to 0.2 during the measurement which is normal and does not indicate a defect.)

If a crankcase ventilation valve is defective (damaged diaphragm) the column of water will indicate an off of the scale reading (all of the water on one side of the slack tube) which indicates a high crankcase vacuum.

Note: A higher than normal crankcase vacuum will also cause the crankshaft seals to leak outside air into the crankcase during engine operation. A whistling or howling noise is usually heard coming from the seal areas (front or rear) at idle when this occurs.
http://www.justanswer.com/bmw/338u4-2003-bmw-x5-4-4i-blowing-alot-smoke-crankcase-vent-valve.html

http://www.aa1car.com/library/pcv.htm


Thanks for the info shogun, but I think that this article is not applying to the E34 535i, because (as far as I know) it does not have a special valve for crankcase fumes. Although the PCV-system is often neglected, I know :)

I will try to get vacuum from another source.