Another oil leak, solved...

[hoveringuy]

I finally got the junk in my garage stored and have the room to park the car inside.

I've been suprised at how much oil it's been dropping that I didn't see on the street so this has been "oil leak week". First one was on the oil filter housing cover.

Second one was a substantial leak coming off the bellhousing. It was also dripping onto the exhaust manifold so initially I thought it was the valve cover gasket. I would have sworn it was. I removed and resealed it twice with no change in the leak.

I traced it to a plug on the back of the head that was loose. It probably leads to a pressurized oil galley so it wouldn't take much for it to leak and would be exciting if it ever came out!

You can also see the two covers on the oil filter housing in this picture, one below and one above the VANOS oil line banjo.

[bostonbmw]

Do you know what the Red arrow is ? I had the same problem as you and I also changed the valve cover gasket thinking that was the source. It wasn't so I did some looking and noticed the yellow bolt was loose so I torqued it down. I cleaned the area and wiped down everything but I think its still dripping.....

[hoveringuy]

The red arrow is the designated place where oil leaks...

[jrdeamicis]

I love fixing oil leaks. I fixed mine. I somehow forgot an O-ring on the CPS (Cam).

Its a lot nicer not spooging on my garage floor.

[bostonbmw]

The red arrow is the designated place where oil leaks...

is that a torx ?

[BMW_TUNER]

The red arrow is where the overheat indicating plastic part goes. If it is melted then you overheated the head and the warranty is void.

[416stroker]

The red arrow is where the overheat indicating plastic part goes. If it is melted then you overheated the head and the warranty is void.

Realy? I have a mysterious oil leak my motor got hot on the first start so I guess that could be it no wonder I cant find it.

[DanThe]

M52 filter housings are throw away items once they start leaking, they have bungs crimped in which start leaking, you can just about see it in this picture



M54 housings are much better, the bungs are screwed in with a hex key and they also have a nice oil temp sensor included :D

That plug at the back of the head is frightening though! Ive usually stopped rear oil leaks by changing either cam cover gaskets or cam cover bolt seals

[DanThe]

Do you know what the Red arrow is ? I had the same problem as you and I also changed the valve cover gasket thinking that was the source. It wasn't so I did some looking and noticed the yellow bolt was loose so I torqued it down. I cleaned the area and wiped down everything but I think its still dripping.....

I always thought the red arrow was a coolant way, the yellow is just a bolt, usually holds the bracket that secures O2 sensor cables

[bostonbmw]

Do you know what the Red arrow is ? I had the same problem as you and I also changed the valve cover gasket thinking that was the source. It wasn't so I did some looking and noticed the yellow bolt was loose so I torqued it down. I cleaned the area and wiped down everything but I think its still dripping.....

My leak ended up being the valve cover gasket

[gregslow318i]

The red arrow is the designated place where oil leaks...

yep learned it the hard way, though the head gasket was seeping from back there, new had gasket later still had the leak.....:letitout:

[bostonbmw]

So my oil leak is back. I changed the manifold gasket and the problem went away for a month or so now its back. It is a small leak coming from the hardware on the corner of the valve cover. I removed the bolt where its leaking from put some RTV in but that did not help.