oil leak - cannot pin point where it is.

[dreamchasin]

has anyone had crazy oil leak problems? no way in hell it could possibly be my oil pan gasket, i have changed that twice. once when i got the e30 and again when i swapped the motor from my 86 to the 84. it's all over on the bottom of my car. i have a belief that it could be the oil pressure switch. there is oil droplets coming from the oil pan drain bolt but i don't think its that, i have a brand new crush washer on it and it's tight. i run 10w-40 if that matters at all. could really use the help.

[White325is]

Is the front top part of the head wet? are you running an oil cooler setup? Maybe check your lines..

[dreamchasin]

Is the front top part of the head wet? are you running an oil cooler setup? Maybe check your lines..

No sir, no oil cooler setup. I would have to check the front. i believe there is but uncertain. there is oil everywhere on the bottom of the motor. not on the top at all.

[White325is]

Maybe front crank seal?

[dreamchasin]

Maybe front crank seal?

i don't think it is. it's coming from towards the back ofthe motor. rear main seal? i think some of it is the oil pressure switch because there is oil caked up all around it.

[barry]

Oil pressure plug. They leak out of the wire. Just changed mine , no more oil leak.
Good luck
Barry

[dreamchasin]

Oil pressure plug. They leak out of the wire. Just changed mine , no more oil leak.
Good luck
Barry

really? what one did you get? did you have to replace the wire too? or just the switch itself?

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/smart/more_info.cgi?pn=61-31-1-354-274-M573&catalog_description=Oil%20Pressure%20Switch%20Coarse%20Thread%2C%20E30%20325%2Fe%2Fes%20%28through%2011%2F86%29%2C%20325i%2Fis%20%28through%2011%2F86%29%2C%20325iC%2FiX%20%28through%2011%2F86%29

EDIT: was yours leaking real bad? like where there is puddles under the car?

[jlevie]

Throughly clean the engine (from top and bottom). Then watch for the first sign of leaking oil.

Or, have a shop add florescent dye to the oil so as the see where the leak is by examination with a UV light.

[dreamchasin]

Throughly clean the engine (from top and bottom). Then watch for the first sign of leaking oil.

Or, have a shop add florescent dye to the oil so as the see where the leak is by examination with a UV light.

where can i get said dye? i don't let any shop touch my car.

[jlevie]

Check with NAPA for florescent dye kits.

[StereoInstaller1]

if it is the pressure switch, it likely won't leak until the car is running.

Makes one hell of a mess...ask me how I know...

[IronmanE30]

I agree with the previous poster. Clean the motor as good as you can. Then start it and let it run for 15 minutes or more if necessary, don't drive it, Then check for wet spots. The cooling fan and wind from driving the car will push the oil everywhere which will make your job finding the leak more difficult.

Cheers,

Jim

[StereoInstaller1]

Mine was so bad I wasn't willing to clean anything until I had part of a clue.

Jacked it up on some jackstands, fired it up and SQUIRT! Literally, a solid stream of oil from the sensor.

GL!
Luke

[dreamchasin]

thanks luke, as well as everyone else. there is oil on the tabs of the block wherethe headgasket is. but i have reason to believe it's not that. i looked today, oil is COVERING the whole skid plate and all over the side ofthe block. when im driving and i am at a stop light/stop sign/turning off my car when im at my destination, smoke is pouring out from under my car. and it's coming from underneath not from the top (headgasket). i'm at a loss for this, i have an m50 that im going to swap in but i still need everything for the swap. i bought a oil pressure switch last night so hopefully that's here early next week. i'll probably take the car down to this mechanics garage that lives down the road, ill see if he'll let me use the lift to see if i can find it. then ill put the new switch on. once again, thanks for everyones input.