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Oil leaking out of Airbox... Help!

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    #1

    Oil leaking out of Airbox... Help!

    I just purchased a car with an oil leak. I'm trying to determine where it is coming from, and have noticed that it is leaking all the way through the TB, boot, MAF,air filter, and dripping out of a small hole in the bottom. Anyone know what may be causing this? Is it just a lot of blowback? Rings may be bad or something? :( Also, it idles very high (~2.5k) when it is warming up, I swapped ICV valves and it still has the problem. Any help would be much appreciated. Car is a 90 325ic with ~170k miles.
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    #2
    Saturday Bump! Want to get this problem at least figured out. Anyone have any ideas?
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      #3
      every e30 airbox i've been in has had at least some oil in it. im not sure if its a bad thing though.
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      1987 - 325i Convertible Delphin Auto [SOLD], 325i Convertible Delphin Manual [SOLD]
      1989 - 325i Convertible Bronzit m30b35 swapped [SCRAPPED], 325i Sedan Alpine Auto[DD]
      1991 - 325i Coupe Laguna Manual [Project], 535i Sedan Alpine [SCRAPPED]

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        #4
        Some oil getting into the intake is normal on this engine. A lot of oil in the intake can be caused by excessive blowby from worn rings, bad valve seals and worn valve guides, air leaks at the oil filler cap, dipstick o-rings, valve cover gaskets, breather hose, oil return tube seals, or a combination of those.

        A leak down test will tell a lot about the condition of the rings. If the mileage justifies it, a head refresh will take care of oil getting past the seals and guides. Replacing the oil filler cap, dipstick o-rings, valve cover gasket (and bungs), breather hose, and oil return tube seals will take care of those.
        The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
        Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

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          #5
          Originally posted by jlevie View Post
          Some oil getting into the intake is normal on this engine. A lot of oil in the intake can be caused by excessive blowby from worn rings, bad valve seals and worn valve guides, air leaks at the oil filler cap, dipstick o-rings, valve cover gaskets, breather hose, oil return tube seals, or a combination of those.

          A leak down test will tell a lot about the condition of the rings. If the mileage justifies it, a head refresh will take care of oil getting past the seals and guides. Replacing the oil filler cap, dipstick o-rings, valve cover gasket (and bungs), breather hose, and oil return tube seals will take care of those.
          Thanks for the input, the head is brand new (not rebuilt, its a new cast, everything) I did find that when replacing the valve cover gasket, one of the rocker arm shaft rubber ends was missing, would this be enough of a leak to justify the symptoms that I am having?

          Also, anyone want to chime in on the idle problem? Thanks everyone
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            #6
            Originally posted by 91greg325i View Post
            Thanks for the input, the head is brand new (not rebuilt, its a new cast, everything) I did find that when replacing the valve cover gasket, one of the rocker arm shaft rubber ends was missing, would this be enough of a leak to justify the symptoms that I am having?

            Also, anyone want to chime in on the idle problem? Thanks everyone
            That would represent a large intake leak and could easily explain the oil and idle problems.

            Any time you replace the valve cover gasket you also need to replace the four rubber bungs.
            The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
            Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

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              #7
              Originally posted by jlevie View Post
              That would represent a large intake leak and could easily explain the oil and idle problems.

              Any time you replace the valve cover gasket you also need to replace the four rubber bungs.
              I did replace all the bungs as well. I'm not sure if it fixed the oil problem, but it didn't fix the idle problem (I didn't keep the engine running long enough to see whether it was still leaking oil or not) The idle is pretty much the only thing keeping this car from being perfect, any other ideas on it?
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                #8
                I would check the breather hose coming from the valve cover that runs to the throttle body. Just replaced mine and my car idles even smoother.

                Check any other vacuum leaks while you're at it. You will mostly find them by the throttle body.
                Me: "I can't wait to redline my car!"
                Mark: "Didn't you just break a rocker arm?"
                Me: "Yeah, I don't think I've learned my lesson."
                Mark: "You never will."

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                  #9
                  Originally posted by llll1l1ll View Post
                  I would check the breather hose coming from the valve cover that runs to the throttle body. Just replaced mine and my car idles even smoother.

                  Check any other vacuum leaks while you're at it. You will mostly find them by the throttle body.
                  Actually, I got it all fixed, it was missing a rocker arm shaft end plug, which was causing the idle and the oil. Two birds with one stone!
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