Oil leaks

[Swanny]

I've got an 87 325is that I can't figure out where a small oil leak is coming from. I replaced the oil pan as soon as I bought the car and that cleaned up a lot of the problem. Besides the valve cover where else could a gasket be failing or some part of the oil system leak?

[Sagaris]

It seems like I have a mystery external oil leak that is coming from the head gasket.

[Garageaholic]

Check your oil pressure sensor on the driver pass side. That's a usual culprit.

[E30 331is]

If the leak is really small and not too dark in color it can be one of your power steering hoses. I changed all 3 on different times till i figured which one it was.

[Swanny]

Check your oil pressure sensor on the driver pass side. That's a usual culprit.

Oo good call. I can't remember if I even replaced that gasket when I did the oil pan.

[dashboardmonkey]

the oil pressure sensor itself will leak

[Swanny]

Whats the possibility of the breather tube under the intake leaking? I replaced the head gasket on an E a few years ago and noticed that pressure against the block and manifold was held with a spring around the tube...no gaskets nothing else. Is that something prone to failure?

[jlevie]

Place to cause oil to be on the exhaust side of the engine are the valve cover gaskets, cam seal, main seal, oil plan gasket, oil filter and/adapter, oil pressure switch, or head gasket. On the intake side the list includes intermediate shaft seal, main seal, drips from the throttle body, oil return tube, power steering system, oil plan gasket, distributor boss plug.

To find an oil leak you can add UV dye to the oil and use a UV light to look for the first sign of leakage. Or throughly clean the engine and watch for the first sign of oil.

[Swanny]

To find an oil leak you can add UV dye to the oil and use a UV light to look for the first sign of leakage. Or throughly clean the engine and watch for the first sign of oil.

I'm guessing its a kit online or would auto-advanced-'riley have it? This is probably the easiest thing to start with since the last owners let this thing blow oil out of a bent/cracked oil pan for about a year before I got it.


So next step after that....what's everyone's favorite way to clean up some crusty ass oil from the engine bay?