Forgot a piece, important?

[Jordan325iC]

That thing. Can't find it on real OEM. I believe it goes with that thing next to the oil pump (threaded hole shown at bottom left, piece not installed).



I actually just realized that I don't know what that thing is (and I can't find it on real OEM). I put my engine back together and I forgot that cover thing.


So I have two questions?
A) What does purpose does that piece serve and what is the thing it covers?
B) Is it worth an oil pan gasket and my time to actually take the pan off and install this piece?

[dashboardmonkey]

I wouldnt risk it. Pull your oil pan and put it on. Better than having a fucked up motor.

Andy

[Jordan325iC]

I'm just going to go ahead and assume that. But what the hell does it do?

[Jordan325iC]

Noooobody knows?

[StereoInstaller1]

looks kind of like a locater dowel? Cannot really judge size with that pic.

[Dave]

Hard to tell from you rpic, but you may be right about what that is.

Did you not put that threaded thingie back?

And, after building your engine, you are using that oil pump?

[bmwpower]

looks kind of like a locater dowel? Cannot really judge size with that pic.

Yea, give us a reference.

Is it hollow?

Please tell me you're putting in a new oil pump after rebuilding your engine...

[Hallen]

It looks like the housing that goes around the heat sensor. The sensor goes in that threaded hole. It is two pieces, the sensor that is threaded and a sleeve that goes around it. I can't tell scale with your picture though. It could be one of the locating pins that helps you align the pan to the housing.

Why is a new oil pump mandatory? They are pretty darned expensive and they don't fail often.

[Jordan325iC]

Oh noes! My oil pump is dirty! I searched all over r3v and e30tech and I never found an instance of one failing. I have two perfectly good oil pumps and an oil pressure gauge, I think I will survive.



I really should have added something for scale. It's not a dowel, it's big. It is a washer/cover for the thing that screws into that 22mm hole circled above. From reading the thread, I guess it's a heat sensor or a relief valve?

[Dave]

Yeah - you'd best put that and the sensor thing back in there. Surely they serve an important purpose.

[Jordan325iC]

Yeah - you'd best put that and the sensor thing back in there. Surely they serve an important purpose.

The sensor is in, it's just this seemingly useless thing that was left out.

[Dave]

You wanna second guess the engineers that designed the thing, go ahead. Maybe you are right. But if you are not, it'll cost a fair bit more than an oil pan gasket.

:shrug:

[SpecM]

sheesh, at least clean that pump off better

[bmwpower]

I guess I just consider a ~$150 oil pump cheap insurance.

[homegrone30]

Jordan where are you in Austin? Mabey you need some supervision before attempting these motor rebuilds.