Profile Gasket Leak?

[Threehz]

Well I've read about the elusive profile gasket and how it is prone to failure. I'm wondering if mine may be going out (although I'm sure it's been replaced at some point with 223k miles right now)

This is not my engine, but that red circled area is where water collects, I can dry it, but it will collect there again, so I'm guessing I have a small leak.



Any ideas?

My engine oil has never shown any symptoms of coolant leaking into it (thank god).

[twistednut]

Probably just a thermostat housing leak. The profile gasket is located below the housing.

[bmwman91]

The profile gasket is way under there, so it is not that.

My bet would be on the thermostat housing being cracked up around where the upper-right bolt is in the picture. I had that happen once and it was causing coolant to puddle up where you circled.

[Threehz]

Sweet! That is reassuring, not too hard of a job?

[bmwman91]

It isn't too bad. See if you can find a crack first though. It could be the gasket too.

You have to drain & bleed the coolant system, and replace the housing gasket if you remove it.

[Threehz]

Well I have a new water pump, thermostat, and I think I got the gasket as well, just haven't had time to do the job yet. So either way it will get attended to, I'll give it a thorough look over.

[KenC]

Use RTV and follow the instructions. Those aluminum housings will warp a little over time from heat cycling.