*help* oil leak

[Mbito27]

Okay so I have a 1986 325es on Raceland coil overs and has a Raceskid skid plate. I've been loosing oil consistently and the other day I jacked it up to take a look. Its coming from the drain plug, the pan is not cracked. I would just swap out the drain plug but on my plug it has something catching it so it will not come out. (Its like the gas cap on a weed whacker).

Any tips on how to fix this?

[Andy.B]

If the drain plug isn't coming out, the threads to either the plug or the the pan have stripped. If you can get the plug out you could helicoil the pan and put in a new plug, but if you can't get it out, you'll need to remove the pan. At that point, you could repair the threads or just replace the pan.

[Mbito27]

I can get the plug out out, but there is a catch on the end of the plug not allowing it to detach from the pan.

[rcsoundn1]

pics?

[rmdashrf]

The plug has a tether? Never seen that before.

[Andy.B]

Have you ever had the plug out? Is this a new phenomenon?
I would try and pry it (gently) out of the pan while turning it with a wrench until you get it out.

[adjmcloon]

+1 on the helicoil

[e30vert]

On the M20 there is a brass crush washer that needs to be inserted on the drain plug when one installs it. The BMW dealer should supply it with with a fresh OEM filter. They usually tape them to the outside of the filter. This crush washer helps keep oil from leaking out at the drain plug location. It is good for one use as it form fits when one torques down the drain plug. If you either

A. Dont have this installed or
B. It has misformed or disintegrated

Then this may be allowing oil to leak out.

Pull plug , inspect for brass crush ring. If non existant you may want to pick up one and add. It. If you drain oil into a somewhat sanitary container you can just readd it back to the engine. If its newer oil and you dont want to spend $ on fresh oil.

[TurboJake]

Okay so I have a 1986 325es on Raceland coil overs and has a Raceskid skid plate. I've been loosing oil consistently and the other day I jacked it up to take a look. Its coming from the drain plug, the pan is not cracked. I would just swap out the drain plug but on my plug it has something catching it so it will not come out. (Its like the gas cap on a weed whacker).

Any tips on how to fix this?

Did you just buy this car?
If so, you could be an unlucky sap that had a PO that just fixed it with an oil tite plug.



Tell me if it looks like this. And if it does, just keep unscrewing it to get the oil out, then you can fish a magnet in to remove the jaw. But for your sake, I hope you don't have this.