Engine leaks

Inline 6 · Post by **Inline 6** » Mon May 10, 2021 3:38 pm

I’ve viewed an e86 that could have potential but has some signs of oil leaks.
So around the oil filter housing and then ‘sprayed’ onto air box and the other side and also a stained area on the undertray.
I know the oil filler housing gasket is prone to going and the surrounding area I suppose would be concurrent with the oil everywhere.
Except there are also oil stains around the block, exhaust side.
It seems to run done from the head gasket area for the first few cylinders.
Could this have been blown from the oil filler gasket also? Are there other possibilities.?
I’ll try to include some photos I took.
Thanks.

Inline 6 · Post by **Inline 6** » Mon May 10, 2021 3:44 pm

: Oil filler housing; F1E29C5F-36F5-4381-81CF-F6514218B39B.jpeg (110.94 KiB) Viewed 380 times

enuff_zed · Post by **enuff_zed** » Mon May 10, 2021 3:45 pm

More likely to be the top cover gasket leaking on the other side isn't it?

Inline 6 · Post by **Inline 6** » Mon May 10, 2021 3:48 pm

: From exhaust side; 6B9F6288-0853-48C3-8544-F12BDDB6D7EA.jpeg (56.45 KiB) Viewed 377 times

rjhl64 · Post by **rjhl64** » Mon May 10, 2021 3:50 pm

Hi,
As a precaution I would also check the serpentine belt to see if any oil has reached the belt causing the belt to deteriorate.

Inline 6 · Post by **Inline 6** » Mon May 10, 2021 3:59 pm

enuff_zed wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 3:45 pm More likely to be the top cover gasket leaking on the other side isn't it?

You mean the rocker cover?
The photos aren’t great but I couldn’t see any oil above the head gasket.

Inline 6 · Post by **Inline 6** » Mon May 10, 2021 4:01 pm

rjhl64 wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 3:50 pm Hi,
As a precaution I would also check the serpentine belt to see if any oil has reached the belt causing the belt to deteriorate.

Yes thanks, I did have a look and the belt looked relatively fresh.
But also the oil sitting in a little well with the OFH maybe wasn’t that old..

enuff_zed · Post by **enuff_zed** » Mon May 10, 2021 4:02 pm

Inline 6 wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 3:59 pm
enuff_zed wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 3:45 pm More likely to be the top cover gasket leaking on the other side isn't it?
You mean the rocker cover?
The photos aren’t great but I couldn’t see any oil above the head gasket.

Yeah that's it. I didn't call it a rocker cover as it's not a pushrod engine, therefore no rockers..................and I'm a pendantic tw*t

But yes, that's what I meant.

Inline 6 · Post by **Inline 6** » Mon May 10, 2021 4:19 pm

enuff_zed wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 4:02 pm
Inline 6 wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 3:59 pm
enuff_zed wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 3:45 pm More likely to be the top cover gasket leaking on the other side isn't it?
You mean the rocker cover?
The photos aren’t great but I couldn’t see any oil above the head gasket.
Yeah that's it. I didn't call it a rocker cover as it's not a pushrod engine, therefore no rockers..................and I'm a pendantic tw*t
But yes, that's what I meant.

Haha yes I’m using vintage terminology!
So as it has a silver plastic engine cover it’ll have the magnesium engine ‘valve’ cover below.
I just looked at a thread where this has been done.
New aluminium bolts and various other seals and gaskets required I suppose.

Is this a know problem. I haven’t seen any leaks on other n52’s or ‘k’s?

enuff_zed · Post by **enuff_zed** » Mon May 10, 2021 4:25 pm

Inline 6 wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 4:19 pm
enuff_zed wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 4:02 pm
Inline 6 wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 3:59 pm You mean the rocker cover?
The photos aren’t great but I couldn’t see any oil above the head gasket.
Yeah that's it. I didn't call it a rocker cover as it's not a pushrod engine, therefore no rockers..................and I'm a pendantic tw*t
But yes, that's what I meant.
Haha yes I’m using vintage terminology!
So as it has a silver plastic engine cover it’ll have the magnesium engine ‘valve’ cover below.
I just looked at a thread where this has been done.
New aluminium bolts and various other seals and gaskets required I suppose.

Is this a know problem. I haven’t seen any leaks on other n52’s or ‘k’s?

I would have to defer to N52 owners for that tbh.

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Mon May 10, 2021 8:25 pm

Inline 6 wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 4:19 pm Haha yes I’m using vintage terminology!
So as it has a silver plastic engine cover it’ll have the magnesium engine ‘valve’ cover below.
I just looked at a thread where this has been done.
New aluminium bolts and various other seals and gaskets required I suppose.

Is this a know problem. I haven’t seen any leaks on other n52’s or ‘k’s?

I call it a cam-cover gasket - but I'm sure BMW have invented some other terminology!

It does happen, although I never had a problem with it leaking on either of my E86s.

But my 330i has an N52 engine and a month or so before I bought it the previous owner had the gasket replaced at 107K miles so it must have been leaking - shame he didn't get the oil filter gasket done as well because it has that same little puddle as your first photo. But that one will be sorted on Wednesday when it has its next oil service.

I don't know, but I imagine a gasket set ought to include anything else you need like new aluminium bolts.

mr.tourette · Post by **mr.tourette** » Mon May 10, 2021 8:47 pm

Start with the oil filter housing gaskets as they are obviously gone.. they can make quite a mess that ends up all over the engine bay.. then have a clean up and see if any new oil appears, from your pics to me it looks like just the housing filter ones have gone but also it is hard to be 100% just from pics.

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