Is this a problem

Nick7602

Member
 Redditch Worcestershire
Hi guys

I opened the bonnet to notice spot of oils splattered over the air intake and airbox, from the oil filter housing.

Thanks for reading my post guys

Kind Regards

Nick.

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34C8A9C1-EEE5-434C-B16A-74E6C1DEFC01.jpeg161CCACD-327C-4BF1-AE51-B707828AC091.jpeg
 
I didn't want to comment that I couldn't see anything in case I'd missed something obvious :lol:

I feel safe now - I can't see anything!
 
Oh Right, sorry guys :oops: there is a leak around the base of the oil filter housing and a small puddle of oil under the black screw on oil filter cap, which is in last pic above and shown below……..Robbie mentioned this is a common problem….is it just a case of renewing the oil seals to the cap and body of the oil filter housing…..will this cure the concern or is there anything else I should change at the same time?……Im thinking the drive belt to, as it appears to be directly below the oil filter?

Quite concerning is that without a dipstick I literally cant tell if the engine has been flooded with oil :x

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Morning Nick

The housing is ok, no worries. There are 2 gaskets in this housing, which harden out over time:
20180424_120021_small.jpg
Drive belt change can be done depending of the amount of oil dripped on it as well as of the mileage.
Maybe the belt tensioner can be replaced as well.

The following parts link is for a N54 motor:
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=LM72-EUR-04-2010-E89-BMW-Z4_35i&diagId=11_3971
 
RobbiZ4 said:
Morning Nick

The housing is ok, no worries. There are 2 gaskets in this housing, which harden out over time:
20180424_120021_small.jpg
Drive belt change can be done depending of the amount of oil dripped on it as well as of the mileage.
Maybe the belt tensioner can be replaced as well.

The following parts link is for a N54 motor:
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=LM72-EUR-04-2010-E89-BMW-Z4_35i&diagId=11_3971

Good morning Robbie, and thank you for coming back to me so quickly, that is good news not a big job then really…….I will order the parts today…..have a great weekend.

Kind Regards

Nick
 
RobbiZ4 said:
Morning Nick

The housing is ok, no worries. There are 2 gaskets in this housing, which harden out over time:
20180424_120021_small.jpg
Drive belt change can be done depending of the amount of oil dripped on it as well as of the mileage.
Maybe the belt tensioner can be replaced as well.

The following parts link is for a N54 motor:
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=LM72-EUR-04-2010-E89-BMW-Z4_35i&diagId=11_3971

It’s an N52 not N54 engine but Robin’s comments still valid.

There are folks you do uprated versions of the seals…Turner Motorsport in the US do them.I’m sure others may do them too..

I suspect the belt and tensioner are different on the N52 from the N54 :tumbleweed:

https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-587190-high-performance-oil-filter-housing-gasket/

Whether it’s worth it not sure..I’m just swapping these seals out as part of oil/filter/thermostat changes on mine :thumbsup:
 
B21 said:
It’s an N52 not N54 engine but Robin’s comments still valid.
My N54 link has been an example, as these gaskets are identical on a wide range of BMW motors.
The cross ref list is very impressive:
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/part?id=LM72-EUR-04-2010-E89-BMW-Z4_35i&mg=11&sg=30&diagId=11_3971&q=11428637821
N20, N26, N50, N51, N52, N53, N54, N55, S55

As the replacement is rather simple and their lifetime is around 10 years, I'd not do the effort to look for alternatives.
 
RobbiZ4 said:
B21 said:
It’s an N52 not N54 engine but Robin’s comments still valid.
My N54 link has been an example, as these gaskets are identical on a wide range of BMW motors.
The cross ref list is very impressive:
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/part?id=LM72-EUR-04-2010-E89-BMW-Z4_35i&mg=11&sg=30&diagId=11_3971&q=11428637821
N20, N26, N50, N51, N52, N53, N54, N55, S55

As the replacement is rather simple and their lifetime is around 10 years, I'd not do the effort to look for alternatives.

Robbie, I bow to your supreme knowledge…. :thumbsup: :rofl:

It was your reference to the accessory belt and tensioner that I wasn’t so sure about N52 vs N54 :thumbsup: :tumbleweed:
 
LOL
B21 said:
...your supreme knowledge…
Well, it's more or less knowing where to get information about basic car problems or already solved problems of my own cars. :rofl:
It's a bit different regarding the roof knowledge. 8)
 
If this is a water/oil heat exchanger, any danger of oil mixing with coolant, think i would check that also.
Or is there a physical separation not involving the seal..
 
Thank you guys

Invaluable and useful information, I'm very tempted with an uprated gasket from Turner Motorsport :thumbsup:
 
Hi Guys
Being a lazy cus, I elected to have a local BMW specialist fit new gaskets supplied by me from BMW, I have noticed a small seepage of grey sealant?around the surface edges where both gaskets mate.

Is this right, can sealant be used as well as the gaskets as a sort of belt and bracer approach to preventing further oil leaks?…..my concern is could sealant find its way into the oil? :cry:

Is this a known approach to fixing the oil leak?


Thanks for reading my concern

Nick
 
Don't worry too much about it.

Taditionally gaskets were made of cork, rubber and other materials. Sealants were used as a top-up just in case.

These days, it's a matter of how "Traditonal" one is.
I always place an extra layer of sealant around gaskets...just because.
 
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