Oil leak - N52 auto

Z

Zedebee

Veteran
 North Hampshire
I’ve been trying to track down an oil leak from the back of the engine which has been spotting on the garage floor, after accumulating on the metal reinforcement plate.

Picture is taken with reinforcement plate removed looking towards the rear. What you are looking at is the sump (top right), block (top left) and bell housing (centre).

Oil is leaking in the vicinity of the green circle. There is poor visibility into the shadowy “gap”.

Blue rectangle marks an opening through which you can clearly see something spinning (torque converter?). Should this have a cover, it seems a bit open to the elements? Note, immediately above it there is a hole in the sump which has a clip-in plastic cover, pictured removed in the second photo.

At the top red circle, there is a hole, which continues into the block, but with no obvious thread. Should anything be in here?

At the bottom red circle there is a threaded hole which looks like it might have a broken stud in it, but it may be the other end of the torx bolt which enters from the other side. Anyone know?

I’ve given all the visible torque bolts a tweak (they were all tight).

Anyone have any ideas where this leak is coming from and whether it’s worth trying to fix? It’s a project, not an investment piece :D ).

If anyone has, or can take, comparable photos, that would be really helpful.
IMG_4886.jpegIMG_4884.jpeg
 
Zedebee said:
I’ve been trying to track down an oil leak from the back of the engine which has been spotting on the garage floor, after accumulating on the metal reinforcement plate.

Picture is taken with reinforcement plate removed looking towards the rear. What you are looking at is the sump (top right), block (top left) and bell housing (centre).

Oil is leaking in the vicinity of the green circle. There is poor visibility into the shadowy “gap”.

Blue rectangle marks an opening through which you can clearly see something spinning (torque converter?). Should this have a cover, it seems a bit open to the elements? Note, immediately above it there is a hole in the sump which has a clip-in plastic cover, pictured removed in the second photo.

At the top red circle, there is a hole, which continues into the block, but with no obvious thread. Should anything be in here?

At the bottom red circle there is a threaded hole which looks like it might have a broken stud in it, but it may be the other end of the torx bolt which enters from the other side. Anyone know?

I’ve given all the visible torque bolts a tweak (they were all tight).

Anyone have any ideas where this leak is coming from and whether it’s worth trying to fix? It’s a project, not an investment piece :D ).

If anyone has, or can take, comparable photos, that would be really helpful.
IMG_4886.jpegIMG_4884.jpeg
Click to expand...
I had the same leak at the same spot. It was the sump gasket which i replaced with main dealer parts.
 
I'm pretty sure the front cross-member has to come off to remove the sump, so that presumably means supporting the engine from above.

I'd book it in at RBM, or live with it like I'm doing with my 330i. Oil top ups are much cheaper!
 
Mr Tidy said:
I'm pretty sure the front cross-member has to come off to remove the sump, so that presumably means supporting the engine from above.

I'd book it in at RBM, or live with it like I'm doing with my 330i. Oil top ups are much cheaper!
Click to expand...
The front cross member doesn’t have to come off, but the engine does have to be raised for clearance to get the sump off, hence my question - has anyone actually done this themselves?

I agree with your 330i approach Iain. I’m not inclined to spend money on saving a teaspoon or so of oil every week.
 
I suppose raising the engine would also work. Would you need to separate the engine from the gearbox though?

Definitely not worth getting it done on my Cat N 330i - it would probably cost more than it's worth!
 
Mr Tidy said:
I suppose raising the engine would also work. Would you need to separate the engine from the gearbox though?
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Having re-read the NewTIS instructions, it does say “secure engine in installation position” and “lower cross member”, both of which seem to require some specialist equipment ☹️. No splitting of engine from gearbox thankfully.
 
That's what I thought.

Putting something underneath to catch the drips and regular monitoring of the oil level and topping up as required seems like the way to go. :thumbsup:
 
Zedebee said:
Coming back to this. How did you replace the sump gasket, or did you get someone else to do it?
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Hi,i removed the cross member and supported the engine from above with a engine support. You don't have to remove the gearbox. I'm a mechanic with my own garage, so unless you have the right engine support i would get a garage to do it for you.
 
Mr Tidy said:
That's what I thought.

Putting something underneath to catch the drips and regular monitoring of the oil level and topping up as required seems like the way to go. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Ah that takes me back to an old 850 Mini I had years ago when I was in the RAF. If I went away for more than a couple of weeks at a time I left a driptray under it. When I got back I poured it back in the top! :rofl:
 
enuff_zed said:
Ah that takes me back to an old 850 Mini I had years ago when I was in the RAF. If I went away for more than a couple of weeks at a time I left a driptray under it. When I got back I poured it back in the top! :rofl:
Click to expand...
Excellent! Although I’ve recently changed the oil and the drips are quite clean, I won’t be doing that!
 
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