Oil leak problem

L

luckyboy1228

Member
I am leaking oil, I have replaced and triple checked the valve cover gasket and it isn't coming from there... It's not leaking fast but there is oil accumulating on the drive way.

Has anyone else encounter a leak elsewhere, other than the valve cover?

Suggestions on where too look?

Strategies on how to track it down?

My oil light comes on which I believe is malfunction; it seems completely random: a common occurrence to my understanding.
When stopped at a light I can smell some of the oil burning.
I removed the skid plat from the car and cleaned it and re-installed it, than pulled it off again to see if it was catching oil... It had very little.

I'm leaning towards power-washing the motor, jacking it up, and spending time observing the engine in attempt to pin pointing the leak. :popcorn:
 
Whats the valve cover gasket? Same as the rocker cover gasket?

I believe mine is or was leaking from the rocker cover gasket and when the engine was on and hot, I could hear it dripping and making a noise where it must've dripped onto a very hot exhaust manifold or heatshield at the back end of the engine.

I've never noticed any oil patches on the floor though and I don't have the plastic cover on underneath, so this may not be the source of your issue.
 
Try the oil filter housing gasket, where the big aluminium bit meets the block, alternator bolts to it.
The casting on the block will be pooled with oil, running along the sump gasket and dripping to the rear of the sump.
£3 for the gasket and about an hour to change.
 
luckyboy1228 said:
I am leaking oil, I have replaced and triple checked the valve cover gasket and it isn't coming from there... It's not leaking fast but there is oil accumulating on the drive way.

Has anyone else encounter a leak elsewhere, other than the valve cover?

Suggestions on where too look?

Strategies on how to track it down?

My oil light comes on which I believe is malfunction; it seems completely random: a common occurrence to my understanding.
When stopped at a light I can smell some of the oil burning.
I removed the skid plat from the car and cleaned it and re-installed it, than pulled it off again to see if it was catching oil... It had very little.

I'm leaning towards power-washing the motor, jacking it up, and spending time observing the engine in attempt to pin pointing the leak. :popcorn:
Click to expand...

I had the same thing, small leak smell of oil burning, not sure if you have a vacuum pump at the back of the engine if you have it may be worth looking at that, mine was a 2.0l.
 
My 330i had a slight oil leak from the oil filter housing gasket when I bought it. It has the same N52 engine as the facelift 6 cylinder E85/86 models.

As it wasn't due a service for nearly 2 years I just kept topping it up and over 8,000 miles it used 3 litres of oil so if the leak isn't major you probably could do 2,000, but I'd recommend keeping at least a litre of oil in the car just in case!
 
Tom2207 said:
or the sump . From what Ive read they like to leak too.
Click to expand...

Fair point - I've seen an N52 leaking from a corroded sump. I wouldn't want to try to do 200 miles with that!
 
Yes totally agree, but the car is in England and will be driven to Bulgaria in spring. We are obviously going to get it checked out before we drive her back :rofl:
 
Yes totally agree, but the car is in England and will be driven to Bulgaria in spring. We are obviously going to get it checked out before we drive her back :rofl:
 
If you can't trace the leak to somewhere on the block, I'd be tempted to check out the sump as soon as you can. If you have an N52 engine, the sump will be made out of steel. Mine had started to corrode around the oil sensor orifice and was causing an oil leek from around that point.
I got a new sump from BMW for around £400 - there are no aftermarket products available for the 2.5si. This was in November 2020 and it was available in less than a week (with aluminium screws and gasket as well).
I read somewhere that there is a very long wait for these items now what with one thing and another so I'd advise to order as soon as possible if this is the source of your oil leakage.
All the best,
Robert
 
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