Help! Aggressive oil leak!

[e36grant]

My car has developed a very aggressive oil leak that will get me in trouble soon if it isn't fixed...

I'm just wonder how much of an expensive repair they are on average (if I diy)

There car violently leaks oil when it's running. I can litterly see drips down the road about a foot apart. The oil seems to hold when the car is still.

What is usually the culprit for this?

[Paul NJ]

well around where do you see it coming from? and what kind of oil? engine oil?

[e36grant]

I'm fairly sure it's engine oil seeing as such a sheer amount has poured out..... and how much I poured in the motor the other days. Also, it's black.

I first noticed it because of the rainbow around where I parked..

No way to tell where it's coming from, soon as I drive away it just start dumping tons, then dripping. The car is very low, and I have to back up my driveway so there's no real easy way to jack the car up and look at it (gravel + my ebrake doesn't hold)

I'm getting it on a jack tomorrow... it would be great if I knew where to look for...

Any hunches on what it is?

[hybridbmw]

More than likely its the oil filter housing. Over the years they tend to warp, especially if the car has been overheated. They make a mess when they leak, so it will be hard to track the leak if you dont know what to look for. Look underneath the car on the back side of the housing where it meets the block around the alternator area. If you see/feel oil on the block than you found the leak.

If that is the leak. you can try just replacing the gasket (cheap). But if the housing is warped then you will need a new housing (expensive from the stealer). I'm not sure if they are available from anyone other than the dealer.

[Big Empty]

The housing only leaks if the car overheated. Most of the time it turns out to be the 1 inch O-ring that has failed. Pretty easy fix, lots of us had this problem during the winter when the gaskets and rings become brittle. You should see it dripping from the oil pan which is the lowest point on the block.

[e36grant]

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/9779/img00037.th.jpg (http://img13.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img00037.jpg)
there is the leak that appeared from maneuvering to back up driveway.. It either does this when the car just starts up.. or revs? Is it normal to dump that much oil at first with a failed gasket?

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BJ53&mospid=47475&btnr=11_1288&hg=11&fg=30 >>> which oring would be the one I would need if this one would need to be replaced?

[Big Empty]

When you rev more will pour out. On start up almost nothing comes out.

You oil housing is different from mine. It will be number 8 that needs to replaced, m50 O-rings are different.

[e36grant]

Well, that sounds like my problem. I have had an oil leak for a while, but it's just pouring now.. and I have to give it quite a bit of revs to get up the driveway so that would explain the pour haha.

Thanks alot for your help everyone! I'm going to hopefully get it jacked up tomorrow.

[stu328i]

if you can't spot the leak or don't know what your looking for then take it to a reputable shop before you kill it.

[e36grant]

I can't spot it until I get it jacked up.. the car rides extremely low.

I've made sure to keep the oil topped up.. no high revs and temperature never goes up.


You gotta start somewhere :)

[Big Empty]

hey you're in BC, i've been to cowichan lake!

if you can, top up the oil, put a pan underneath, run the car. recycle the oil until you can spot the leak. start at the top, dismissing clean oil free areas to track it down.

[e36grant]

Thanks again for the advise! I really have to get this fixed soon... I'll get in trouble for shitting all this oil!

Ya I'm down in Youbou / Lake Cowichan area :) I actually picked my 325ic up from Vancouver.

[Big Empty]

yeah mine leaked oil in a puddle in my cul de sac. fortunately the snow absorbed most of it so I shovelled it all onto the grass :devillook

[atlantisvip]

You don't have a lot of smoke as well ? If it is running down the side of the block you should have smoke.

[wendall@cmwerks]

slide a big piece of clean cardboard under the car. that will give you the general location of the oil drip.

go buy some ramps and wheel chocks man!

[atlantisvip]

So what happened here ?

[e36grant]

It looked wet around oil filter area. I replaced the seal.. never really worked on cars before and took me a long time to do..

With a fresh oil change, I thought all was good. Took it for a good drive, no oil leaked... Next day I started the car up to move it out of the driveway to get another car out, and it deposited a huge slick where I drove... the whole road was rainbow in the rain.....

I think I'm going to be taking it into a shop tomorrow. I can't afford misdiagnoses.

[Big Empty]

which seal? the large o-ring at the top of the canister or did you remove the filter housing?

[e36grant]

I removed the filter housing. Wouldn't I see it if it was the top O ring?

[e36grant]

Update: The car seems dry, doesn't drip... but it's 50 50 if it does it or not, but when I walk away from my parking spot I see a HUGE oilslick behind my car. Like 5ft wide slick.. It must dump it in seconds!

[atlantisvip]

slide a big piece of clean cardboard under the car. that will give you the general location of the oil drip.

go buy some ramps and wheel chocks man!

Did you do this ? Get under there..start taking shit apart!

[FLYINV]

You could also try taping some baking paper covered in alfoil around any suspect seals and seeing if it gets wet. start from the top of the motor and work you way down

[stu328i]

if its leaving 5ft. oil slicks and you cant spot the leak take it to the shop.

[SiGmA]

if its leaving 5ft. oil slicks and you cant spot the leak take it to the shop.+1! Also when you complete a oil repair, you want to CLEAN THE WHOLE ENGINE so any new oil will show you additional leaks!! Maybe drive it for 15min, and look for leaks again!

[e36grant]

What is the best way to clean the engine..?


my friend shot some pics of up where the leak looks like it's coming from

http://s181.photobucket.com/albums/x37/dagoober/grants%20car/

The area with the print s01 seems washed clean.

[atlantisvip]

So what the hell is wrong with your shit ?