View Full Version : Oil leak! (pics included)
connorb850
12-30-2006, 05:33 PM
Ok, so I originally thought my oil leak was coming from the gasket between the oil filter housing and engine block. After replacing it, cleaning up the area, and running the car for awhile, it turned out the freeze plug in the back of the oil filter housing was the source of the leak. So I put some sealer on it, which stopped the leak in that spot.
BUT...I put the car up on the lift today just to check things out and there is something in the area of the oil filter housing leaking again. I have some pictures to better show what I'm talking about, maybe someone can give me some ideas to finally get rid of this leak...
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f84/connorb850/96%20BMW%20328i/Dec30.jpg
The oil has blown back from that spot onto the transmission and exhaust
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f84/connorb850/96%20BMW%20328i/Dec301.jpg
Oil pressure switch or VANOS oil line maybe?
Bimuh007
12-30-2006, 07:55 PM
Well I lifted my car couple days ago, and I had a leak where the clamp was. The mech. told me that I should replace it and I did and no more leaks. Idk if that's your case, but it seems to me like it might be the samething.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/IxjunggnujxI/BMW/Dec30.jpg
connorb850
12-31-2006, 05:05 PM
Oil pressure switch or VANOS oil line maybe?
Nah, pretty sure its neither of those.
Well I lifted my car couple days ago, and I had a leak where the clamp was. The mech. told me that I should replace it and I did and no more leaks. Idk if that's your case, but it seems to me like it might be the samething.
Hmm, I will check that out.
Any other ideas?
Did you plane the back of your oil filter housing before installing the new gasket? Usually, the reason this leaks in the first place is that the housing warps. Did you install the profile gasket dry or with silicone sealer? Did you use a torque wrench when tightening the bolts? Before tearing the housing off again, I would try snugging the bolts down a bit more to help flatten the mating surface of the housing if it is, in fact, warped.
connorb850
12-31-2006, 10:36 PM
Did you plane the back of your oil filter housing before installing the new gasket? Usually, the reason this leaks in the first place is that the housing warps. Did you install the profile gasket dry or with silicone sealer? Did you use a torque wrench when tightening the bolts? Before tearing the housing off again, I would try snugging the bolts down a bit more to help flatten the mating surface of the housing if it is, in fact, warped.
Wow I had no clue that the housing usually warps. So no I didn't use a silicone sealer on the gasket surface (just on that freeze plug I mentioned). Also I did not use a torque wrench, I guess I need to go back and try and tighten them down a bit. Thanks for your reply.
Also, any idea what causes the warpage? Previous overheat maybe?
connorb850
02-01-2007, 09:54 PM
Just wanted to update this...the final fix was a new oil filter housing. The old one must have been warped slightly and was leaking oil where it mated to the engine block. The new OEM one appears to be a slight redesign over the original one that came out of the car.
jagerking
02-01-2007, 10:39 PM
Well I lifted my car couple days ago, and I had a leak where the clamp was. The mech. told me that I should replace it and I did and no more leaks. Idk if that's your case, but it seems to me like it might be the samething.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/IxjunggnujxI/BMW/Dec30.jpg
BTW, this is your power steering pump hose, and probably everyone here has had that leak (or is leaking RIGHT NOW!) which is usually an easy fix. I crawled under last weekend, and tightened that clamp about 4 turns :eek: . Glad the oil filter housing worked out for you. I think if I did one, I'd convert it back to the all-metal housing like my old 325 had (or the M3's have) Much nicer than that weird 36mm bolt on top.
how much did the oil filter housing cost you?
thanks.
connorb850
02-02-2007, 09:29 PM
how much did the oil filter housing cost you?
thanks.
I only paid $200 through my dad's auto shop wholesale account, but here are some links that sell them for decent prices still well under list price...
http://www.koperformance.com/online_ordering/make_n_model_search_catalog4.php?make_select=BMW&year_select=1996&model_select=E36328&model_select_text=328i%20(E36%20chassis)&3flag=Y&group_id=E2&group_text=Engine&group_log=6785016&cat_select=221&cat_text=Oil%20Filter%20Housing&cat_log=6785015
http://www.autohausaz.com/search/product.aspx?sid=dlqgsvm5depnep3hweukr545&makeid=800003@BMW&modelid=1011946@328I&year=1996&cid=20@Engine%20Parts,%20Seals%20%26%20Gaskets&gid=5561@Oil%20Filter%20Cover
Just wanted to update this...the final fix was a new oil filter housing. The old one must have been warped slightly and was leaking oil where it mated to the engine block. The new OEM one appears to be a slight redesign over the original one that came out of the car.
Good to hear you tracked down the problem and were able to fix it. The filter housing is aluminum and bolts to the block which is cast iron. Aluminum moves (expands and contracts) at different rates and by different amounts than cast iron. If one of the bolts was not torqued properly or loosened up over time, the aluminum housing would be prone to warping.
An overheat condition is hard on all components of the engine and could have led to the warped housing to begin with.
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