Interesting day at the shop

[CroughtonE32]

So, I had two small leaks at the very front of my M30 motor. My rear engine seal and oil pan gasket from a couple of years ago has held up perfectly. Not a drop of oil anywhere. Everything under there is dry as a bone. Drove the car over to my guys shop and had him fix the catch on my glove box. Once I got the parts, it was nothing for him, but would have taken me two weekends. Then I told him about the two different leaks at the very front. I was thinking maybe the little overflow line that goes back into the radiator from the fill tank and maybe my upper or lower timing chain gaskets, as they've never been changed in the almost 29 years I have had the car. So I was prepared to spend some money as I've been told that many times when you try and replace the lower gasket it makes a problem for the oil pan gasket, which I would have hated to replace again. But as usual I was wrong about everything. What looked like coolant to me on the garage floor was just that, but not from the little overflow hose, but from a cracked radiator. This was a BEHR radiator that I replaced in March of 2002. So since the original one lasted 12 years, I figured if I got 17 years out of this one, I was good. So his parts guy delivered a new BEHR radiator and we replaced it along with the bottom hose, which I happen to have in my trunk. I like to carry all the OEM belts and hoses. The oil leak surprised both of us. It was dripping out of the bottom of the distributor cap. He removed the cap, then the rotor, then that big black round thing (whatever it's called) and then found the leak coming from the front camshaft seal. Removed the long screw that holds the adapter, removed the adapter and then took out the seal. replaced it with an OEM seal and put everything back together. All went well other than the bleeding of the cooling system. Everything was OK, but all of a sudden the Temp Gauge jumped up to hot for a second. Then we realized we forgot to turn on the heater full blast so the coolant and water could circulate. Once that was done I was on my way home. Most interesting thing for me was not just watching Peter do his work, but turning my heater on for the first time in maybe five years. I never wanted to give my stepper motors a chance to mess up, so since the A/C is on all the time, there was no reason to test them. Well, they sure work. That heat came out so hot and fast. Glad though when I went back to A/C everything was normal and ice cold. All and all a good day for my E32 that doesn't get out of the house much these days. Good for me too. Cheers...

Jeff

[haynes740]

I like to read post like these. My E32 seems to be sorted out as well these days. Happy motoring to you.


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[shogun]

In case the leak comes back at the camshaft seal, you can use a speedy sleeve repair sleeve, I recommended that someone in 2009 for a 750 and it still works, pics here http://www.7-forum.com/forum/showthr...ghlight=sleeve

[CroughtonE32]

Actually Erich, I remember you posting pictures of the sleeve on this forum a few years ago. Or maybe on the UK forum. At least I think it was a sleeve you were recommending for the camshaft. I really had no idea where the oil was coming from. Funny how whenever I think oil is coming from somewhere, it's coming from another place. Last time around, after replacing the rear main seal with that problem shim, I ended up having one of those once in a lifetime E32 oil leaks with a damaged duct gasket at the rear of the cylinder head. This time I thought it was going to be one of the timing cover gaskets, and it ended up the camshaft seal. I always guess and then my mechanic always shows me what the real problem is. Best thing is the car has been in the garage for 36 hours and I just backed it out to have a look, and everything is dry. Also nice to be able to close my glove box after three weeks. Had to wait for a catch, two screws and two clips. My final order from BavAuto. Really sorry to see them go. Got an email from them yesterday saying ECS Tuning is taking over all their outstanding orders. Anybody who had an order in, when they closed had their order transferred to ECS Tuning for shipment. As long as you called them with your BavAuto order number and gave them your credit card as they did not give out that information. They have an easy enough web site to navigate so maybe I'll give them a try down the road.

[shogun]

yes, that is sometimes difficult, the oil comes out at a different place, it leaks somewhere, drops to another part, runs down on that one and drops to the next one and then it comes out at the bottom at a cpl. different place.
Here another typical oil leak on the M30, just for reference https://www.evansweb.info/2003/02/19...gine-oil-leak/

[CroughtonE32]

Thanks for those pictures. I printed it all out and brought them with me. Peter and Giuseppe both knew about this E32 bolt that leaks on the bracket that holds the pulse generator. They love the pictures though. After he took off the Shroud to get on with the radiator, I was able to get a good look for the future. Just a quick look over the spark plugs where they plug into the distributor. Just look down and to the right. My bolt with the expected leak was completely dry. But he did show me how the fix would happen. Another interesting trick. They really loved those pictures of the before and after shot. Thank from Peter and Giuseppe.