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Thread: Oil pan leak

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Crystal Lake, IL
    Posts
    99
    My Cars
    1996 BMW 328i Sedan

    Oil pan leak

    Initially, I plugged the “Y” off the OBD2 dipstick with a short piece of rubber tube and bolt instead of leaving it open. Oil then started leaking from the last three or so bolts on the drivers side (high side of pan), no doubt due to pressure in the crankcase. Duh.

    So next I put a small breather in its place and I’m still getting oil past the bolts and it’s puking out the breather as well:







    I checked the oil level and it seems to be right where it needs to be. I’m running a -10AN vent to catch can off the valve cover, open to atm :



    Am I missing something here? I could fab up a second catch can for the CC, but it would seem that it would fill up rather quickly.

    Maybe run a much longer hose up top and either wye into the existing catch can or straight into the breather?

    Why am I getting so much damn oil where it doesn’t belong??!

    What are most of you doing with that dipstick “Y” ?????

    Oh, oil pan gasket is OEM NEW.

    Car is 1996 328i


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    Last edited by SilburE36; 04-25-2019 at 08:11 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    Seattle, WA
    Posts
    136
    My Cars
    96 Hellrot 328is Turbo
    Mine is plugged and I don't have leakage issues. Most people plug them I think. How much power are you making?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Crystal Lake, IL
    Posts
    99
    My Cars
    1996 BMW 328i Sedan
    None at the moment. Car spends most of its time in the shop




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  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    Seattle, WA
    Posts
    136
    My Cars
    96 Hellrot 328is Turbo
    I ran a huge hose off of my valvecover, because I didn't want any crankcase pressurization. To me a -10 hose seems small. Just my .02.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Crystal Lake, IL
    Posts
    99
    My Cars
    1996 BMW 328i Sedan
    I could try disconnecting the hose and run to atm up top and see if that helps.


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  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Dallas, TX
    Posts
    3,323
    My Cars
    Z3M, X5M
    Maybe connecting the catch can to a vacuum source would help. My valvecover gasket started leaking a day after I replaced it. I connected mine from atmosphere to a vacuum piping hoping this will help with oil leaks
    -Phil

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    Seattle, WA
    Posts
    136
    My Cars
    96 Hellrot 328is Turbo
    Quote Originally Posted by Z-Thrizzle View Post
    Maybe connecting the catch can to a vacuum source would help. My valvecover gasket started leaking a day after I replaced it. I connected mine from atmosphere to a vacuum piping hoping this will help with oil leaks
    Isn't boost going directly into your crankcase potentially bad? Do you have some sort of check valve installed?

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Upstate NY
    Posts
    1,154
    My Cars
    M3
    I'll try to help even though I as well have problems slightly with oil. To put this simply and effective, big boost = big blow by. It has to happen so boom we got positive presure in our oil pan / valve cover. SHIT. So, bing bango, slamo I got mad money for a tap-in style AN bung tying the stock AN bung to a 3 port catch can. 2 ports to crankcase (should work) and one to a vaccum. This is where people get screwed up, more boost = more blowby, and wham all oil seals leak. Enough vac. Would help but won't cure your ends all means all project. T.Y btw vol, etc. Supporting mekbers. Big boost is still here usually not on 90 and 93 and prayrers.

    I've come to the fact that It's possible to fix all the problems boosting our engines but not worth the money. I let mine leak some oil, it hits 15psi and shes done, ready for another turn, don't run flat out unlees told.
    Last edited by Mklock; 04-26-2019 at 01:25 AM.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    Seattle, WA
    Posts
    136
    My Cars
    96 Hellrot 328is Turbo
    I just have a 3/4” tube coming off my valvecover going down to the crossmember an dont have any major issues. Only leak i had was my turbo drain line and vanos line which I recently fixed. So we will see if they stay fixed..
    Last edited by manneurex; 04-26-2019 at 12:05 PM.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Crystal Lake, IL
    Posts
    99
    My Cars
    1996 BMW 328i Sedan
    Update: unplugged the valve cover line and let it vent to atm:



    Also ran a piece of 1/2” hose up from the dipstick Y to the breather up top:



    No leaks : )






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  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Location
    Orlando, FL
    Posts
    8,884
    My Cars
    Turbo 97 E36 M3, 99 M3
    I just use a vacuum cap on the dipstick drain and have a large hose coming off the valve cover....every once in a while, I'll have a small drop of oil from the hose
    1997 Arctic Silver/Black M3
    CES Stage IV (651rwhp/615rwtq @ 24 psi)

    1999 Techno Violet/Dove M3
    Auto/Convertible and staying stock!

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Location
    Belgium
    Posts
    307
    My Cars
    1990 850i and 1970 2800C
    SC my '91 850i ( only 7 psi) and had a severe oil leak at the pan gasket... yes, blowby must create positive pressure pushing oil through the gaskets… had read here about another 850 with same issue after SC install.
    I installed a vacuum pump and catch tank.... no more leaks. I dialed it in at 1.5 psi crankcase vacuum , can go higher but one must be careful as it can effect oil pressure. ( so no HP gains as used with high vacuum )

    A bit of work but sure a solution...
    SAM_2571.jpg

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