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Thread: Oil Leak Origin Opinions?

  1. #1
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    Oil Leak Origin Opinions?

    I bought a 2011 328i X-Drive with 79,000 miles almost exactly a year ago today. In January I drove out to Detroit from California for an internship and I was there from January to March and yes through the snow season (something I've never had to deal with). Before I left, I had my car on a lift in the shop to change the oil and inspect everything. No sign of leak and everything was in excellent condition. When I got back to CA I parked in the driveway and pretty much didn't go anywhere due to COVID for a couple weeks. When I did finally move the car, it made a noise like oil didn't get to the cams right away and there was an oil stain on the driveway. I just got under the car and this is what I saw. My guess is the oil pan gasket or rear main seal (God I hope it's not the latter). Any ideas? It has about 96,000 miles now after a year of driving and back and forth across the country.

    20200524_121048.jpg20200524_121009.jpg20200524_113541.jpg20200524_113955.jpg

  2. #2
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    The three common leaks are valve cover gasket, oil filter housing gasket and oil pan gasket, it'sbeen leaking for a while what type of shop changed your oil? There a lot of oil in one of the pictures the is above the oil pan. Send some pictures of the oil filter housing, where the oil filter lives and look along the valve cover, passenger side right above the exhaust manifold

  3. #3
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    I'm throwing my chips on Oil Pan Gasket.

  4. #4
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    Certainly the oil pan looks juicy, but since this has been going on for a while and the shop never mentioned it I would stop going to the shop who has been looking at the car and inspect the other areas that can leak.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by jclausen View Post
    Certainly the oil pan looks juicy, but since this has been going on for a while and the shop never mentioned it I would stop going to the shop who has been looking at the car and inspect the other areas that can leak.
    Lol I was the one that changed the oil, I had access to the shop, and for sure there was no oil leaking at that time. I checked for that, suspension, linkages, rust, etc before driving. I am thinking it started on the cross country drive or something.


    Quote Originally Posted by jclausen View Post
    The three common leaks are valve cover gasket, oil filter housing gasket and oil pan gasket, it'sbeen leaking for a while what type of shop changed your oil? There a lot of oil in one of the pictures the is above the oil pan. Send some pictures of the oil filter housing, where the oil filter lives and look along the valve cover, passenger side right above the exhaust manifold
    I was the one that changed the oil. It doesn't appear to be coming from higher up in the engine to be coming from the oil filter housing or valve cover. I will inspect those specifically and if it looks like they are clean, I will just change the oil pan gasket and see. Thanks!




    I appreciate the insight guys! Thanks!

  6. #6
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    First, if there isn't enough oil, the car's computer will not allow the engine to start.

    After sitting for a few weeks, the noise you probably heard were hydraulic lifters, which can leak down after the car sits for awhile. Does the noise go away after running for a few minutes?

  7. #7
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    So the leaks have been going on for a while they just didn't start yesterday, you need to check the other areas mentioned besides the oil pan, there definetly could be more than one leak.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by marvinstockman View Post
    First, if there isn't enough oil, the car's computer will not allow the engine to start.

    After sitting for a few weeks, the noise you probably heard were hydraulic lifters, which can leak down after the car sits for awhile. Does the noise go away after running for a few minutes?

    I don't think that's correct, based on the number of cars that we've seen in the shop with with only 2 or 3 liters of oil full of metal shavings.
    Quote Originally Posted by B4SH View Post
    If anyone knows, it's this guy who knows literally nothing about everything.
    Quote Originally Posted by fcvapor05 View Post
    Do you even OT? The mean 401k around here is probably about $6, what with all the shiny cars and $1,000 watches and donations to get other members' Volvos running.


  9. #9
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    Critter, my 2011 328i will say there is enough oil to safely start engine. That said, I don't know about metal shaving, but I don't think that is the case for the OP.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by marvinstockman View Post
    Critter, my 2011 328i will say there is enough oil to safely start engine. That said, I don't know about metal shaving, but I don't think that is the case for the OP.

    Hmmm ... I wasn't even aware of that feature. Having said that, I wonder if just because it acknowledges that there IS enough oil to safely start the engine, if it would actually PREVENT you from starting the engine if there wasn't. Or if it would just say, "Hey, maybe there's not enough oil in the engine to safely start it", but then let you try anyhow.
    Quote Originally Posted by B4SH View Post
    If anyone knows, it's this guy who knows literally nothing about everything.
    Quote Originally Posted by fcvapor05 View Post
    Do you even OT? The mean 401k around here is probably about $6, what with all the shiny cars and $1,000 watches and donations to get other members' Volvos running.


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