Oil level in the oil filter housing

[yaofeng]

I changed oil for the first time on my 525 a number of weeks ago. I noticed the oil level in the filter housing never dropped. Not knowing how to drain it, I kept the old oil in the housing after replacing the filter.

Yesterday, I opened the oil filter housing on the 540 hoping it will be empty. I wanted to pull it to gain access to the driver side engine mount nut. The 66k engine has not run since coming to my house in April. Although I did crank it on the stand testing compression after cleaning it up and filling it with 8 qts of Mobil 1. When I again found it full of clear, new Mobile 1, I gave up the idea of trying to pull it.

Anyway, what's the idea of a full oil filter housing? How can you drain it?

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

in there to suck it up.

[yaofeng]

I think you are serious. Are you not? Is there really no way to drain the oil?

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

element, the oil level drops down, I just soak it up with a rag.

The check valves keep oil in there, so it doesn't completely drain down.

[ryan roopnarine]

the housing holds the oil in until you open the drain plug, then the vacuum pulls it out.

[yaofeng]

So I should have opened the oil filter housing before pulling the drain plug. Is that right?

[Bellicose Right Winger]

The oil filter housing is supposed to drain into the oil pan when you remove the bolt that holds the lid on the housing. Notice the o-ring at bottom of bolt? It prevents draining when engine is running. You must have a blockage or perhaps this is related to trying to drain cold engine oil which is much more viscous then when hot.

Paul Shovestul

I changed oil for the first time on my 525 a number of weeks ago. I noticed the oil level in the filter housing never dropped. Not knowing how to drain it, I kept the old oil in the housing after replacing the filter.

Yesterday, I opened the oil filter housing on the 540 hoping it will be empty. I wanted to pull it to gain access to the driver side engine mount nut. The 66k engine has not run since coming to my house in April. Although I did crank it on the stand testing compression after cleaning it up and filling it with 8 qts of Mobil 1. When I again found it full of clear, new Mobile 1, I gave up the idea of trying to pull it.

Anyway, what's the idea of a full oil filter housing? How can you drain it?

[yaofeng]

The oil filter housing is supposed to drain into the oil pan when you remove the bolt that holds the lid on the housing. Notice the o-ring at bottom of bolt? It prevents draining when engine is running. You must have a blockage or perhaps this is related to trying to drain cold engine oil which is much more viscous then when hot.

Paul Shovestul

Blockage as in what? My 525 is running just fine.

[winfred]

loosen the oil filter housing top first then go under and pop the plug, the housing will drain down with the top loose as that breaks the vacuum, this holds for all the bmws i work on

[Bellicose Right Winger]

Blockage as in an obstruction in the drain hole that's at the bottom of the oil filter bolt. With engine warm, remove the oil filter bolt and lid, remove the oil from housing, inspect bottom of oil filter housing for foreign material, poke wire into hole that oil filter bolt threads into. This has no effect on running characteristics, only the ability to drain the oil filter housing.

Paul Shovestul

Blockage as in what? My 525 is running just fine.