M50 oil sump leak?

[anonymous1]

Hi,

Thanks for the all the info. As you say Whisky, not really got any room at the back of the engine to lift it, unless I remove the rail first... It was good fun trying to get to enough of it to prise out the old reg!

I put more oil in yesterday, only took 1.5L and I'm now showing 3/4 on the good ol' dipstick again! Think I'll be keeping a closer eye on it from now on to see how quickly I'm losing it. If not too bad, then I might wait on the gasket change. I'm not leaving oil behind me when I park; it just seems to end up all over the transmission and in turn me when I get underneath.

I've checked all the bolts that I could see... and they seemed to be very tight, decided not to mess with them too much though at risk of making it worse. At the moment there seems to be a build up of crud around the base of the dipstick... Not sure if this is at all relevant?

Jon - On the method you mention, can you give anymore details? It sounds very straight forward, but from being underneath yesterday, it seems very cramped. Would I have to worry about damaging anything by trying to slide the sump off, without the engine raised and getting the other parts out of the way?

Thanks again, all help is appreciated.

[whiskychaser]

You would be lucky to get your fingers between the bottom of my sump and the subframe. Perhaps my engine mounts have gone a little soft Mine doesnt need changing but there is a bottle of scotch to anybody who can do it. Name and address supplied

[anonymous1]

Hi,

I have recently been on a road trip and thought in the process I would try and see how bad the oil leak really is.

On the way there, the dipstick showed 1/2, but by the time I got there (approx 240 miles) it was showing 1/8. I have based the dipstick as being 1L from min to max, so seem to have lost 375ml. Before leaving I put 500ml in, to take me back to 675ml. Since getting back (approx 265 miles) I now have 1/2 dipstick, so only (used loosely ) lost 175ml. This seems like quite a strange result to have received and I was wondering if anyone had any ideas?

I am currently considering changing the gasket, although if possible I would like to avoid this course. Anyone have any views on oil additives like this... http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...egoryrn_77315# which claims to stop leaks.

To confirm, I only seem to be losing oil when I am actually driving and not when it is sitting. Is it possible it could be something other then the gasket? I couldn't see any obvious point on the sump for where the leak would be coming from, but then I can't really see the whole sump as well as I'd like.

TIA.

[whiskychaser]

Hi Daryl. Glad to see it made it there are back in one piece Personal opinion only but I dont go much by that additive. What does it do? - make your oil thinker so it doesnt come out of the holes? You may not lose oil when its standing. Thats probably cos its not slopping backwards and forwards when its sitting-its not going over the 'join' between the bottom of the sump and the block. Not an ideal solution and maybe others can chip in, but it may be just possible to drop the sump a tiny bit and slip the gasket in without removing it?

[russiankid]

Are you sure the oil isn't coming from the front? My oil filter housing gasket is leaking, the oil goes down the oil pan and then shoots straight back onto the sway bar, subframe, and transmission sumps. It also accumilates on the connection between the transmission and engine.

[e34.535i.sport]

You would be lucky to get your fingers between the bottom of my sump and the subframe. Perhaps my engine mounts have gone a little soft Mine doesnt need changing but there is a bottle of scotch to anybody who can do it. Name and address supplied

I'll have a bash (yellow pages advert coming to mind!!!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Zyax-iZBk8

[e34.535i.sport]

On the way there, the dipstick showed 1/2, but by the time I got there (approx 240 miles) it was showing 1/8. I have based the dipstick as being 1L from min to max, so seem to have lost 375ml. Before leaving I put 500ml in, to take me back to 675ml. Since getting back (approx 265 miles) I now have 1/2 dipstick, so only (used loosely ) lost 175ml. This seems like quite a strange result to have received and I was wondering if anyone had any ideas?

At the risk of being a tosser:

500ml - 375ml would be 125ml... Filling another 500ml would leave you with 625ml... Reducing to 500ml would mean you lost 125ml on return journey (Good news!) which is only 1/3 of what you lost on the way there. Strange as the return journey was longer?

[anonymous1]

Hi Daryl. Glad to see it made it there are back in one piece Personal opinion only but I dont go much by that additive. What does it do? - make your oil thinker so it doesnt come out of the holes? You may not lose oil when its standing. Thats probably cos its not slopping backwards and forwards when its sitting-its not going over the 'join' between the bottom of the sump and the block. Not an ideal solution and maybe others can chip in, but it may be just possible to drop the sump a tiny bit and slip the gasket in without removing it?

Howdy,

I reckon if that's all it does, then the Lucas oil I put in previously would've stopped it... That was like full fat maple syrup!!! Didn't put much in, just used it to thicken the oil, but to no avail. Think I'll be looking into replacing the gasket, see what happens and if I can use the slide method you mention I'll be a happy man.

The journey was good, car handled it without any hitches (apart from the whole life fluid leaking thing at least). Makes it worth the hours we put in on the cars.

Cheers on the advice.

[anonymous1]

Are you sure the oil isn't coming from the front? My oil filter housing gasket is leaking, the oil goes down the oil pan and then shoots straight back onto the sway bar, subframe, and transmission sumps. It also accumilates on the connection between the transmission and engine.

Hi,

That is possible, at the moment the oil seems to be gathering all over the sump... including a large puddle of gunk at the base of the dipstick guide. It is also going on to the sway bar, cross member and gearbox as you say.

If this is the case, I presume it's a much easier job? I was planning on doing an oil change shortly, so if the parts aren't expensive, then I'll definately give this a look. Am I right in assuming it is #11 on here: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...26&hg=11&fg=30

Appreciated on the advice.

[russiankid]

Yes it is number 11. While you are there replace number 9. I have not done the job personally but it is on my list. From what I have observed so far, the belt, idler pulley, and alternator have to be removed. That way, you have lots of room to remove the 3 bolts that hold it and position everything back in. Only issue you may run into it, or issue that I see, is position the new gasket. If it doesn't stay inside the housing, you will need to run a very thin layer or RTV gasket maker so the gasket can stay in position.

If you tackle this before me, let me know how it goes!