R56 Oil pan leak or Oil filter housing leak
#1
Oil pan leak or Oil filter housing leak
Hey guys... I was seeing if maybe someone would be able to identify where my oil leak seems to be coming from. I have oil on the bottom of the transmission case but doesnt seem to be any other oil anywhere else. I've been under the car a couple of times now and cant seem to nail down where its leaking from. I've wiped down all the areas and came back a day later to see if I could find it but still no luck. Dont think its the turbo oil line cause I replaced that a few months back with the Detroit Tuned version. Also replaced the valve cover about 2 months back as well. Must be a pretty substantial leak though cause right now... I'm going through 1.5 quarts of oil every 1200 miles or so. Any help is greatly appreciated... and I have posted pics to help with the diagnosis.
#4
Yeah well from what I have researched.... if you have a R56 the oil pan doesnt use a gasket anymore... just some sealant that you can get from the dealer or from ECS. I'm just not looking to buy a bunch of parts and hope its fixes it. I'm thinking its the oil pan... but who knows. Been wrong before about things.
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Vendor
iTrader: (10)
You need to clean it off really well with brake clean and then watch to see where it is leaking from. We've seen oil leaks in this area that turned out to be the block itself leaking. It leaks where the 2 parts are put together and a huge job to repair.
#10
#11
Looked like it was leaking from the corner closet to the transmission case in picture 4 and 5 from what I can see.
#12
I was either going to do the work... or have a friend whos a tech at a independent shop do it for me. Just resealing the pan and installing it didnt seem like that big of a job to me. But now that you have scared the crap out of me with other seals that I didnt even know where there... I may just put the thing back to stock and trade it in on a Honda or something. Or may just take it to BMW and have them fix it under my extended warranty and hope they honor it.
#13
Vendor
iTrader: (10)
I was either going to do the work... or have a friend whos a tech at a independent shop do it for me. Just resealing the pan and installing it didnt seem like that big of a job to me. But now that you have scared the crap out of me with other seals that I didnt even know where there... I may just put the thing back to stock and trade it in on a Honda or something. Or may just take it to BMW and have them fix it under my extended warranty and hope they honor it.
WAIT, you have an extended warranty?? If so don't do any of the work yourself. Have them do it.
#14
I was either going to do the work... or have a friend whos a tech at a independent shop do it for me. Just resealing the pan and installing it didnt seem like that big of a job to me. But now that you have scared the crap out of me with other seals that I didnt even know where there... I may just put the thing back to stock and trade it in on a Honda or something. Or may just take it to BMW and have them fix it under my extended warranty and hope they honor it.
If you have extended warranty, go to the dealer. Tell them you have leakage front drivers side on your garage floor and it looks like its coming from every where. They will fix it all, at least mine did. Keep taking it back until it is all resealed.
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#16
Does it leak from the drivers side and only when the car is running? Do you smell oil burning she the car is idle? I had the same problem it was the oil filter housing dripping down the front if the block, on the down pipe and on the oil pan.
You can get some oil dye from local autoparts store and either rent AC leak light or buy a little black light (unless you have one in your room left over from the 70's). Then wipe all oil off start the car using the black light look glowing oil dripping.
If it's the oil filter housing as mine was the new gaskets where only $40 but to make the job easier I removed the entire front made it easier to remove heat shield but then needed to recharge the AC. I suppose you could access everything with the car in front end maintenance but again it was easier to just take it off.
Regards
You can get some oil dye from local autoparts store and either rent AC leak light or buy a little black light (unless you have one in your room left over from the 70's). Then wipe all oil off start the car using the black light look glowing oil dripping.
If it's the oil filter housing as mine was the new gaskets where only $40 but to make the job easier I removed the entire front made it easier to remove heat shield but then needed to recharge the AC. I suppose you could access everything with the car in front end maintenance but again it was easier to just take it off.
Regards
#17
Hey guys... I was seeing if maybe someone would be able to identify where my oil leak seems to be coming from. I have oil on the bottom of the transmission case but doesn't seem to be any other oil anywhere else. I've been under the car a couple of times now and cant seem to nail down where its leaking from. I've wiped down all the areas and came back a day later to see if I could find it but still no luck. Dont think its the turbo oil line cause I replaced that a few months back with the Detroit Tuned version.
Work your way upwards, liberally spraying brake cleaners on all the surfaces. Star the engine, watch for the usual leak spots:
- oil filter housing
-
- oil filter banjos on the engine block (the last item your touched!)
#18
Hey guys... I was seeing if maybe someone would be able to identify where my oil leak seems to be coming from. I have oil on the bottom of the transmission case but doesn't seem to be any other oil anywhere else. I've been under the car a couple of times now and cant seem to nail down where its leaking from. I've wiped down all the areas and came back a day later to see if I could find it but still no luck. Dont think its the turbo oil line cause I replaced that a few months back with the Detroit Tuned version. Also replaced the valve cover about 2 months back as well.
Work your way upwards, liberally spraying brake cleaners on all the surfaces. Watch for the passenger-side oil leak usual suspects:
- oil filter housing (very common on 50+K mile cars)
- tranny oil pan gasket
- oil turbo line banjo connection on the engine block - the last item your touched!
--> did it leak as much before the DT turbo oil line job ?
Good luck,
a
#19
#20
Does it leak from the drivers side and only when the car is running? Do you smell oil burning she the car is idle? I had the same problem it was the oil filter housing dripping down the front if the block, on the down pipe and on the oil pan.
You can get some oil dye from local autoparts store and either rent AC leak light or buy a little black light (unless you have one in your room left over from the 70's). Then wipe all oil off start the car using the black light look glowing oil dripping.
If it's the oil filter housing as mine was the new gaskets where only $40 but to make the job easier I removed the entire front made it easier to remove heat shield but then needed to recharge the AC. I suppose you could access everything with the car in front end maintenance but again it was easier to just take it off.
Regards
You can get some oil dye from local autoparts store and either rent AC leak light or buy a little black light (unless you have one in your room left over from the 70's). Then wipe all oil off start the car using the black light look glowing oil dripping.
If it's the oil filter housing as mine was the new gaskets where only $40 but to make the job easier I removed the entire front made it easier to remove heat shield but then needed to recharge the AC. I suppose you could access everything with the car in front end maintenance but again it was easier to just take it off.
Regards
#21
Tracking oil leaks is easier working from the top down. By the time oil pools on the bottom of the tranny, it could have been coming from just about everywhere.
Work your way upwards, liberally spraying brake cleaners on all the surfaces. Watch for the passenger-side oil leak usual suspects:
- oil filter housing (very common on 50+K mile cars)
- tranny oil pan gasket
- oil turbo line banjo connection on the engine block - the last item your touched!
--> did it leak as much before the DT turbo oil line job ?
Good luck,
a
Work your way upwards, liberally spraying brake cleaners on all the surfaces. Watch for the passenger-side oil leak usual suspects:
- oil filter housing (very common on 50+K mile cars)
- tranny oil pan gasket
- oil turbo line banjo connection on the engine block - the last item your touched!
--> did it leak as much before the DT turbo oil line job ?
Good luck,
a
#22
I would get the car up in the air and wash the entire area down with brake cleaner. Put a sheet of cardboard down to catch the mess.
On my car, the oil filter housing was leaking (the gasket was split at the block joint), and the oil went down onto the exhaust. I also pulled the pan and have not had any leakage issues replacing it. It was not encouraging to see a couple of plastic pieces from the timing chain.
Not that you want to hear this, but the heat shield project goes much quicker the second time. It could also be the banjo bolt again.
Mike
On my car, the oil filter housing was leaking (the gasket was split at the block joint), and the oil went down onto the exhaust. I also pulled the pan and have not had any leakage issues replacing it. It was not encouraging to see a couple of plastic pieces from the timing chain.
Not that you want to hear this, but the heat shield project goes much quicker the second time. It could also be the banjo bolt again.
Mike
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#25
What is the frequency of the oil filter housing leaks? I hope it's nowhere near as often as thermostat housing, it was cold in Big Bear today!