Oil or tranny leak? Help

dhanni848 · 01-28-2013, 11:57 AM

Hello all. I have googled and read around about this but didn't find a great answer.

My car sat over the weekend, 3 days and when I moved it this morning I noticed a wet spot. I ran my finger through it and it was brownish in color so I thought oil leak. But I read that our tranny fluid is the same color, I haven't had a chance to get under it yet so does anyone know a way to tell which it is before getting under the car?

This is the first time this has happened. Is it common? 06 330i with 87k miles.

Thank in advance everyone!

bumere90 · 01-28-2013, 04:10 PM

they're not the same

dhanni848 · 01-28-2013, 05:11 PM

Thank you. I had never seen any tranny fluid that is brown before

SpeedBuggy · 01-28-2013, 06:46 PM

Try a search on the following, all known issues.............
*Broken valve cover or head bolts which were a common mode failure. (Leak may be noticeable under engine, oil residue on side(s) of engine block)
*Oil Filter Housing Gasket Leak, (Leak may be noticeable under engine, oil residue around oil filter housing)
*Mechatronics Sealing Sleeve, common on 3 series with ZF Transmission (used on 330i) (Leak may be noticeable under transmission, passenger side and /or oily residue on transmission)

My Mechatronics seal leaked on my 330i after the car sat for almost a week, had a puddle about the size of a baseball on my floor. I would suspect this over the oil leak.

Use the search feature above and search the forums (not Google), lots of posts regarding all above and may help to determine what you may be experiencing.

RT-290 · 01-28-2013, 08:13 PM

Are you able to find where it's coming from? I had oil on myngagare floor and couldn't find the leak. It wasn't much so I didn't stress over it. Put my snow tires on and found it was a leaking strut. It may not be as bad as you think. Try to find where it's coming from.

Joel

dhanni848 · 01-29-2013, 07:42 AM

@speedbuggy thank you I will look into all those.

I haven't been able to get under the car yet

08AWD335 · 01-29-2013, 10:42 AM

Trans fluid has a distinctive smell...im guessing that you're not familiar with it so in that case either get under your car and see if you can spot the leak or take it to a shop.

Mavus · 01-29-2013, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhanni848

Hello all. I have googled and read around about this but didn't find a great answer.

My car sat over the weekend, 3 days and when I moved it this morning I noticed a wet spot. I ran my finger through it and it was brownish in color so I thought oil leak. But I read that our tranny fluid is the same color, I haven't had a chance to get under it yet so does anyone know a way to tell which it is before getting under the car?

This is the first time this has happened. Is it common? 06 330i with 87k miles.

Thank in advance everyone!

I am assuming the fluid is redish/maroon - xmisson fluid. You need a new transmission sleeve (gasket). Just take it to the shop. It is not a big deal.

dhanni848 · 01-29-2013, 02:24 PM

No that is where I got confused when reading other posts about leaks. Obviously it was not a good source but was on an e90 forum post, that they were similar in color. When I ran my finger through the spot, it smelled like oil and looked like oil. I have transmission problems with other cars and definitely know the red color and sweet smell of tranny fluid. I haven't gotten a chance to get under the car yet. I will see if I can take a peak when I get home.

DUI Elite · 01-29-2013, 02:52 PM

If it was trans fluid it would've eaten up any dirt (and paint) on your garage floor.

GoRomeo · 01-29-2013, 03:15 PM

Open the hood and see if its coming from valve cover gasket or oil filter gasket which are located on top of engine. Keep us posted and good luck!

dhanni848 · 01-30-2013, 07:29 AM

So popped the hood when I got home and saw nothing. Looked again this morning and again nothing. I didn't have time to jack it up but moved the car and the old spot dried up and there is no sign of oil. I drove it yesterday if that matters. WTF is going on here

DUI Elite · 01-30-2013, 07:32 AM

keep an eye on your oil level.

me thinks oil pan gasket or, simply enough, drain plug.

If you can get under the car and look through that window to the drain plug, I'll bet you'll find your answer.

dhanni848 · 01-30-2013, 08:43 AM

I did check the oil when I drove it and it was good. I hate we don't have a dipstick. I will get up under it this weekend. I am due an oil change too so can have it further checked then as well.

carjon · 01-30-2013, 06:27 PM

One of these days when it is "all over" I'm going to write about my oil leak on my 2011 that started when I had about 6K miles and 6 month old.
Last week they completed replacing engine. Back in shop this week.

dhanni848 · 01-30-2013, 09:11 PM

Omg! Sounds like a OEM lemon

01-28-2013, 11:57 AM	#1
dhanni848 Lieutenant 38 Rep 475 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Nashville, TN iTrader: (0)	Oil or tranny leak? Help Hello all. I have googled and read around about this but didn't find a great answer. My car sat over the weekend, 3 days and when I moved it this morning I noticed a wet spot. I ran my finger through it and it was brownish in color so I thought oil leak. But I read that our tranny fluid is the same color, I haven't had a chance to get under it yet so does anyone know a way to tell which it is before getting under the car? This is the first time this has happened. Is it common? 06 330i with 87k miles. Thank in advance everyone!
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

01-28-2013, 04:10 PM	#2
bumere90 Grozniy 177 Rep 2,602 Posts Drives: Carless Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: FL iTrader: (12)	they're not the same
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-28-2013, 05:11 PM	#3
dhanni848 Lieutenant 38 Rep 475 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Nashville, TN iTrader: (0)	Thank you. I had never seen any tranny fluid that is brown before
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-28-2013, 06:46 PM	#4
SpeedBuggy Comfortably Numb 578 Rep 654 Posts Drives: '18 x1/'13 X3/'06 330i Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cortland, Ohio iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 BMW 330i [0.00]	Try a search on the following, all known issues............. Broken valve cover or head bolts which were a common mode failure. (Leak may be noticeable under engine, oil residue on side(s) of engine block) Oil Filter Housing Gasket Leak, (Leak may be noticeable under engine, oil residue around oil filter housing) *Mechatronics Sealing Sleeve, common on 3 series with ZF Transmission (used on 330i) (Leak may be noticeable under transmission, passenger side and /or oily residue on transmission) My Mechatronics seal leaked on my 330i after the car sat for almost a week, had a puddle about the size of a baseball on my floor. I would suspect this over the oil leak. Use the search feature above and search the forums (not Google), lots of posts regarding all above and may help to determine what you may be experiencing. __________________ 06 e90 330i/Alpine White/Terra Dakota 13 F25 X3 xDrive 35i/Black Sapphire Metallic/Oyster Nevada 18 F48 X1 xDrive 28i/Black Sapphire Metallic/Black SensaTec
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-28-2013, 08:13 PM	#5
RT-290 New Member 0 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: WI iTrader: (0)	Are you able to find where it's coming from? I had oil on myngagare floor and couldn't find the leak. It wasn't much so I didn't stress over it. Put my snow tires on and found it was a leaking strut. It may not be as bad as you think. Try to find where it's coming from. Joel
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-29-2013, 07:42 AM	#6
dhanni848 Lieutenant 38 Rep 475 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Nashville, TN iTrader: (0)	@speedbuggy thank you I will look into all those. I haven't been able to get under the car yet
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-29-2013, 10:42 AM	#7
08AWD335 Enlisted Member 0 Rep 37 Posts Drives: 08 335XI Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	Trans fluid has a distinctive smell...im guessing that you're not familiar with it so in that case either get under your car and see if you can spot the leak or take it to a shop.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-29-2013, 02:24 PM	#9
dhanni848 Lieutenant 38 Rep 475 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Nashville, TN iTrader: (0)	No that is where I got confused when reading other posts about leaks. Obviously it was not a good source but was on an e90 forum post, that they were similar in color. When I ran my finger through the spot, it smelled like oil and looked like oil. I have transmission problems with other cars and definitely know the red color and sweet smell of tranny fluid. I haven't gotten a chance to get under the car yet. I will see if I can take a peak when I get home.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-29-2013, 02:52 PM	#10
DUI Elite ///M at Heart 90 Rep 1,954 Posts Drives: 06 SGM E90, 15 BSM E84 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (4)	If it was trans fluid it would've eaten up any dirt (and paint) on your garage floor.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-29-2013, 03:15 PM	#11
GoRomeo Brigadier General 962 Rep 3,850 Posts Drives: 330i, 135i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Diego CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 135i [9.50] 2006 330i [6.75]	Open the hood and see if its coming from valve cover gasket or oil filter gasket which are located on top of engine. Keep us posted and good luck!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-30-2013, 07:29 AM	#12
dhanni848 Lieutenant 38 Rep 475 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Nashville, TN iTrader: (0)	So popped the hood when I got home and saw nothing. Looked again this morning and again nothing. I didn't have time to jack it up but moved the car and the old spot dried up and there is no sign of oil. I drove it yesterday if that matters. WTF is going on here
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-30-2013, 07:32 AM	#13
DUI Elite ///M at Heart 90 Rep 1,954 Posts Drives: 06 SGM E90, 15 BSM E84 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (4)	keep an eye on your oil level. me thinks oil pan gasket or, simply enough, drain plug. If you can get under the car and look through that window to the drain plug, I'll bet you'll find your answer.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-30-2013, 08:43 AM	#14
dhanni848 Lieutenant 38 Rep 475 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Nashville, TN iTrader: (0)	I did check the oil when I drove it and it was good. I hate we don't have a dipstick. I will get up under it this weekend. I am due an oil change too so can have it further checked then as well.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-30-2013, 06:27 PM	#15
carjon First Lieutenant 7 Rep 349 Posts Drives: 328xi Sedan Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	One of these days when it is "all over" I'm going to write about my oil leak on my 2011 that started when I had about 6K miles and 6 month old. Last week they completed replacing engine. Back in shop this week. __________________ 2011 328xi black on black. Nav, connect, apps, Sirius.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-30-2013, 09:11 PM	#16
dhanni848 Lieutenant 38 Rep 475 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Nashville, TN iTrader: (0)	Omg! Sounds like a OEM lemon
	Appreciate 0 Quote