Oil leak in Engine bay

dd243372 · 07-14-2015, 07:47 AM

Had my starter replaced at the dealer about a week ago.

Got the +1 qt warning. Stopped by autozone and picked up 1 quart of oil to top off. Opened hood and noticed a good amount of oil around the engine bay...didn't noticed any spots under the car.

put about 3/4 of a bottle in. And about 3 days later and computer says oil is already almost at the min level again. Don't really have to time to take everything apart to look where the leak is coming from....but noticed what looks like an uncapped/unbolted hole right underneath the engine cover...

any one know if this could be the problem...

MadeInPhilly · 07-14-2015, 07:55 AM

your pictures do not show up.

dd243372 · 07-14-2015, 08:04 AM

Fixed

KeepRidingDirty · 07-14-2015, 08:10 AM

I can't tell by your pictures but that unbolted hole I think you're talking about is where the tow hook goes into the engine to support the engine for repairs. I guess you'd call it an engine support hole. My first guess to your leak is Oil Filter housing gasket, or valve cover gasket. Those are the first to leak.

Antetokounmpo · 07-14-2015, 08:22 AM

First picture shows your oil filter housing gasket leaks, second one shows a pool of oil around the valve cover gasket..

dd243372 · 07-14-2015, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bk335

First picture shows your oil filter housing gasket leaks, second one shows a pool of oil around the valve cover gasket..

Could it be caused by the dealer not putting everything back together properly after replacing the starter?

When I was at the dealership (last Monday - 7/6) they did not mention any sign of a leak...

d-lauds1345 · 07-14-2015, 08:35 AM

The last picture of the hood looks like power steering fluid reservoir eruption. I have the exact same problem, I just pressure wash that off.

It looks like your oil filter housing gasket could be leaking like mine as well, but I put 1 quart in after ~5000 miles. My guess based on your second picture is the valve cover gasket has a pretty significant leak.

Antetokounmpo · 07-14-2015, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dd243372

Could it be caused by the dealer not putting everything back together properly after replacing the starter?

When I was at the dealership (last Monday - 7/6) they did not mention any sign of a leak...

It's hard to believe it would be a coincidence based on how much it's leaking but you don't need to mess with the oil filter or valve cover when replacing a starter. The intake manifold comes off and the starter sits right below it.

dd243372 · 07-21-2015, 10:16 AM

So it was both the oil filter Gasket and valve cover gasket.

Both replaced under CPO (thank god!).

Have about one month/2k miles left on CPO...and everything that can break/malfunction seems to be doing it now. Hopefully this is the last of it and only have to deal with basic DIY maintenance from here on out.

Antetokounmpo · 07-21-2015, 10:28 AM

CPO sure is great on these cars. The stealership probably would've charged you around $1700 to do both of those without CPO.

07-14-2015, 07:47 AM	#1
dd243372 Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 283 Posts Drives: Jet Black E82 135i Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Carlstadt, NJ iTrader: (0)	Oil leak in Engine bay - Update Had my starter replaced at the dealer about a week ago. Got the +1 qt warning. Stopped by autozone and picked up 1 quart of oil to top off. Opened hood and noticed a good amount of oil around the engine bay...didn't noticed any spots under the car. put about 3/4 of a bottle in. And about 3 days later and computer says oil is already almost at the min level again. Don't really have to time to take everything apart to look where the leak is coming from....but noticed what looks like an uncapped/unbolted hole right underneath the engine cover... any one know if this could be the problem... __________________ ______________________________ Last edited by dd243372; 07-21-2015 at 10:14 AM.. Reason: Update
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07-14-2015, 07:55 AM	#2
MadeInPhilly First Lieutenant 43 Rep 301 Posts Drives: E30 318is, E90 335i, 03 GTI Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	your pictures do not show up.
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07-14-2015, 08:04 AM	#3
dd243372 Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 283 Posts Drives: Jet Black E82 135i Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Carlstadt, NJ iTrader: (0)	Fixed __________________ ______________________________
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07-14-2015, 08:10 AM	#4
KeepRidingDirty Professional Monkey Trainer 65 Rep 423 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 335xi Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Ottawa, On iTrader: (1)	I can't tell by your pictures but that unbolted hole I think you're talking about is where the tow hook goes into the engine to support the engine for repairs. I guess you'd call it an engine support hole. My first guess to your leak is Oil Filter housing gasket, or valve cover gasket. Those are the first to leak. __________________ JB4 G5 ISO / ER Charge Pipe and Tial BOV / Wagner FMIC / CYBA Tips & Air Scoops / AFE DCI / BMW PE Exhaust Mod / M3 Rep Bumper / Dynavin E9x
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07-14-2015, 08:22 AM	#5
Antetokounmpo Brigadier General 1550 Rep 3,475 Posts Drives: E90 6MT FBO; '18 F150 Platinum Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: WI iTrader: (3) Garage List 2018 Ford F-150 Pla ... [0.00] 2008 BMW 335xi [0.00]	First picture shows your oil filter housing gasket leaks, second one shows a pool of oil around the valve cover gasket.. __________________ 2008 335xi 6MT \| VRSF Catless DP \| VRSF 7" FMIC \| VRSF CP \| TIAL BOV \| DCI \| MHD 2+ BC Racing BR \| Stoptech 600 \| Firehawk Indy 500 255 Square \| Atric Altimax 225 Sq. 2018 F-150 Platinum 701A \| FX4 \| 3.5 EcoBeast
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07-14-2015, 08:35 AM	#7
d-lauds1345 328xi SGM 3 Rep 92 Posts Drives: '07 328xi Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Twin Cities iTrader: (0)	The last picture of the hood looks like power steering fluid reservoir eruption. I have the exact same problem, I just pressure wash that off. It looks like your oil filter housing gasket could be leaking like mine as well, but I put 1 quart in after ~5000 miles. My guess based on your second picture is the valve cover gasket has a pretty significant leak.
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07-21-2015, 10:16 AM	#9
dd243372 Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 283 Posts Drives: Jet Black E82 135i Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Carlstadt, NJ iTrader: (0)	So it was both the oil filter Gasket and valve cover gasket. Both replaced under CPO (thank god!). Have about one month/2k miles left on CPO...and everything that can break/malfunction seems to be doing it now. Hopefully this is the last of it and only have to deal with basic DIY maintenance from here on out. __________________ ______________________________
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07-21-2015, 10:28 AM	#10
Antetokounmpo Brigadier General 1550 Rep 3,475 Posts Drives: E90 6MT FBO; '18 F150 Platinum Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: WI iTrader: (3) Garage List 2018 Ford F-150 Pla ... [0.00] 2008 BMW 335xi [0.00]	CPO sure is great on these cars. The stealership probably would've charged you around $1700 to do both of those without CPO. __________________ 2008 335xi 6MT \| VRSF Catless DP \| VRSF 7" FMIC \| VRSF CP \| TIAL BOV \| DCI \| MHD 2+ BC Racing BR \| Stoptech 600 \| Firehawk Indy 500 255 Square \| Atric Altimax 225 Sq. 2018 F-150 Platinum 701A \| FX4 \| 3.5 EcoBeast
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