[Adem_]

Hi,

First, I'm from Germany and my English is not perfect.
Look at the picture please.
The gasket from the filter housing was replaced after the first oil change last year.
2 or 3 month ago the oil was changed again. Then we had to replace the water pump and saw, that the engine is leaking.
My garage can't say, where the oil comes from. They cleaned it and now I have to look but i can't see anything.
The oil comes from the right sight an runs between block and head to the left side.
Could it be the filter housing gasket again or is there any other thing which could leak?
I think it can't be the head gasket because there is no sign, only the oil leaking.
The car is an 335i N54 from 2006, import car from the US.
I hope, you have an idea.

[Cripple]

Are you sure it's not old oil from your previous gasket replacement?

[bimmertt]

If you have the OEM oil cooler, there is another gasket in the thermostat housing that needs to be changed.

[Adem_]

Originally Posted by bimmertt

If you have the OEM oil cooler, there is another gasket in the thermostat housing that needs to be changed.

Is the gasket infront of the housing?
We can't See any oil. IT could be on the back side...

There isn't anything, thats my problem

It can't be oil from the last leaking. It is over one year ago.

[scottro]

My oil filter housing gasket is leaking as well. Seems to be kind of common.

[Adem_]

I hope it is the filter housing gasket again and not the head gasket.
I've never read anything about the head gasket of the N54. Can anyone say something about it?
I think I should remove the intake filter housing, maybe I could see something on the back

[boostaholic786]

I havent heard of to many head gaskets leaking but the oil filter housing is a very common oil leak problem. If you have any oil cooler it might be from where it attaches to the oil filter housing....

[GeorgiaTech335coupe]

Valve cover gasket. Very common around the same time as the oil filter housing gasket.

[BMWM.D.]

Even if the oil filter housing gasket was replaced a year ago, it could be residual oil from that leak. When they leak, it can be very hard to get the engine clean -- and a lot of shops don't even try. Oil on the water pump is usually from the filter housing area.

Do you have a list of part numbers that they charged out when they did the repair a year ago? There are 2 gaskets that should be replaced -- the main filter housing gasket (housing to cylinder head) and the oil cooler gasket (cooler thermostat housing to filter housing). If they didn't do both, that could very well be the issue.

I've never seen an N54 head gasket problem.....

[BMJ]

Originally Posted by scottro

My oil filter housing gasket is leaking as well. Seems to be kind of common.

it is, i have just had mine changed.

[Adem_]

Originally Posted by BMWM.D.

Even if the oil filter housing gasket was replaced a year ago, it could be residual oil from that leak. When they leak, it can be very hard to get the engine clean -- and a lot of shops don't even try. Oil on the water pump is usually from the filter housing area.

Do you have a list of part numbers that they charged out when they did the repair a year ago? There are 2 gaskets that should be replaced -- the main filter housing gasket (housing to cylinder head) and the oil cooler gasket (cooler thermostat housing to filter housing). If they didn't do both, that could very well be the issue.

I've never seen an N54 head gasket problem.....

They changed only one gasket, 11427525335.
But it isn't the oil cooler gasket. I can't see there any fresh oil.
Maybe it could be really oil from the last leak... but after one year?

[BMWM.D.]

Originally Posted by Adem_

They changed only one gasket, 11427525335.
But it isn't the oil cooler gasket. I can't see there any fresh oil.
Maybe it could be really oil from the last leak... but after one year?

That part number is the oil cooler gasket I was talking about. That one is very easy to change. You could very well still have some seepage from the main filter housing gasket (where it seals to the head). It should be part number 11427537293.

And yeah, I see cars all the time that still have residual oil under the engine from prior leaks. Caked on dirt/oil doesn't go away on it's own.

[Cripple]

I suggest grabbing some heavy duty engine degreaser and give that area (and all the way down) a very good cleaning. Give it one week and check for wet oil.

[benzy89]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaTech335coupe

Valve cover gasket. Very common around the same time as the oil filter housing gasket.

+1, I have a new one sitting in my trunk for when I get the intake valves cleaned (figure I might as well do all labor intense service all at once)

[Adem_]

Originally Posted by BMWM.D.

That part number is the oil cooler gasket I was talking about. That one is very easy to change. You could very well still have some seepage from the main filter housing gasket (where it seals to the head). It should be part number 11427537293.

And yeah, I see cars all the time that still have residual oil under the engine from prior leaks. Caked on dirt/oil doesn't go away on it's own.

Mh. I thought, they changed the housing gasket...

I suggest grabbing some heavy duty engine degreaser and give that area (and all the way down) a very good cleaning. Give it one week and check for wet oil.

They cleaned the engine two weeks ago but I can't see any wet oil.

The valve cover gasket is already replaced

[Cripple]

More than likely was residue left over from the previous job if you cannot see anymore wet oil.

[Adem_]

It was the filter housing gasket with part number 11427537293...