Oil leak question

M4fosho · 06-01-2019, 11:39 AM

Hi there -- this is for my 2011 328i.

I know my oil filter gasket needs to be replaced, per the image below. My question is -- could the gasket be the culprit behind the puddle of oil in the 2nd image underneath the intake manifold?

Is this common or am I looking at a leak from someplace else as well? TIA.

View post on imgur.com

- puddle under manifold

View post on imgur.com

- pic of oil filter housing that shows clear sign of a slow leak

Welcome to NBA Jam · 06-01-2019, 12:19 PM

It could be. It could also be the valve cover gasket.

Biginboca · 06-01-2019, 12:39 PM

That OFH gasket leak is the most likely culprit.

The PCV system has a hose that connects to the intake manifold right above that puddle but I’ve never heard of a oil leak coming from the PCV connection, and frankly a PCV leak would have much more obvious symptoms like rough running and lean codes.

I doubt it’s the valve cover also because that’s the high side of the block and all the valve cover gasket leaks I’ve dealt with have been on the low side (exhaust manifold side).

So yeah, it’s most likely from the OFH gasket leak.

M4fosho · 06-01-2019, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biginboca

That OFH gasket leak is the most likely culprit.

The PCV system has a hose that connects to the intake manifold right above that puddle but I’ve never heard of a oil leak coming from the PCV connection, and frankly a PCV leak would have much more obvious symptoms like rough running and lean codes.

I doubt it’s the valve cover also because that’s the high side of the block and all the valve cover gasket leaks I’ve dealt with have been on the low side (exhaust manifold side).

So yeah, it’s most likely from the OFH gasket leak.

Thanks for the pointers. No codes and no rough idle.

Just the smell of burnt oil so going to start with replacing the oil filter housing gasket.

arkie6 · 06-01-2019, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M4fosho

...Just the smell of burnt oil ...

That is usually from the valve cover gasket where it leaks down from the back corner onto the hot exhaust.

ctuna · 06-01-2019, 04:37 PM

If oil is leaking on your accessory belt it's imperative
you get it fixed as soon as possible.

Or this could happen.

broken belt
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1305990
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho....php?t=1231881
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...3&postcount=23
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1477111

M4fosho · 06-03-2019, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arkie6

That is usually from the valve cover gasket where it leaks down from the back corner onto the hot exhaust.

My wife has said she has seen light smoke and a burning smell coming from under the hood (hence we're not driving it).

My guess is the smoke/smell is coming from the oil puddle under the intake manifold I pictured as a result of the leaky oil filter housing gasket.

Anyone have experience here?

arkie6 · 06-03-2019, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M4fosho

My wife has said she has seen light smoke and a burning smell coming from under the hood (hence we're not driving it).

My guess is the smoke/smell is coming from the oil puddle under the intake manifold I pictured as a result of the leaky oil filter housing gasket.

Anyone have experience here?

It shouldn't get hot enough under the intake manifold to cause the pooled oil to smoke. It would need to be >300F to cause engine oil to smoke and nothing on the intake side of the engine should be that hot.

M4fosho · 06-03-2019, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arkie6

It shouldn't get hot enough under the intake manifold to cause the pooled oil to smoke. It would need to be >300F to cause engine oil to smoke and nothing on the intake side of the engine should be that hot.

Yea, it's smoking after only a few minutes of driving which leads me to believe that the valve cover gasket needs replacing immediately.

Meeni · 06-03-2019, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M4fosho

Yea, it's smoking after only a few minutes of driving which leads me to believe that the valve cover gasket needs replacing immediately.

OFH leak might make its way to exhaust side where it will burn on the hot tubes.

If you witness smoke and burning smell from under the intake, you could have a problem with the PCV heater. There's a recall campaign pending.

M4fosho · 06-03-2019, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meeni

OFH leak might make its way to exhaust side where it will burn on the hot tubes.

If you witness smoke and burning smell from under the intake, you could have a problem with the PCV heater. There's a recall campaign pending.

EDIT: my PCV valve was replaced last year as part of the recall so I've nixed that as the culprit.

I'm going to start with the OFH then go from there. The reason why I ask if its the valve cover gasket was my intention to replace both at the same time but the labor doesn't appear to overlap for the 2 gaskets.

Thanks everyone for all your help thus far.

bin01123 · 06-04-2019, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M4fosho

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meeni

OFH leak might make its way to exhaust side where it will burn on the hot tubes.

If you witness smoke and burning smell from under the intake, you could have a problem with the PCV heater. There's a recall campaign pending.

EDIT: my PCV valve was replaced last year as part of the recall so I've nixed that as the culprit.

I'm going to start with the OFH then go from there. The reason why I ask if its the valve cover gasket was my intention to replace both at the same time but the labor doesn't appear to overlap for the 2 gaskets.

Thanks everyone for all your help thus far.

Quote:

Originally Posted by M4fosho

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meeni

OFH leak might make its way to exhaust side where it will burn on the hot tubes.

If you witness smoke and burning smell from under the intake, you could have a problem with the PCV heater. There's a recall campaign pending.

EDIT: my PCV valve was replaced last year as part of the recall so I've nixed that as the culprit.

I'm going to start with the OFH then go from there. The reason why I ask if its the valve cover gasket was my intention to replace both at the same time but the labor doesn't appear to overlap for the 2 gaskets.

Thanks everyone for all your help thus far.

Same thing happened to my wife's car. If you're smelling burning or smoke you need to replace you valve cover gasket. So you likely need to do that and your oil filter housing gasket like I did as well.

M4fosho · 06-10-2019, 12:00 PM

I want to supply an update in hopes of helping someone in the future. Thanks to everyone on here for accurately diagnosing both issues.

The oil filter housing gasket needed replacing -- I wiped down the area and after a quick drive I saw oil form around the seal which was a sure sign.

The valve cover gasket needed replacing also -- the burning was the smell of oil leaking down onto the cat.

The car is at 60k miles and both failed like clockwork. Thanks again to this wonderful forum.

06-01-2019, 11:39 AM	#1
M4fosho New Member 18 Rep 24 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW M4 ZCP Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0)	Oil leak question Hi there -- this is for my 2011 328i. I know my oil filter gasket needs to be replaced, per the image below. My question is -- could the gasket be the culprit behind the puddle of oil in the 2nd image underneath the intake manifold? Is this common or am I looking at a leak from someplace else as well? TIA. View post on imgur.com - puddle under manifold View post on imgur.com - pic of oil filter housing that shows clear sign of a slow leak
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06-01-2019, 12:19 PM	#2
Welcome to NBA Jam Is it the shoes!? 3884 Rep 5,112 Posts Drives: (Sold) 2011 E92 335i ZMP 6MT Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: USA iTrader: (1)	It could be. It could also be the valve cover gasket.
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06-01-2019, 12:39 PM	#3
Biginboca Colonel 3764 Rep 2,738 Posts Drives: 2009 E92 328i 6MT Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Boynton Beach, FL... USA iTrader: (3)	That OFH gasket leak is the most likely culprit. The PCV system has a hose that connects to the intake manifold right above that puddle but I’ve never heard of a oil leak coming from the PCV connection, and frankly a PCV leak would have much more obvious symptoms like rough running and lean codes. I doubt it’s the valve cover also because that’s the high side of the block and all the valve cover gasket leaks I’ve dealt with have been on the low side (exhaust manifold side). So yeah, it’s most likely from the OFH gasket leak. __________________ My E92 328csl Build Thread My 328csl Instagram Page
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06-01-2019, 04:37 PM	#6
ctuna Lieutenant General 1911 Rep 13,104 Posts Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Santa Cruz, Ca iTrader: (0)	If oil is leaking on your accessory belt it's imperative you get it fixed as soon as possible. Or this could happen. broken belt https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1305990 http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho....php?t=1231881 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...3&postcount=23 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1477111
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06-10-2019, 12:00 PM	#13
M4fosho New Member 18 Rep 24 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW M4 ZCP Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0)	I want to supply an update in hopes of helping someone in the future. Thanks to everyone on here for accurately diagnosing both issues. The oil filter housing gasket needed replacing -- I wiped down the area and after a quick drive I saw oil form around the seal which was a sure sign. The valve cover gasket needed replacing also -- the burning was the smell of oil leaking down onto the cat. The car is at 60k miles and both failed like clockwork. Thanks again to this wonderful forum.
	Appreciate 1 Bimmer_Engineer1043.50 Quote