VCG Oil Leak?!?

jbash87 · 10-19-2016, 09:03 PM

2006 330xi oil leaking...

I've been getting oil leaking onto my exhaust manifold for quite some time and I am tired of smelling/seeing it. The dealership claims that it is a crack in my cylinder head and quoted $7000

Valve cover gasket was replaced about a year ago, and looks to be intact. I do see some significant oil build up in certain places as shown below.

The wire with the clear sheen of oil on it is the O2 sensor. Not too sure what the diamond shaped piece of the engine is??

Efthreeoh · 10-20-2016, 06:14 AM

I don't know what that diamond shaped part is either. It's some kind of port. I've seen pics of it open, but with no real explanation of what it is. RealOEM shows it as a "cover lid". But it does look like the gasket for it is leaking on your car. I doubt the head is cracked, but if it is, then it's cracked right by the mystery cover. If it is cracked there, then I'd locate the crack and take the car to an automotive machine shop and have them weld the head right there on the engine. But it is possible the valve cover is just leaking again. Getting the valve cover back on when replacing the VCG is a real bitch and the installer may have damaged the new gasket reinstalling it. When I did my VCG I used Permatex sealant to make sure my gasket didn't leak again.

If it were my car, I'd buy a new cover lid and gasket, clean up the oil mess with brake clean, install the new parts and keep an eye on it. The parts together are less than $10. Items 9 and 10. If it still is leaking after a few weeks of driving, then I'd clean it up again and inspect the area for a crack in the head and weld it up if there is one. To weld in that area, you may have to unbolt the engine mounts and lift the engine up a few inches so you can get a TIG welding gun in there. The DIY for doing the oil pan explains how to unbolt the engine mounts and lift the engine. Lastly, if there is no crack and the cover lid is not leaking, then I'd go for a new VCG and use P-tex on it. Here are the part numbers for the cover lid:

2002 · 10-20-2016, 01:46 PM

The diamond shaped port from the crank case is for secondary air circulation. It is used on Super Low Emission Vehicles (SULEV).

GoRomeo · 10-20-2016, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I don't know what that diamond shaped part is either. It's some kind of port. I've seen pics of it open, but with no real explanation of what it is. RealOEM shows it as a "cover lid". But it does look like the gasket for it is leaking on your car. I doubt the head is cracked, but if it is, then it's cracked right by the mystery cover. If it is cracked there, then I'd locate the crack and take the car to an automotive machine shop and have them weld the head right there on the engine. But it is possible the valve cover is just leaking again. Getting the valve cover back on when replacing the VCG is a real bitch and the installer may have damaged the new gasket reinstalling it. When I did my VCG I used Permatex sealant to make sure my gasket didn't leak again.

If it were my car, I'd buy a new cover lid and gasket, clean up the oil mess with brake clean, install the new parts and keep an eye on it. The parts together are less than $10. Items 9 and 10. If it still is leaking after a few weeks of driving, then I'd clean it up again and inspect the area for a crack in the head and weld it up if there is one. To weld in that area, you may have to unbolt the engine mounts and lift the engine up a few inches so you can get a TIG welding gun in there. The DIY for doing the oil pan explains how to unbolt the engine mounts and lift the engine. Lastly, if there is no crack and the cover lid is not leaking, then I'd go for a new VCG and use P-tex on it. Here are the part numbers for the cover lid:

Dealers are a rip off! Get out of there and consult with an Indy shop.

Regardless, check for broken bolts before anything. I have oil leak, but mine is due to 2 broken bolts. Try to see if you can turn them with your hand. If you can, most likely are broken.

Meeni · 10-21-2016, 01:59 AM

Since you have a 330, there is also the oil separator that could be the source of that oil.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tech...eplacement.htm

Efthreeoh · 10-21-2016, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meeni

Since you have a 330, there is also the oil separator that could be the source of that oil.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tech...eplacement.htm

The oil separator is on the other side of the engine. The OP's leak is on the exhaust side.

Efthreeoh · 10-21-2016, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2002

The diamond shaped port from the crank case is for secondary air circulation. It is used on Super Low Emission Vehicles (SULEV).

Thanks for the info. I looked it up on RealOEM.com under the N51. Interesting.

jbash87 · 10-21-2016, 06:51 PM

Thanks for the responses! I'm going to try replacing the gasket and cover like Efthreeoh has suggested. I almost couldn't believe it when the dealership said I had a cracked head. I would have thought there would be some sort of performance issues that would go along with that and have yet to notice anything but some burning oil.

Hopefully this fixes things.

10-19-2016, 09:03 PM	#1
jbash87 First Lieutenant 250 Rep 391 Posts Drives: 2006 M5, 2012 X5d, 2008 E91 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW X5 35d [10.00] 2006 BMW M5 [10.00]	VCG Oil Leak?!? 2006 330xi oil leaking... I've been getting oil leaking onto my exhaust manifold for quite some time and I am tired of smelling/seeing it. The dealership claims that it is a crack in my cylinder head and quoted $7000 Valve cover gasket was replaced about a year ago, and looks to be intact. I do see some significant oil build up in certain places as shown below. The wire with the clear sheen of oil on it is the O2 sensor. Not too sure what the diamond shaped piece of the engine is?? Attached Images
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10-20-2016, 06:14 AM	#2
Efthreeoh General 17309 Rep 18,733 Posts Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	I don't know what that diamond shaped part is either. It's some kind of port. I've seen pics of it open, but with no real explanation of what it is. RealOEM shows it as a "cover lid". But it does look like the gasket for it is leaking on your car. I doubt the head is cracked, but if it is, then it's cracked right by the mystery cover. If it is cracked there, then I'd locate the crack and take the car to an automotive machine shop and have them weld the head right there on the engine. But it is possible the valve cover is just leaking again. Getting the valve cover back on when replacing the VCG is a real bitch and the installer may have damaged the new gasket reinstalling it. When I did my VCG I used Permatex sealant to make sure my gasket didn't leak again. If it were my car, I'd buy a new cover lid and gasket, clean up the oil mess with brake clean, install the new parts and keep an eye on it. The parts together are less than $10. Items 9 and 10. If it still is leaking after a few weeks of driving, then I'd clean it up again and inspect the area for a crack in the head and weld it up if there is one. To weld in that area, you may have to unbolt the engine mounts and lift the engine up a few inches so you can get a TIG welding gun in there. The DIY for doing the oil pan explains how to unbolt the engine mounts and lift the engine. Lastly, if there is no crack and the cover lid is not leaking, then I'd go for a new VCG and use P-tex on it. Here are the part numbers for the cover lid: Attached Images __________________ A manual transmission can be set to "comfort", "sport", and "track" modes simply by the technique and speed at which you shift it; it doesn't need "modes", modes are for manumatics that try to behave like a real 3-pedal manual transmission. If you can money-shift it, it's a manual transmission. "Yeah, but NO ONE puts an automatic trans shift knob on a manual transmission." Last edited by Efthreeoh; 10-20-2016 at 06:38 AM..
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10-20-2016, 01:46 PM	#3
2002 Private 20 Rep 77 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW 328i E92 Coupé Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Santa Rosa, CA iTrader: (0)	The diamond shaped port from the crank case is for secondary air circulation. It is used on Super Low Emission Vehicles (SULEV).
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10-21-2016, 01:59 AM	#5
Meeni Gateropode 329 Rep 2,848 Posts Drives: BMW 330i 06 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: TN iTrader: (0)	Since you have a 330, there is also the oil separator that could be the source of that oil. http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tech...eplacement.htm
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10-21-2016, 06:51 PM	#8
jbash87 First Lieutenant 250 Rep 391 Posts Drives: 2006 M5, 2012 X5d, 2008 E91 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW X5 35d [10.00] 2006 BMW M5 [10.00]	Thanks for the responses! I'm going to try replacing the gasket and cover like Efthreeoh has suggested. I almost couldn't believe it when the dealership said I had a cracked head. I would have thought there would be some sort of performance issues that would go along with that and have yet to notice anything but some burning oil. Hopefully this fixes things.
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