[N54Society]

After I installed my G5 ISO I decide to go test it out. Car runs great, no codes. I pull into the garage and I hear a loud boiling sound as I open the hood. I have the cover for the valve cover off and I look down and this is what I see:

I just changed my oil two days ago...could it be that I dropped some oil down there and this is it boiling? Maybe. But it looks more like clear water, except I haven't poured water in anywhere near that area in over two weeks. It's something fresh. My oil change was the last fresh item. Could it be that it slipped in through my two month old valve cover + gasket? I hope not.

Any ideas while I go soak that liquid up on a rag to examine it would be appreciated.

Thanks

[N54Bob1988]

It looks like water.

[TrollToll]

Originally Posted by vbp6us

After I installed my G5 ISO I decide to go test it out. Car runs great, no codes. I pull into the garage and I hear a loud boiling sound as I open the hood. I have the cover for the valve cover off and I look down and this is what I see:

I just changed my oil two days ago...could it be that I dropped some oil down there and this is it boiling? Maybe. But it looks more like clear water, except I haven't poured water in anywhere near that area in over two weeks. It's something fresh. My oil change was the last fresh item. Could it be that it slipped in through my two month old valve cover + gasket? I hope not.

Any ideas while I go soak that liquid up on a rag to examine it would be appreciated.

Thanks

It's not oil. The boiling point of motor oil is around 600 degrees Fahrenheit. Does is smell like gas? I'd suspect a leaking fuel connection given the location.

[N54Society]

Originally Posted by N54Bob1988

It looks like water.

Originally Posted by Yournamehere90

It's not oil. The boiling point of motor oil is around 600 degrees Fahrenheit. Does is smell like gas? I'd suspect a leaking fuel connection given the location.

After smelling it, I don't believe it's fuel either. I mean, it didn't smell like it but it did cook on the head for a while. I've cleaned up the mess and plan on monitoring it going forward.

I also checked the fuel connections since those were taken apart when we did the valve cover + gasket. They all seemed tight.

[simple00]

I may be wrong but is that not a core plug where the fluid is? Could it be leaking coolant slightly?

[BeastMode335i]

Now I've seen it all.. Please post back when you find the culprit for this..!

[N54Society]

Please, someone must know what is going on here. Why are those little round pockets getting filled with what looks to be water? Is it because I'm running 30/70 coolant/distilled water + water wetter?

New video:

[MDORPHN]

Never seen anything like it.

You mentioned that you disconnected some of the fuel fittings when you replaced the valve cover gasket.

Were they depressurized when you did the job. If not, could some fuel have spilled?

Neil

P.S. The coolant mix would have nothing to do with it.

[deeLow]

Wtf....

[TrollToll]

Originally Posted by simple00

I may be wrong but is that not a core plug where the fluid is? Could it be leaking coolant slightly?

This makes sense. Did no one else read this?

[N54Society]

Originally Posted by MDORPHN

Never seen anything like it.

You mentioned that you disconnected some of the fuel fittings when you replaced the valve cover gasket.

Were they depressurized when you did the job. If not, could some fuel have spilled?

Neil

P.S. The coolant mix would have nothing to do with it.

What do you mean by depressurized? Are you talking about the fuel lines? That's what I'm talking about btw. I don't think it needs to be depressurized. I just disconnected the battery so it wouldn't squirt if someone opened a door.

Originally Posted by Yournamehere90

This makes sense. Did no one else read this?

I read it but why would it be doing this? My coolant level isn't even low.


My theory: This is caused by the water wetter making the water too "wet". Anyone else think so as well? It's clearly water and when I touched it, it was slimey. Fuel would reek. Oil would be brown and smell too. This has no real odor. Feels like distilled water with water wetter.

[ferocity02]

It's got to be coolant.

Clearly it's not oil, the engine doesnt get that hot and it doesn't look like oil.

It's not fuel because it would smell like fuel.

The only other fluid is coolant. How is your coolant level doing? Judging by the volume you should notice a drop in level. Any drips on the ground? As someone pointed out there might be a freeze plug up there for a coolant passage that is leaking.

You can let it idle up to temperature and watch the area and try to determine where its coming from.

Any chance you have Max Cool mode on? Not that that would cause this but I'm curious why it started right after you installed the JB4.

[MDORPHN]

Originally Posted by vbp6us

What do you mean by depressurized? Are you talking about the fuel lines? That's what I'm talking about btw. I don't think it needs to be depressurized. I just disconnected the battery so it wouldn't squirt if someone opened a door.

You wrote "I also checked the fuel connections since those were taken apart when we did the valve cover + gasket. They all seemed tight."

So I'm asking whether any fuel might have leaked out when you did the job.

If you disconnected the battery and left it alone overnight before you did the job, it likely was depressurized but I'm just asking.

Neil

P.S. Water Wetter doesn't make the water any more or less likely to leak. It simply minimizes hot spots.
__________________

[N54Society]

Originally Posted by ferocity02

It's got to be coolant.

Clearly it's not oil, the engine doesnt get that hot and it doesn't look like oil.

It's not fuel because it would smell like fuel.

The only other fluid is coolant. How is your coolant level doing? Judging by the volume you should notice a drop in level. Any drips on the ground? As someone pointed out there might be a freeze plug up there for a coolant passage that is leaking.

You can let it idle up to temperature and watch the area and try to determine where its coming from.

Any chance you have Max Cool mode on? Not that that would cause this but I'm curious why it started right after you installed the JB4.

Hah, I just came to the same conclusion and added it to my last post. It's gotta be coolant as you said. Coolant level is actually fine. Not lower than it was since I last filled it, which happened to be recently when I did a flush.

No drips but I only noticed it when I got home from work. I thought it went away yesterday. I like your idea about idling and monitoring. Should have thought of that. I do not have max cool on. I think with the JB4 running right, my car is just being exerted more than ever so things like the cooling system are being pushed to their peak.

[N54Society]

Originally Posted by MDORPHN

You wrote "I also checked the fuel connections since those were taken apart when we did the valve cover + gasket. They all seemed tight."

So I'm asking whether any fuel might have leaked out when you did the job.

If you disconnected the battery and left it alone overnight before you did the job, it likely was depressurized but I'm just asking.

Neil

P.S. Water Wetter doesn't make the water any more or less likely to leak. It simply minimizes hot spots.
__________________

No fuel was leaked for sure. It doesn't smell like fuel and it would have evaporated by now. I did my valve cover gasket like 2 months ago. This is the first time I'm seeing it wet in this area since I replaced the VC + gasket.

Water wetter makes water really slippery and soap like. I'm just imagining how it could be happening, not saying I'm right.

[TrollToll]

Read up on what freeze plugs are and how they work. He may be onto something if they are in fact freeze plugs. I know American engines very well, BMW not so much.

[sk55]

just blow it out with compressed air and dry it with a rag....

see if it comes back.

probably just coolant.

[speedhunter93]

^ just use a rag to dry it up and see if if comes back

[N54Society]

Originally Posted by Yournamehere90

Read up on what freeze plugs are and how they work. He may be onto something if they are in fact freeze plugs. I know American engines very well, BMW not so much.

I can't believe no one else has experienced this on their E9x. I've searched the forums through and through.

Originally Posted by sk55

just blow it out with compressed air and dry it with a rag....

see if it comes back.

probably just coolant.

It appears to be water/coolant. Why is it coming out though? I'm not overheating or anything.

Originally Posted by speedhunter93

^ just use a rag to dry it up and see if if comes back

I did. There was a day between the two videos.

Anyone?

[TrollToll]

Is it roughly 22mm? https://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E92-33...g/Freeze_Plug/

[N54Society]

Originally Posted by Yournamehere90

Is it roughly 22mm? https://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E92-33...g/Freeze_Plug/

Yeah that's it. I found the part last night but is this a maintenance item that everyone eventually has to replace? I hear a really really loud ticking sound from the injector/valve cover area too. I ran a bottle of the Chevron fuel system cleaner last week too...WTF. Could it be related to that?

[ferocity02]

Sounds normal for not having the engine cover on.