OFHG Change / Coolant Hose / Paranoid about belt?

skaper · 05-22-2020, 11:16 PM

Hey!

I recently was doing some preventative maintenance and changed the oil filter housing gaskets. During this process, I broke and replaced the coolant hose. I wish I would have known about the aluminum coolant hose flange before, I would have gone that route instead of putting another plastic hose back in.

Anyway... I did all of this because I was concerned about all the horror stories from oil dripping on the accessory belt. During the process of doing the gaskets, the oil lines did in fact dump a pretty fair amount of oil on the belt - is this something to be concerned about, or is the real harm a continuous leak and I am just being paranoid?

/rant

Thank you in advance to any info!

juld0zer · 05-22-2020, 11:29 PM

Belt is cheap, just change it for your peace of mind. Most E series cars should be due for a new belt anyway, by now. EPDM rubber is what your coolant hoses and belts are made of. It is not tolerant of fuel or oil exposure. The belt should always be removed if the risk of oil or coolant contamination is possible, which in this case is inevitable.

I have done this repair before with the belt installed because someone before had stripped out the alloy T60 tensioner hole. I covered it with a large plastic trash bag and heaps of rags.

The real risk is long term exposure to incompatible substances. A lot of oil filter housing gaskets don't get fixed until they leak onto the belt anyway. Which by then they sling all over the hoses too. The rubber degrades/melts and expands, which then shreds or slips and then ends up inside your timing case.

skaper · 05-22-2020, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juld0zer

Belt is cheap, just change it for your peace of mind. Most E series cars should be due for a new belt anyway, by now.

Good point. I think I will just swap it out.

I appreciate the response!

Phil325i · 05-23-2020, 05:00 AM

If you're worried about belt ingestion, thought about fitting one of these?

skaper · 05-23-2020, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil325i

If you're worried about belt ingestion, thought about fitting one of these?

Glad I asked! I didn't even know about these. I am going to do this along with the replacement - why not! Trying to get ahead of any potential issues before the PS2

Edit: Some pretty mixed reviews on the seller and the part itself. Going to hold off on that item until another solution becomes available.

Dormermike · 06-03-2020, 09:47 AM

what is the official mileage for changing the serp belt, does anyone know? thx

Phil325i · 06-04-2020, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dormermike

what is the official mileage for changing the serp belt, does anyone know? thx

I doubt there is an 'official' mileage in these days of 'lifetime fill'. I change mine (including tensioner) every 50K...

delmarco · 06-04-2020, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil325i

I doubt there is an 'official' mileage in these days of 'lifetime fill'. I change mine (including tensioner) every 50K...

Yeah every 50k miles. The belts are so easy to change.

Dormermike · 06-11-2020, 04:09 PM

thanks chaps, will order one as im at 70k.

cheers

CTinline-six · 06-12-2020, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil325i

If you're worried about belt ingestion, thought about fitting one of these?

It's a good idea, but I haven't seen any of their products in stock since they started the website. Ridiculous. Why market a product if you can't even sell it? I've e-mailed them for when they have them in stock for an N52, but no response.

Phil325i · 06-12-2020, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTinline-six

It's a good idea, but I haven't seen any of their products in stock since they started the website. Ridiculous. Why market a product if you can't even sell it? I've e-mailed them for when they have them in stock for an N52, but no response.

Sorry Josh, hadn't realised that. Wouldn't have bothered mentioning it if I'd known...

Oolien · 06-14-2020, 09:42 AM

I changed my ofhg, as soon as I took the housing out some coolant went all over my belt. I ended up needing a bolt that unfortunately broke off in the head.. so I ordered a bolt and ended up not changing the belt coolant looked like it had all dried, I've been driving around for 1000km and no slipping and no damage to belt. We changed the ofhg on my friends car same thing some coolant went on the belt.
Waited 2 days for parts, drove the car 200km belt ripped in half but luckily did not get sucked into the front main.. So honestly I would recommend changing the belt to be 100% sure.

Efthreeoh · 06-14-2020, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oolien

I changed my ofhg, as soon as I took the housing out some coolant went all over my belt. I ended up needing a bolt that unfortunately broke off in the head.. so I ordered a bolt and ended up not changing the belt coolant looked like it had all dried, I've been driving around for 1000km and no slipping and no damage to belt. We changed the ofhg on my friends car same thing some coolant went on the belt.
Waited 2 days for parts, drove the car 200km belt ripped in half but luckily did not get sucked into the front main.. So honestly I would recommend changing the belt to be 100% sure.

So the real lesson learned is....

Efthreeoh · 06-14-2020, 12:06 PM

Drain the coolant first...

Oolien · 06-14-2020, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Drain the coolant first...

Yes lesson was learned.. drain the coolant!

05-22-2020, 11:16 PM	#1
skaper Private First Class 45 Rep 106 Posts Drives: E90 N55 M-Sport Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Portland iTrader: (1)	OFHG Change / Coolant Hose / Paranoid about belt? Hey! I recently was doing some preventative maintenance and changed the oil filter housing gaskets. During this process, I broke and replaced the coolant hose. I wish I would have known about the aluminum coolant hose flange before, I would have gone that route instead of putting another plastic hose back in. Anyway... I did all of this because I was concerned about all the horror stories from oil dripping on the accessory belt. During the process of doing the gaskets, the oil lines did in fact dump a pretty fair amount of oil on the belt - is this something to be concerned about, or is the real harm a continuous leak and I am just being paranoid? /rant Thank you in advance to any info! __________________ Kennethavery.com // Portland Real Estate Wagner Evo 1 IC // Active Autowerke CP // JB4 + BEF // CAtuned Coilovers // AR Design D/P // Future Classic Spacers // E46 OE CSL Wheels // (PURE Stage 2 w/ wedge next!)
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05-22-2020, 11:29 PM	#2
juld0zer Lieutenant Colonel 480 Rep 1,600 Posts Drives: Prev 135i 7DCT, Now 130i 6sp Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: 2153 iTrader: (0)	Belt is cheap, just change it for your peace of mind. Most E series cars should be due for a new belt anyway, by now. EPDM rubber is what your coolant hoses and belts are made of. It is not tolerant of fuel or oil exposure. The belt should always be removed if the risk of oil or coolant contamination is possible, which in this case is inevitable. I have done this repair before with the belt installed because someone before had stripped out the alloy T60 tensioner hole. I covered it with a large plastic trash bag and heaps of rags. The real risk is long term exposure to incompatible substances. A lot of oil filter housing gaskets don't get fixed until they leak onto the belt anyway. Which by then they sling all over the hoses too. The rubber degrades/melts and expands, which then shreds or slips and then ends up inside your timing case.
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05-23-2020, 05:00 AM	#4
Phil325i Brigadier General 615 Rep 3,194 Posts Drives: E92 325i MSport Coupe Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: UK South East iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 BMW 325i Coupe [6.00]	If you're worried about belt ingestion, thought about fitting one of these? __________________ E92 pre-LCI 325i - Ohlins R&T; H&R spacers; M3 strut brace; Swift thrust sheets; 3 x chassis braces; diff brace; N53 V-brace; 034 subframe inserts; BMS clutch stop; BMS CDV; RE g/box mounts; Delrin shift bushes; Saikoumichi OCC; Cyba scoops; BMW Perf Exhaust; HEL s/steel brake hoses; M3 rear spoiler; Recaro Sportster CSs; M3 white dash LEDs; LED Angels; LED side repeaters; BMW Perf black grille; CSL reps; SSDD carbon diffuser; Monster Wrap black roof/clear front
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06-03-2020, 09:47 AM	#6
Dormermike Captain 102 Rep 681 Posts Drives: Bmw f10 Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Uk iTrader: (0)	what is the official mileage for changing the serp belt, does anyone know? thx
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06-11-2020, 04:09 PM	#9
Dormermike Captain 102 Rep 681 Posts Drives: Bmw f10 Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Uk iTrader: (0)	thanks chaps, will order one as im at 70k. cheers
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06-14-2020, 09:42 AM	#12
Oolien Enlisted Member 3 Rep 47 Posts Drives: 08 bmw 335xi n54 Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: canada iTrader: (0)	I changed my ofhg, as soon as I took the housing out some coolant went all over my belt. I ended up needing a bolt that unfortunately broke off in the head.. so I ordered a bolt and ended up not changing the belt coolant looked like it had all dried, I've been driving around for 1000km and no slipping and no damage to belt. We changed the ofhg on my friends car same thing some coolant went on the belt. Waited 2 days for parts, drove the car 200km belt ripped in half but luckily did not get sucked into the front main.. So honestly I would recommend changing the belt to be 100% sure.
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06-14-2020, 12:06 PM	#14
Efthreeoh General 17303 Rep 18,727 Posts Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	Drain the coolant first... __________________ 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."
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