M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: PaulC on December 18, 2007, 07:52:29 PM
-
Today I found several stripped bolt holes. Specifically the ones for mounting the cylinder head cover and lower oil pan. The upper oil pan bolts are all tight though, so at least that is good. Found three metal shavings in the sump pickup about 2-3 mm wide and varying in lengths from just stubby to about 1.5"--looks like it was maybe one long piece before it broke into three. Oil filter looked clean, no obvious metal particles. Gonna pull off the cyl head cover tomorrow. Someone obviously overtightened the bolts in the past. I have a small torque wrench for low specs (in/lbs) btw.
I was gonna remove the thermostat housing today to replace the thermostat and check the waterpump, but I don't have a wrench large enough for the fan clutch, so tomorrow I might pick one up or try to borrow one.
I've read a couple write-ups on installing helicoils/timeserts in the head but have never done them before. Should I plan on putting inserts or helicoils in the oil pan too? I don't really know the difference or which are better. My funds are really tight so every dollar counts. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Just wanna say that this forum is a priceless resource and probably the most down-to-earth of all the auto forums I've been in.
Paul
'91 318is-up-on-jack-stands-in-the-snow
-
bmwman91 did a writeup on fixing threads for valve cover, it is on his website.
-
Thanks haledj, thats a great writeup.
Does the same go for the lower oil pan holes?
-
I would assumes so, but I have never taken my oil pan off and looked at those.
-
Can anyone verify if the upper oil pan is aluminum or steel?
EDIT it is aluminum