M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: Birdman16 on October 13, 2008, 12:25:48 PM
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Hey guys. Need your help once again. I just got the car back from the shop after a cracked head and a blown head gasket at the same time :mad:. I parked the car in the driveway after coming home last night and though nothing of the car. I just went out to wash it and noticed a good patch of oil from under the car. I have cleaned it all up and I'm trying to see where the leak is coming from. I believe it is leaking somewhere on the front of the engine (front of car) and it is seaping down directly onto the oil pan. It seems to have started right around where the pulleys are. The owner said, bring it in and we will find the problem... no thanks!
Things I could think of:
1) He changed the profile gasket...
2) Did not tighten head down enough
The car also had a lot more oil than it should have, I don't know if that makes a difference...
Please give your opinions and figure this out!:)
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When i first got my car it had 1 quart too much. THIS IS VERY BAD. I drained the oil and dropped the pan only to find that there were a couple bolts floating around and the oil sump pickup was missing. This is an extreme case. In your case i believe since its coming out the front, its either out the camshaft sensor or out the timing case.. How much is leaking and how fast is the real question
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How much oil was in there? The M42 is a 5.3 quart engine.
Leak is likely the upper pan gasket or the front crank seal... the latter being a quicker fix than the former.
I'd suggest degreasing the hell out of then engine, starting it up and looking for the leaks. They're easier to see with the fan/shroud off too.
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this might help or not but on chevys the timeing chain cover has a seal that never works unless you use RTV to make the hole seal and throw away the rubber one... im new to the BMW but it might be something like that >>>>>
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First off, thanks for the quick responses.
When I checked the oil after I got the car, I noticed that there was a lot more oil in the car than 5.25 quarts that is reccomended. It seems to be coming from the front by the crank seal, that's also what I was thinking today.
The oil is leaking at a good pace after the car is warm, it seems to be a drop every few minutes.
Do we have to put some type of compound/ sealer on these places or can we get away like on air gaskets?
The car again... anyone, anyone... that's right, will be going back into the shop and fixed for no charge. I just want to get a near perfect running car.
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Take the vehicle back to the mechanic - he's the last one who touched the vehicle and if ANYTHING goes wrong at this point due to the leak, he is responsible. If you try and take it upon yourself to fix anything or put sealant on anything, he can then turn around and say nothing will be covered or fixed by him since you touched it.
If it was not leaking prior to bringing the vehicle to him - then he HAS to fix the oil leak, since he had everything apart at his shop to fix the initial problem.
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Take the vehicle back to the mechanic - he's the last one who touched the vehicle and if ANYTHING goes wrong at this point due to the leak, he is responsible. If you try and take it upon yourself to fix anything or put sealant on anything, he can then turn around and say nothing will be covered or fixed by him since you touched it.
If it was not leaking prior to bringing the vehicle to him - then he HAS to fix the oil leak, since he had everything apart at his shop to fix the initial problem.
Sounds like someone is speaking from personal experience ;)
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Haha, I second what EN318isPDX said! I sent the car back to the shop on Monday and it is getting fixed this week. No word on what it was, or how much it will be. Thanks for the insight guys.
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He shouldn't charge you for that repair. Apparently He is the one that caused it and should of addressed the problem in the first place. It sound like to me that He did not test the vehicle after he fixed it. But none the less it is still his problem. Good luck.