Author Topic: Engine failure due to pan gasket shift/bolt loss (e30 only) (Read 143312 times)

gravyface · « **Reply #135 on:** April 26, 2010, 10:14:47 PM »

Quote from: sheepdog;30217

You do not need to buy new bolts.

Pull the lower pan.
Look up. You will see a handful of bolts inside that hold the upper pan in place.
Some may be laying in the lower pan.
Check for loose ones, if they are loose, tighten them, you may also want to consider adding Locktite.
Reinstall the original ones that fell out using Locktite.

All there is to it.
Only thing you may need to buy is a lower pan gasket if you do this during an oil change.
Ask anyone who has had this stuff happen, it is worth every second and penny to do.

I know this is an ancient thread but I'm about to do this myself this weekend. Curious about why you say you may need to replace the lower pan gasket if you do this during an oil change. Not following what you mean by that statement.

carlos318is · « **Reply #136 on:** April 27, 2010, 03:31:59 PM »

You should never re use the sump gasketit will never seal right

gravyface · « **Reply #137 on:** April 27, 2010, 09:32:28 PM »

Quote from: carlos318is;91543

You should never re use the sump gasketit will never seal right

Ok, thanks -- I thought I saw something on a earlier post saying that if you're just dropping the lower pan, you don't need to replace the gasket. It's 12 bucks, so yeah...

hamann318is · « **Reply #138 on:** May 10, 2010, 05:24:30 PM »

Finally did this today. Single bolt in the pan, 3 of the remaining were finger tight... This is on a M42 that just turned 106k. Loctite + 11nm adds a feeling of comfort. Don't wait checking on this.

locknload · « **Reply #139 on:** June 17, 2010, 03:41:05 PM »

Been driving my e30 for 7 years now, just joined last month and accidently found this sticky while chasing down a completely unrelated problem. Car has maybe 250k on it but I figured I'd better check it anyway. Sure enough, one in the pan, 2 more loose and the others undertorqued. Thank you for this.

YetiX · « **Reply #140 on:** July 10, 2010, 06:14:52 PM »

No loose bolts here, looks like the PO was in there. However, the pan was cracked in three places. :eek: New pan in now in place.

There was a very fine copper-colored sediment in a few spots in the oil pan. Any idea what that is?

monko141 · « **Reply #141 on:** July 10, 2010, 06:32:02 PM »

That is bearing material

jscribble · « **Reply #142 on:** July 10, 2010, 07:21:05 PM »

Quote from: monko141;94511

That is bearing material

*cringe*

YetiX · « **Reply #143 on:** July 10, 2010, 07:35:38 PM »

Quote from: monko141;94511

That is bearing material

Quote from: jscribble;94513

*cringe*

Hmmmn. Well there wasn't much and the engine has 284,7xx miles on it so...

I wonder how I know if I need to worry. :confused: The engine's running fine, etc.

jscribble · « **Reply #144 on:** July 10, 2010, 08:34:14 PM »

I don't think there is any need to worry, if it starts clattering too much, it's time for a rebuild. 284k gives me hope

I just like to pretend my engine doesn't wear. It makes me sad to see particulates.

YetiX · « **Reply #145 on:** July 10, 2010, 09:54:58 PM »

Quote from: jscribble;94523

I don't think there is any need to worry, if it starts clattering too much, it's time for a rebuild. 284k gives me hope

I just like to pretend my engine doesn't wear. It makes me sad to see particulates.

I'm not really worried about it. It wasn't much and it was dust, not flakes. If I saw flakes I might be worried, but a little dust, not so much.

brian-pat91-318 · « **Reply #146 on:** July 27, 2010, 12:05:55 AM »

when i do this i plan to retorque the bolts with lock-tite. so would it be fine if i just retorqued the stock bolts to 10 nm (89 in-lb).
or should i go get better bolts the same size and torque to 12nm (9ft-lb). i can just find bolts like this at autozone right?

and is it important to know the lower pan torque specs?

VegasKyle · « **Reply #147 on:** September 14, 2010, 05:18:13 PM »

I just pulled my lower pan today.

No bolts in the pan but 3 were under torqued. The pan itself was in good shape and didn't look like it had been hit.

Gerta318is · « **Reply #148 on:** November 21, 2010, 07:29:56 PM »

I just did this tonight ... the oil pan looked good but had some "sand" looking stuff in it which I cleaned out. There were 5 out of the six bolts in place ... the sixth was missing, not in the pan. Its the one closest to the dip stick tube, so I think the PO got frustrated and didnt put it in place. I took the opportunity to get a good look at the lower rear of the engine. Needless to say it is nasty. I'm wondering if I should hold out for doing the upper pan gasket too.

Gerta

Balkanac · « **Reply #149 on:** December 02, 2010, 11:49:58 PM »

Just finished mine last nite. 4 out of 6 in the pan and it has 177,000km (just over 100,000 miles) on the clock. I put some locktite, new gasket (old one was a b***h to remove), new oil filter and semi-syntetic 5-50 oil. The engine seems a lot smoother now