How do my cams and chain look to you?

[achtungE30]

Got my car in the garage changing some hoses and gaskets and removed my valve cover for the first time last night...feedback appreciated

[bmwman91]

The cam gears look fine.  The real sign of wear there is when the teeth are rounded to a point.  Since the tooth tips are still square, you are OK.

The cams & stuff....I do not see anything blatantly wrong.  it takes real close inspection & some measuring to tell if they are worn out.

There is a TON of varnish in there.  Try running 4 quarts of whateve oil you use, and 1 quart of Rislone additive.  It is a mild detergent that I have been using for years, and I swear by it.  It will NOT eat gaskets or anything.  Now, if your engine is shot to hell and the gunk is all that's holding it together...there might be a problem :p !  The next oil change after the Rislone will be the dirtiest one you have ever seen.  Just use it in every change for as long as your car lives, and you will be good!

Here is what a clean valvetrain looks like:

[bmwman91]

Oh, and I cannot tell if it is just the flash or what....but are there metal particles everywhere in there?  THAT would be BAD.

You may want to rebuild the timing case assembly if it has never been done.  New chain slippers & stuff can quiet it down a bit.  Replace that valve cover gasket, too.  Mine used to leak like yours.  It actualy caused a small vacuum leak, hurting mileage and letting out more lifter-tick noise.  Clean off the....oh hell, just take a look through here.

http://www.e30tuner.com/projects/vchc.htm

Obviously, you may not need to repair threads, but clean the gasket mating surfaces like I did every time.  Wipnig down the gasket is a good idea, too if it has oil on it.

[nickmpower]

it looks like already has been rebuilt. arent those the newer style gears?

[tim_s]

it looks like already has been rebuilt. arent those the newer style gears?

newer style gears? here's my 115k head, no additives in the oil, just changed with fully synth every 5k miles:



soon to be replaced too - achtung's does seem pretty caked up.

[nickmpower]

yeah, you have the old ones

[M42boy]

soon to be replaced too - achtung's does seem pretty caked up.

Yeah, I don't know if Achtung's motor is more typical.  I also don't know the milage, but it looks like a little more sludge and residue in there.

My motor was amazingly clean inside.  Had a light oil coloration on the components, but that was about it.  No dirt, residue or excessive wear noted anywhere.  

Kinda hard to see, but here's a pic of my motor apart and on the engine stand when being torn apart.  



I'd run a can or two of that SeaFoam stuff, and then change the oil if you can.  :cool:

[achtungE30]

As soon as I got the car, I put 15w50 in there and a new filter. GOD knows what the previous 6 owners did to this car. How does the seafoam stuff work?

It runs pretty well now, doesnt burn any oil, but theres a leak either in the upper pan gasket from age or crankshaft seal. I'll have to get a better look at that.

[M42boy]

As soon as I got the car, I put 15w50 in there and a new filter. GOD knows what the previous 6 owners did to this car. How does the seafoam stuff work?

It runs pretty well now, doesnt burn any oil, but theres a leak either in the upper pan gasket from age or crankshaft seal. I'll have to get a better look at that.

Good luck with the leak.  I've been chasing leaks since I bought this hunk!  

My advice is to let it leak as long as it's a slow leak.  I rebuilt the whole damn thing and it's still seeping oil.

[achtungE30]

You did a complete rebuild and its still leaking??? Geez I thought they said that only Porsche's leak regardless of condition / age lol.

I'm really curious to hear more about seafoam. I know people have used it to clean injectors and fuel systems, but never oil sludge / residue in the head.

[M42boy]

You did a complete rebuild and its still leaking??? Geez I thought they said that only Porsche's leak regardless of condition / age lol.

I'm really curious to hear more about seafoam. I know people have used it to clean injectors and fuel systems, but never oil sludge / residue in the head.

You add Seafoam to the intake, and it cleans out the combustion chambers, valves, etc...  

You are probably right, I guess it wouldn't get all into the oil passages in the head, etc.  You probably need to get something you add to the oil and run it, then drain and change the oil.  I have some stuff by Lubro Molly that does this.  I think it's MOS2.  I'll let you know if there's interest.  I got it from Bavarian Autosport.  

As for the oil leaks, yeah, I changed every gasket on the motor.  Actually, the timing cases were resealed by a mechanic that's proven to be incompetent.  I would have used a liberal dose of silicone sealant, and he didn't.  He just used some anarobic compound, which doesn't solidify.  It's a slow leak and I'm just too lazy to pull it all apart again.  

All Porsches leak all the time.  I've owned a P-car before too, and I'd rather push my BMW than drive a Porsche!  :cool:

[bmwman91]

You probably need to get something you add to the oil and run it, then drain and change the oil.

Yup, Rislone.  There are others out there that cost more and BMW related companies sell at a crazy markup, but in the end they are all about the same.  I have been using Rislone for years, and it was recommended by guys who have been working on cars far longer than I have been alive.  You can get it at any auto parts store.  It is a yellow bottle that looks a lot like the oil bottles Pennzoil used to use.  Hehe, the only thing that would make it seem like BS ro bad is the fact that Kragen DOES carry it.  Oh well, at least they have ONE good product.

Run it for the full 3000 or 5000 miles.  Substituting it in and driving 300 miles is not the point.  It is a gentle detergent, but a thorough one if you give it time.  Any additiv that says to drive less than the full service interval is a poor lubricant and a harsh detergent that will hurt the engine...you have to change the oil again so soon because leaving ti ni there is BAD.  Rislone stays in the whole time, and I use it EVERY time.

[tim_s]

Good luck with the leak.  I've been chasing leaks since I bought this hunk!  

My advice is to let it leak as long as it's a slow leak.  I rebuilt the whole damn thing and it's still seeping oil.

after my rebuild, everywhere other than the oil filter cap is 100% dry. i've checked several times as its so clean i'd like it to stay that way! even before the rebuild it was fairly oil-tight, the oil pan and timing cases were clean and stayed that way. all the gaskets seem well enough designed to ensure that there are no leaks. i assembled mine with BMW gaskets and variously used universal blue and a silicone-based gasket compound.

[M42boy]

after my rebuild, everywhere other than the oil filter cap is 100% dry. i've checked several times as its so clean i'd like it to stay that way! even before the rebuild it was fairly oil-tight, the oil pan and timing cases were clean and stayed that way. all the gaskets seem well enough designed to ensure that there are no leaks. i assembled mine with BMW gaskets and variously used universal blue and a silicone-based gasket compound.

I'll revisit them at some point in the future I'm sure, but I'm burned out on trying to get this car right at this point.  

Good thing about it all is I won't mind pounding the ever lovin' piss out of it now!!!   I think if you treat a car like a princess, it starts breaking.  Treat her like a slut and she loves it!  :cool:

I don't know why I thought I could get away with treating her like a princess.