Fixing this oil leak

tanntheman · 08:23 AM

My BMW E30 ('85 325e) has had an oil leak for two years now. I finally traced the locations of the leakage. There are two separated places, but both are at the engine block.

The first one is on the engine block (passenger side) in between the cylinder head cover and near the oil filter.

The second one looks like the camshaft oil seal at the front.

I am going to fix this leak the next time I am doing valve adjustment. Before I do that, I need some advices. Can this leak be fixed by replacing the cylinder gasket following Bentley's manual on removing 6-cynlinder engine?

my experience with the engine is to adjust the valves and never go further down to the engine. I hope replacing the engine gasket won't be too much of a challenge. Again, please advice.

P.S. I tried several times to upload the pictures of the leaks but I got this message.

"You did not enter a filename or you attempted to upload an empty file. Please go back and try the upload again."

Johnnyvolvo · 12:50 AM

I have a 1985 325e with oil leaks in EXACTLY the same places.It looks like one leak is coming from the headgasket right above the oil filter.I always thought that oil didn't leak from a headgasket (just antifreeze).After some research and further investigating,it looks like i have a oil leak at the rear of the valve cover gasket and it is running down the block.I hope that is were the oil is coming from.I ordered a valve cover gasket and i also ordered four rocker shaft plugs (they are only $1 apiece) from what i have read these plugs are prone to leaking and should be replaced everytime you replace the valve cover gasket.

Here is a thread about it:helping a friend...need a quick fix

--Johnny--

tanntheman · 02-27-2005, 09:20 PM

Thanks for the reply.

Hmm...I hope mine is the same case. It then will make life easier the next time I adjust the valves and fix this problem the same time. I'll replace the rocker shaft plugs as you have suggested. Thanks again!

wludavid · wludavid's Garage

I was all set to change the rocker shaft plugs when I adjusted my valves, but they are a big pain to put in. I ended up just not doing it.

Does anyone have any easy way to install them?

tanntheman · 08-23-2005, 07:27 PM

I replaced the valve cover gasket, and the rocker shaft plugs. but the problem is still there.

Looks like I need to go further down below the valve cover. What are the plugs, gaskets, seals that you guys suggest me to replace to fix this oil leak. The car still runs great, except the oil leak creating oil burn smell makes me sick sometimes. Please advice!

tanntheman · 08-25-2005, 08:30 PM

Here is my plan:

I've decided to go after the two camshaft seals. The only thing I will replacing on the way will only be the timing belt (30k miles on it). Will this be OK?

If the leak doesn't stop, my next move will be replacing the head gasket. I will need instructions on this one. Can someone sheds some lights on this? Thanks!

tanntheman · 10-12-2005, 08:15 PM

I replaced the camshaft seal and the o-ring. The front side of the engine seems oil free now.

Oil still leaking from the head gasket (on the passenge side). Should I get down again to replace the head gasket or just do this heal a seal from http://www.heal-a-seal.com/

I just worry heal-a-seal will ruin the engine. Might as well spend 2 days to replace the head gasket? What a pain! Meanwhile, any body has any advice on working on this project-replace head gasket-tips on while in that area, what else should I take care of? Thanks!

coolbear1 · 10-24-2005, 10:42 PM

My first BMW was an 85 325e. I bought it new, and I remember taking it back to the dealer for a recall that involved replacing the water pump, head gasket and timing belt due to overheating.

They had a problem with the water pump and it would cause the head to run hot enough to cause the gasket to fail and leak.

I wonder if your car ever had the recall service?

They may still have a record.

Be pretty cool if they still had to fix it.

I still have the record of the service on mine in case they have memory
loss.

My wife drove it 16 years and 400k+ miles and it never leaked motor oil.

rich22 · 10-25-2005, 01:29 PM

If you do the head gasket you will also need a new timing belt. Once you relax tension on the belt you have to replace it.

coolbear1 · 10-25-2005, 06:32 PM

That makes sense. I always wondered why they eplaced it with only 15k miles on the car.