slow oil leak, but from where?

[aaronhoy]

Whenever I leave my E30 parked on the driveway, I come back later and it has leaked some oil spots. It doesn't leak oil fast enough to actually see it dripping, or even enough to lower the oil level noticeably. I tried jacking up the car and running it for a while and watching for dripping oil but I saw none. Then I went inside, took a break, came back outside, and there were new oil spots on the ground. I believe the oil is leaking onto the subframe or something and then gradually flowing around to the bottom of it and dripping off from there, but I can't figure out where its leaking from. Does anyone have any ideas?

[ritjeff]

I would put some cardboard or newpaper under it and check it frequently to pinpoint the area where it is dripping off the car. Then get under and look up to trace it back.

[Jeron]

Start by checking the valve cover gasket.

[aaronhoy]

Wherever its dripping from, it drips onto other parts of the car and then flows around before falling off. I do put cardboard under the car to protect my driveway, but the location of the spots does not help me find the source. I know that its not the valve cover gasket though. Not only have I replaced the recently, but there is no oil dripping around it, and that makes sense because the oil level is below the lowest point on the valve cover, so the gasket would have to be really hosed for oil to come out there.

[Yurick]

There is a number of gaskets and seals which could be causing your oil leak. You will either need to crawl underneath the car or put it on a lift to give it a good look-over.

[Jeron]

Originally Posted by aaronhoy

the oil level is below the lowest point on the valve cover, so the gasket would have to be really hosed for oil to come out there.

There is only one gasket below the oil level. The drainplug gasket.

Oil leaks while you drive because it is pushed past gaskets by pressure. You only notice it when you park.

Follow the oil leak to its highest point and furthest forward point, this is likely your source. Then clean everything as best you can around that area a drive it to confirm.

[Manolito]

All three of my BMWs leak power steering fluid from the hoses. Those and one valve cover gasket are the only leaks I have experienced so far.

On cars in general, popular leak points are:

Oil pressure sending unit.
Front main seal
Rear main seal
Oil drain plug
Oil pan gasket

Spilled oil from previous oil change sitting in crossmember or splash pan and slowly seeping out.
Cars with timing belts have a couple more seals in front that tend to leak.

[Jeron]

It's very easy to fix the p/s hose leaks. Use a Dremel to cut the crimps off of the factory hose and Use the factory hose ends with standard hose and worm clamps. I may sound like a ghetto fix but it is not at all.

[Yurick]

Be sure to narrow this leak down to the engine or the transmission.

[aaronhoy]

hey guys, I got side tracked on other projects and didn't get around to looking at this one again until the other day. From what I can tell it seems like the oil pan gasket must be leaking at some point right above the subframe and then dripping from there onto the subframe, running around that and getting all over everything. The entire underside of the car was of course caked in oily dirt crud. So I got out my degreaser, green scrubby thing, etc and started cleaning everything off, with the intention of running the car for a while and then being able to see where its coming from better. While I was cleaning, some of the degreaser spilled and soaked into my sleeve, which was then stuck up against my arm. I thought nothing of it since I've never had the degreaser irritate my skin before, but after I was done and went to get cleaned up, I found that the stuff had stealthily melted my flesh, and it didn't hurt until I went to wash it off, at which time I felt all of the pain I should have been feeling for the past hour concentrated into a few seconds. After cleaning it up, the wound looks similar to road rash. So just FYI, even though when that **** gets on your hands it doesn't seem to do anything, prolonged exposure can burn you.
Next time I think I'll wear a hazmat suit.....

[Jeron]

The skin is a bit thinner on your arms than your hands. Keep it clean, it would be easy to get an infection.

[Yurick]

What is this load of crap & who is this "yj1tm2pl3" joker ???

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

That guy was a spammer, please ignore him. He has been banned, and now the message in question has been deleted. (Which is why this post and the last don't make much sense.)

--DD

[coolbear1]

Been there on the burn thing. You only do it once. I think I lost some finger nails. I put vasilene on it because it degreased me so bad my skin looked like pork rinds.
Someone on one of these threads recomended talc powder to find oil leaks. never tried it myself. Sounds like it may work if the engine is clean. At the very least it may make your burns feel better and your car engine smell good (sorry not funny).

[Douglas_FL]

Originally Posted by Jeron

It's very easy to fix the p/s hose leaks. Use a Dremel to cut the crimps off of the factory hose and Use the factory hose ends with standard hose and worm clamps. I may sound like a ghetto fix but it is not at all.

I was wondering if I could do this. My hose has dry rotted right around the connection to the PS holder (real name escapes me right now). Glad to know I can fix it that way instead of spending $200 for a part.

[Freebirdrebirth]

Another point to check is the oil vapors tube that goes from the block to the intake manifold into the center of the head, always gives me trouble when doing a head on these, mainly cause i like to put the manifold on the head outside then putting it on while using my third alien tenticle to direct the tube onto the block. but its got seals and it might leak over the oil pan down to the bottom then all over as maybe some oil goes down through that route after shutting down or if the other oil drain holes in the head are plugged up?