Is this an oil leak?

Cbozz · 08-07-2014, 04:41 PM

I was checking out the engine bay today and noticed this:::. Should I be concerned with this, it was all dry last time I checked and now looks like oil is seeping through! No rough riding, no rough idle no problems at all and I wasn't diving it hard either! thanks for your input~

thekurgan · 08-07-2014, 04:47 PM

You'll have to clean that off and keep an eye on it as it does look like oil or residue.

///M Ryder · 08-07-2014, 04:50 PM

Valve cover gasket.......as stated, clean it up and watch it............Phil

m3ray · 08-07-2014, 05:19 PM

Anytime you see oil or wet spots pooling around an area..it's a leak.

They don't get better, they only get worse. So I am not sure I understand the logic of "watching it".

///M Power-Belgium · 08-07-2014, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cbozz

I was checking out the engine bay today and noticed this:::. Should I be concerned with this, it was all dry last time I checked and now looks like oil is seeping through! No rough riding, no rough idle no problems at all and I wasn't diving it hard either! thanks for your input~

Another thread with pics about this problem > http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1012811

M3PO · 08-07-2014, 06:44 PM

The beginning of the end for your valve cover gasket.

m3ray · 08-07-2014, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3PO

The beginning of the end for your valve cover gasket.

He should be thankful it's not a head gasket...

Flea7 · 08-07-2014, 07:30 PM

yup,..valve cover leak. I have the same problem but my leak..or leaks are coming out of the gasket around the bolts and not the actual gasket itself.

I would wipe it off and see where the leak is. if it is the cover gasket ....as M3PO said .....it's the beginning of the end of the gasket. It will get worst.

Cbozz · 08-07-2014, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flea7

yup,..valve cover leak. I have the same problem but my leak..or leaks are coming out of the gasket around the bolts and not the actual gasket itself.

I would wipe it off and see where the leak is. if it is the cover gasket ....as M3PO said .....it's the beginning of the end of the gasket. It will get worst.

I had a feeling that it was a leak, now my question is if CPO will fix this or will they say it's sipping through and it's not a leak and they are not fixing it... because that happened in my 335! This was clean without any oil a week ago, and when I looked today that's what I saw so it must be a slow leak!

///M Power-Belgium · 08-08-2014, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3PO

The beginning of the end for your valve cover gasket.

Maybe this would help....
Try re-torqing the bolts....and make sure to get the torq. specs for the bolts ?
So what do you think about re-torqing the bolts ?

m3ray · 08-08-2014, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Maybe this would help....
Try re-torqing the bolts....and make sure to get the torq. specs for the bolts ?
So what do you think about re-torqing the bolts ?

If you've dealt with perished gaskets then you know tightening or re-torquing the bolts generally makes the leak worse.

Flea7 · 08-08-2014, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m3ray

If you've dealt with perished gaskets then you know tightening or re-torquing the bolts generally makes the leak worse.

It may not be a perished gasket. the bolt that tightens the cover has a gasket or o ring at the neck. There is a possibility for it to come loose. It wouldn't hurt to re-torque the bolt to spec if they are loose. I believe it's 23nm torque spec.

For me the leak is at the top of the bolt and not the seams of the cover and gasket.

08-07-2014, 04:41 PM	#1
Cbozz Colonel 689 Rep 2,716 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: South Florida/ St. Louis iTrader: (27) Garage List 2016 BMW X5M [0.00] 08 BMW M3 [0.00] 14 BMW X5 50i - sold [0.00] 09 BMW 335i - Sold [0.00] 09 BMW 328i - Sold [0.00] 07 BMW 328i - Sold [0.00]	Is this an oil leak? I was checking out the engine bay today and noticed this:::. Should I be concerned with this, it was all dry last time I checked and now looks like oil is seeping through! No rough riding, no rough idle no problems at all and I wasn't diving it hard either! thanks for your input~ __________________ Evolve, Eisenmann, Strasse, StopTech, Active Autowerke
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08-07-2014, 04:47 PM	#2
thekurgan Bad Lieutenant 233 Rep 3,517 Posts Drives: E90M3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sacramento iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW M3 [0.00]	You'll have to clean that off and keep an eye on it as it does look like oil or residue. __________________ 02 E39M5 \| TiAg/Schwartz \| Tubi Rumore \| Ultimate Ti Pedals \| E60 SSK \| Jim Blanton 3.45 40/100% \| Coby Alcantara \| StrongStrut STB
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08-07-2014, 04:50 PM	#3
///M Ryder Grown Azz Man 430 Rep 3,021 Posts Drives: GT4 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Texas iTrader: (8)	Valve cover gasket.......as stated, clean it up and watch it............Phil __________________ 2016 GT4.....Sapphire Blue Metallic, Platinum stitch Leather/Alcantara interior, Carbon Fiber Trim, PCM w/Nav, Guards Red Belts, 2 Zone Climate, Sport Chrono, LWB, Smokers Pack, Big Gas Tank, Light Design Pack, Bi-Xenon w/PDL, Auto Dim Mirror, Clear Side Markers, GTS Clear Taillights
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08-07-2014, 05:19 PM	#4
m3ray Banned 101 Rep 701 Posts Drives: '09 e92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: New York City iTrader: (0)	Anytime you see oil or wet spots pooling around an area..it's a leak. They don't get better, they only get worse. So I am not sure I understand the logic of "watching it".
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08-07-2014, 06:44 PM	#6
M3PO Colonel 84 Rep 2,792 Posts Drives: '08 IB E92 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: OC iTrader: (7)	The beginning of the end for your valve cover gasket. __________________ 2008 IB E92 M3\| BBS \| KW \| Arkym \| Platte Forme A.G. \| Active Autowerke \| K&N \| Fabspeed \| Dinan \| Evolve-R
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08-07-2014, 07:30 PM	#8
Flea7 Major 112 Rep 1,260 Posts Drives: E92 M3 6MT/F48 X1/F430/F12 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: PNW iTrader: (6) Garage List 2016 X1 [0.00] 2008 E92 M3 [0.00] 2005 Ferrari F430 [0.00] 2014 Ferrari F12 Be ... [10.00]	yup,..valve cover leak. I have the same problem but my leak..or leaks are coming out of the gasket around the bolts and not the actual gasket itself. I would wipe it off and see where the leak is. if it is the cover gasket ....as M3PO said .....it's the beginning of the end of the gasket. It will get worst. __________________
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