OFHG done, now huge leak but where?

hdrewh · 11-11-2018, 05:03 PM

I replaced my oil filter housing gasket yesterday and the job went fine. Except after driving about 20 miles I got a low oil light. Added a quart, left the car overnight only to drove another 10 miles, same thing again. It's wet under the engine so it's tough to tell where the leak is, except that the it's generally on the drivers side, and the new OFHG is dry as a bone.

I do know that my oil pan gasket is weeping and needs to be replaced next, but I can't imagine it would cause me to go from full to -1 quart in 10 miles. I

Any ideas appreciated.

robthewrench · 11-12-2018, 08:30 AM

Be cautious about how fast the oil level sensor can adjust. Based on input from others, it takes a while for it to reflect a new reading. Did you do an oil change after the OFHG, or just the OFHG? I would assume the former since you've got the filter off. I was wondering if you just didn't fill it up to the full mark after the job and your leak is not as large as you think.

It is probably worth the effort to put the car up on ramps, remove the underbody shield and run the engine to get a better idea of what is leaking.

hdrewh · 11-12-2018, 08:37 AM

Thanks for the reply. Car is at my local indy shop for oil pan gasket today (don't have time to DIY that job), then I'll reassess, it's definitely needed anyway.

I had just done an oil/filter change a few thousand miles ago so I did not do another one.

>>ramps, remove the underbody shield and run the engine
Done, but there's so much oil in so many places it's really difficult to tell.

Efthreeoh · 11-12-2018, 01:00 PM

I hate to tell you this, but the OFHG job probably didn't turn out as well as you think it did. The engine is obviously leaking oil from a pressurized part of the lubrication system to loose that much oil that quickly. A weeping pan gasket will not leak oil in that quantity.

nsjames · 11-12-2018, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I hate to tell you this, but the OFHG job probably didn't turn out as well as you think it did. The engine is obviously leaking oil from a pressurized part of the lubrication system to loose that much oil that quickly. A weeping pan gasket will not leak oil in that quantity.

x2

in order to lose that much oil that quickly it's being pumped out of the engine.

hdrewh · 11-13-2018, 08:53 AM

My shop informs me that oil pan gasket, valve cover gasket and OFHG are all leaking, although the latter only a little. So yeah, I must have done something wrong with that, but the others are needed anyway. My bad, got a little lax with 125k trouble-free miles.

11-11-2018, 05:03 PM	#1
hdrewh Lieutenant 71 Rep 441 Posts Drives: '09 E90 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: New York iTrader: (3)	OFHG done, now huge leak but where? I replaced my oil filter housing gasket yesterday and the job went fine. Except after driving about 20 miles I got a low oil light. Added a quart, left the car overnight only to drove another 10 miles, same thing again. It's wet under the engine so it's tough to tell where the leak is, except that the it's generally on the drivers side, and the new OFHG is dry as a bone. I do know that my oil pan gasket is weeping and needs to be replaced next, but I can't imagine it would cause me to go from full to -1 quart in 10 miles. I Any ideas appreciated. __________________ 2009 E90 328i Montego Blue, Black Leather, 6MT, ZPP, Logic 7, HD radio, CA, fold-down seats, PDC. ED pickup 6/12/2009 mods: Koni FSDs, Eibach Pro's, Sport/Heated Seats, BMW Perf. short shifter, M-tech shift knob/e-brake handle/steering wheel, split armrest, black grilles, 50% tint, 3M clear bra.
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11-12-2018, 08:30 AM	#2
robthewrench Captain 266 Rep 950 Posts Drives: 11 E90 335i Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Columbus OH iTrader: (0)	Be cautious about how fast the oil level sensor can adjust. Based on input from others, it takes a while for it to reflect a new reading. Did you do an oil change after the OFHG, or just the OFHG? I would assume the former since you've got the filter off. I was wondering if you just didn't fill it up to the full mark after the job and your leak is not as large as you think. It is probably worth the effort to put the car up on ramps, remove the underbody shield and run the engine to get a better idea of what is leaking. __________________ bone stock
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11-12-2018, 08:37 AM	#3
hdrewh Lieutenant 71 Rep 441 Posts Drives: '09 E90 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: New York iTrader: (3)	Thanks for the reply. Car is at my local indy shop for oil pan gasket today (don't have time to DIY that job), then I'll reassess, it's definitely needed anyway. I had just done an oil/filter change a few thousand miles ago so I did not do another one. >>ramps, remove the underbody shield and run the engine Done, but there's so much oil in so many places it's really difficult to tell. __________________ 2009 E90 328i Montego Blue, Black Leather, 6MT, ZPP, Logic 7, HD radio, CA, fold-down seats, PDC. ED pickup 6/12/2009 mods: Koni FSDs, Eibach Pro's, Sport/Heated Seats, BMW Perf. short shifter, M-tech shift knob/e-brake handle/steering wheel, split armrest, black grilles, 50% tint, 3M clear bra.
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11-12-2018, 01:00 PM	#4
Efthreeoh General 19164 Rep 19,710 Posts Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	I hate to tell you this, but the OFHG job probably didn't turn out as well as you think it did. The engine is obviously leaking oil from a pressurized part of the lubrication system to loose that much oil that quickly. A weeping pan gasket will not leak oil in that quantity.
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11-13-2018, 08:53 AM	#6
hdrewh Lieutenant 71 Rep 441 Posts Drives: '09 E90 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: New York iTrader: (3)	My shop informs me that oil pan gasket, valve cover gasket and OFHG are all leaking, although the latter only a little. So yeah, I must have done something wrong with that, but the others are needed anyway. My bad, got a little lax with 125k trouble-free miles. __________________ 2009 E90 328i Montego Blue, Black Leather, 6MT, ZPP, Logic 7, HD radio, CA, fold-down seats, PDC. ED pickup 6/12/2009 mods: Koni FSDs, Eibach Pro's, Sport/Heated Seats, BMW Perf. short shifter, M-tech shift knob/e-brake handle/steering wheel, split armrest, black grilles, 50% tint, 3M clear bra.
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