Crack in my engine? Can I work or will I die

106487037 · 12-09-2023, 03:05 PM

I picked up a used E92 with an N52 some time ago, but just now found the time to try & fix a leaking oil pan gasket.

I've seen that people use an engine support bar & tow hook to hold the weight of the engine above, in order to drop the subframe & access the oil pan under the car; but when I went to thread my tow hook into the top of my engine, I noticed some cracks around the area where the tow hook sits.

I'm wondering whether it's safe to proceed with dropping the subframe because I'm worried that this little section might break & the engine will just drop down on top of me when I'm trying to take the oil pan off. Thought about wrapping a chain around the engine or using a jack under in addition to the support bar; but then realized that it would prevent me from removing the oil pan.

Anyone know whether there's a good way to provide additional support for the weight of the engine while you're under there for the oil pan gasket? Or should will it be safe to keep going with just the tow hook above?

Tambohamilton · 12-09-2023, 06:26 PM

Hard to tell in the pics - are you sure those are cracks not just casting marks etc?

106487037 · 12-10-2023, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

Hard to tell in the pics - are you sure those are cracks not just casting marks etc?

When I took out the tow hook it definitely looked like cracks to me 😭 Anything I can do?

PhaceN52 · 12-10-2023, 03:29 AM

Ooof, looks like the previous owner screwed (ugga duggad to be more precise... no comment) a tow hook with a wrong and bigger thread breaking the aluminum, I'd change the oil filter housing before you support the engine by there
Imho don't waste time with chains or other contraptions, just replace that and move on

Edit: The E90 tow hook has a cone shaped body, it will hit the engine (the valve cover if I recall) while threading it there, it should be enough but you can shape it down with an angle grinder in 5 minutes to let it thread fully and have more peace of mind. It's good for towing the car, slimming it down a bit should not be a big deal for holding a 160 kg engine. At least mine didn't drop on me

Tambohamilton · 12-10-2023, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 106487037

When I took out the tow hook it definitely looked like cracks to me 😭 Anything I can do?

WTAF!? Replace. No sense messing with anything else.

Efthreeoh · 12-10-2023, 09:39 AM

Not sure what happened between the tow hook and the threads, but somehow it was mis-threaded and broke the cylinderhead. There is too much compromised material to safely support the engine using a tow hook.

It will be an extra few steps, but you'll need to fab something to attach the support bar to. If I was in that situation I'd remove the alternator and fab a metal bracket to attach to the engine block using one of the bolt holes that the alternator uses. Then run a strap from there over to the exhaust manifold to balance the engine and hook the strap to the support bar.

106487037 · 12-10-2023, 05:40 PM

Thanks for the tips everyone. I'm gonna look for a different way to support the engine before continuing the oil pan job.

Seems to me that the threads are part of the engine block itself, so I'm gonna leave my oil filter housing alone. Will look into making a bracket to bolt into a different part of the engine

PhaceN52 · 12-11-2023, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 106487037

Thanks for the tips everyone. I'm gonna look for a different way to support the engine before continuing the oil pan job.

Seems to me that the threads are part of the engine block itself, so I'm gonna leave my oil filter housing alone. Will look into making a bracket to bolt into a different part of the engine

You're right, I remembered incorrectly, my bad.

whyzee125 · 12-12-2023, 10:04 AM

Yowza, that's a first for me! I'm not sure how much room there is around the n52 but if it were me I would try to hook something like a chain up to the engine mount brackets on each side and lift that from the center. I did this on an e46 with an M54 that had a missing tow hook and it worked great

crashoverride · 12-18-2023, 06:55 PM

Seems like you could get some HEAVY duty load tie down straps. Mentally I'm thinking still use the tow hook into the compromised hole (their is a good amount of bite still left lower down then get some tie down straps to wrap around the bar cinch everything real good with most of weight on the straps.

12-09-2023, 03:05 PM	#1
106487037 Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: BMW 328i Join Date: Dec 2023 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	Crack in my engine? Can I work or will I die I picked up a used E92 with an N52 some time ago, but just now found the time to try & fix a leaking oil pan gasket. I've seen that people use an engine support bar & tow hook to hold the weight of the engine above, in order to drop the subframe & access the oil pan under the car; but when I went to thread my tow hook into the top of my engine, I noticed some cracks around the area where the tow hook sits. I'm wondering whether it's safe to proceed with dropping the subframe because I'm worried that this little section might break & the engine will just drop down on top of me when I'm trying to take the oil pan off. Thought about wrapping a chain around the engine or using a jack under in addition to the support bar; but then realized that it would prevent me from removing the oil pan. Anyone know whether there's a good way to provide additional support for the weight of the engine while you're under there for the oil pan gasket? Or should will it be safe to keep going with just the tow hook above? Attached Images
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12-09-2023, 06:26 PM	#2
Tambohamilton Brigadier General 3173 Rep 4,049 Posts Drives: E91 330d Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Herefordshire iTrader: (0)	Hard to tell in the pics - are you sure those are cracks not just casting marks etc?
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12-10-2023, 03:29 AM	#4
PhaceN52 Private First Class 178 Rep 196 Posts Drives: '06 E90 N52B30 US spec Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Italy, Dolomites iTrader: (0)	Ooof, looks like the previous owner screwed (ugga duggad to be more precise... no comment) a tow hook with a wrong and bigger thread breaking the aluminum, I'd change the oil filter housing before you support the engine by there Imho don't waste time with chains or other contraptions, just replace that and move on Edit: The E90 tow hook has a cone shaped body, it will hit the engine (the valve cover if I recall) while threading it there, it should be enough but you can shape it down with an angle grinder in 5 minutes to let it thread fully and have more peace of mind. It's good for towing the car, slimming it down a bit should not be a big deal for holding a 160 kg engine. At least mine didn't drop on me Last edited by PhaceN52; 12-10-2023 at 03:42 AM..
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12-10-2023, 09:39 AM	#6
Efthreeoh General 19153 Rep 19,708 Posts Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	Not sure what happened between the tow hook and the threads, but somehow it was mis-threaded and broke the cylinderhead. There is too much compromised material to safely support the engine using a tow hook. It will be an extra few steps, but you'll need to fab something to attach the support bar to. If I was in that situation I'd remove the alternator and fab a metal bracket to attach to the engine block using one of the bolt holes that the alternator uses. Then run a strap from there over to the exhaust manifold to balance the engine and hook the strap to the support bar. __________________ A manual transmission can be set to "comfort", "sport", and "track" modes simply by the technique and speed at which you shift it; it doesn't need "modes", modes are for manumatics that try to behave like a real 3-pedal manual transmission. If you can money-shift it, it's a manual transmission. "Yeah, but NO ONE puts an automatic trans shift knob on a manual transmission."
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12-10-2023, 05:40 PM	#7
106487037 Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: BMW 328i Join Date: Dec 2023 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the tips everyone. I'm gonna look for a different way to support the engine before continuing the oil pan job. Seems to me that the threads are part of the engine block itself, so I'm gonna leave my oil filter housing alone. Will look into making a bracket to bolt into a different part of the engine
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12-12-2023, 10:04 AM	#9
whyzee125 Brigadier General 1995 Rep 4,028 Posts Drives: Dinan stage 2 335i Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Chattanooga Tn iTrader: (0)	Yowza, that's a first for me! I'm not sure how much room there is around the n52 but if it were me I would try to hook something like a chain up to the engine mount brackets on each side and lift that from the center. I did this on an e46 with an M54 that had a missing tow hook and it worked great
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12-18-2023, 06:55 PM	#10
crashoverride Lieutenant 190 Rep 585 Posts Drives: na Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: na iTrader: (0)	Seems like you could get some HEAVY duty load tie down straps. Mentally I'm thinking still use the tow hook into the compromised hole (their is a good amount of bite still left lower down then get some tie down straps to wrap around the bar cinch everything real good with most of weight on the straps.
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