N54 Oil Leak Under Plastic Engine Shroud

maaaaackle · 07-24-2016, 04:44 PM

Hey guys,

I have a '11 BMW 335is and I pulled the plastic shroud off the engine and noticed oil pooling next to the spark plugs. I have attached some photos here to better illustrate what I'm seeing.

According to the Carfax, this car had the valve cover gasket replaced about 30k miles ago. Could this be a failing gasket again?

Any ideas?

Donutz · 07-24-2016, 05:34 PM

Cracked valve cover

maaaaackle · 07-24-2016, 08:28 PM

Ouch. Thats gonna turn a 100 dollar job into a 500 dollar one.

I figured it was a crack valve cover...they just had to make the damn thing out of plastic huh.

Phil325i · 07-25-2016, 04:39 AM

Agreed. Only other possibility - I notice the oil pools are adjacent to the filler (and that you have a non-standard filler cap). Any chance you could have spilled oil around the filler, which has run down? Might be worth thoroughly cleaning off first and see if it returns, before you strip off the cover...

Bamaben · 07-25-2016, 07:35 AM

Yeah that's an e36 M3 oil cap. Too weird it's only oil in those 2 places next to cap. Don't think a cracked cover would cause oil in those 2 cylinders and not everywhere else under there. Bet someone spilled there by accident. Clean and monitor

maaaaackle · 07-25-2016, 12:15 PM

I never suspected the oil cap to be at fault. I bought the cap from ECS and they listed the E92 as a model that would fit it. I can try the OEM cap to see if that changes anything.

Its not just the two holes pictured that have oil in em, there is oil further back (towards the cabin) on the engine as well.

N8N · 07-25-2016, 12:19 PM

I had a leaking VCG and the VC was *not* cracked, FWIW.

I dunno why this is an issue at barely over 100K miles when I can buy an aftermarket reusable Fel-Pro steel core/silicone rubber gasket for my Heep that is reusable and will probably outlast the rest of the vehicle.

maaaaackle · 07-25-2016, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N8N

I had a leaking VCG and the VC was *not* cracked, FWIW.

I dunno why this is an issue at barely over 100K miles when I can buy an aftermarket reusable Fel-Pro steel core/silicone rubber gasket for my Heep that is reusable and will probably outlast the rest of the vehicle.

I guess it's just the nature of the beast

Donutz · 07-25-2016, 09:54 PM

I'm pretty sure this is a crack. Just above the injector.

Here's a pic of my crack:

Here's a pic of another car I worked on:

All the cracked valve covers I've personally seen were all cracked in the same place.

maaaaackle · 07-26-2016, 02:17 AM

That most certainly does look like a crack.

I'll investigate further. Thanks again for all the input Donutz!

07-24-2016, 04:44 PM	#1
maaaaackle Private 12 Rep 82 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 335is Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: California iTrader: (2)	N54 Oil Leak Under Plastic Engine Shroud Hey guys, I have a '11 BMW 335is and I pulled the plastic shroud off the engine and noticed oil pooling next to the spark plugs. I have attached some photos here to better illustrate what I'm seeing. According to the Carfax, this car had the valve cover gasket replaced about 30k miles ago. Could this be a failing gasket again? Any ideas?
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07-24-2016, 05:34 PM	#2
Donutz Lieutenant 140 Rep 476 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Toronto, eh iTrader: (2)	Cracked valve cover
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07-24-2016, 08:28 PM	#3
maaaaackle Private 12 Rep 82 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 335is Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: California iTrader: (2)	Ouch. Thats gonna turn a 100 dollar job into a 500 dollar one. I figured it was a crack valve cover...they just had to make the damn thing out of plastic huh.
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07-25-2016, 04:39 AM	#4
Phil325i Brigadier General 639 Rep 3,215 Posts Drives: E92 325i MSport Coupe Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: UK South East iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 BMW 325i Coupe [6.00]	Agreed. Only other possibility - I notice the oil pools are adjacent to the filler (and that you have a non-standard filler cap). Any chance you could have spilled oil around the filler, which has run down? Might be worth thoroughly cleaning off first and see if it returns, before you strip off the cover... __________________ E92 pre-LCI 325i - Ohlins R&T; H&R spacers; M3 strut brace; Swift thrust sheets; 3 x chassis braces; diff brace; N53 V-brace; 034 subframe inserts; BMS clutch stop; BMS CDV; RE g/box mounts; Delrin shift bushes; Saikoumichi OCC; Cyba scoops; BMW Perf Exhaust; HEL s/steel brake hoses; M3 rear spoiler; Recaro Sportster CSs; M3 white dash LEDs; LED Angels; LED side repeaters; BMW Perf black grille; CSL reps; SSDD carbon diffuser; Monster Wrap black roof/clear front
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07-25-2016, 07:35 AM	#5
Bamaben Major 183 Rep 1,082 Posts Drives: 07 335i blk/blk/alum 6MT Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bimmertown iTrader: (0)	Yeah that's an e36 M3 oil cap. Too weird it's only oil in those 2 places next to cap. Don't think a cracked cover would cause oil in those 2 cylinders and not everywhere else under there. Bet someone spilled there by accident. Clean and monitor __________________ It takes a big man to cry. It takes an even bigger man to laugh at him-- Jack Handey mods: blackout grill, finishing rods, badges, Blacklines.
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07-25-2016, 12:15 PM	#6
maaaaackle Private 12 Rep 82 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 335is Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: California iTrader: (2)	I never suspected the oil cap to be at fault. I bought the cap from ECS and they listed the E92 as a model that would fit it. I can try the OEM cap to see if that changes anything. Its not just the two holes pictured that have oil in em, there is oil further back (towards the cabin) on the engine as well.
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07-25-2016, 12:19 PM	#7
N8N Lieutenant Colonel 179 Rep 1,843 Posts Drives: 2009 E92 335i 6MT Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Berwyn Heights, MD iTrader: (2)	I had a leaking VCG and the VC was not cracked, FWIW. I dunno why this is an issue at barely over 100K miles when I can buy an aftermarket reusable Fel-Pro steel core/silicone rubber gasket for my Heep that is reusable and will probably outlast the rest of the vehicle.
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07-25-2016, 09:54 PM	#9
Donutz Lieutenant 140 Rep 476 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Toronto, eh iTrader: (2)	I'm pretty sure this is a crack. Just above the injector. Here's a pic of my crack: Here's a pic of another car I worked on: All the cracked valve covers I've personally seen were all cracked in the same place.
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07-26-2016, 02:17 AM	#10
maaaaackle Private 12 Rep 82 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 335is Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: California iTrader: (2)	That most certainly does look like a crack. I'll investigate further. Thanks again for all the input Donutz!
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