[Anthony199]

Hello!

I have a 2006 325i with 111000 miles on it. It is well maintained, and just replaced engine oil (that came out clear, not milky), spark plugs and ignition coils 2000 miles ago.

When the car warms up, I am having white smoke coming out from the exhaust, and smells slightly sweet. I am also having to add coolant every couple weeks (logo appears on dash at most every two months). I am assuming it is a small head gasket leak.

Is there an easy way to make sure it is the head gasket that is causing this problem?

Is BlueDevil Head Gasket sealant recommended?

Thanks for the help.

[hassmaschine]

Have the cooling system pressure tested.

[Anthony199]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

Have the cooling system pressure tested.

There is a post from Pelican Parts that explains the whole procedure. It says "If you suspect head gasket leak, you need to test cylinder sealing via a leak down test".

Don't you think pressurizing the system in this case would be unnecessary? How is the leak down test procedure done?

[hassmaschine]

A leakdown test may work, but it's a different test. You'd need enough pressure to end up with air in the cooling system, if it is the head gasket (more than leaks out the valves and rings).

What it won't tell you is if the block or head is cracked and it's leaking into the crankcase - coolant and oil doesn't necessarily mean cylinder sealing is compromised.

The cooling system runs at typically 5-6 bars. So to pressure test the cooling system, you pressurize it to the typical running conditions. This is a fairly common test.

[kkasson]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

The cooling system runs at typically 5-6 bars. So to pressure test the cooling system, you pressurize it to the typical running conditions. This is a fairly common test.

Was that a typo? I thought it was only ~1.5 bar.

[Anthony199]

So I am assuming you are suggesting a pressure test for now?

I didn't know pressurizing the system will help in determining a leak in the head gasket. I should pressurize the system to 1.5 bar or 21.8 psi, and check for leaks on the engine block on the driver side under the intake manifold, is that right?

[Wolf 335]

Could it be faulty Oil separator?

[Anthony199]

So I am looking from where the red arrow is pointing, and that's what i see.
I am assuming my headgasket is orange since under the ignition coils location on the passenger side of the engine, there is an orange "seal" all around the "equator" of the engine. No oil whatsoever. On the other side tho, here is a pic attached.

[Anthony199]

Here are better pictures, taken from the same location (between first and second intake manifold pipes). The clean one is toward the center of the engine, and the oily one is towards the front of the engine.

[hassmaschine]

Originally Posted by kkasson

Was that a typo? I thought it was only ~1.5 bar.

I'm probably remembering incorrectly. I thought it was higher than that though.

[fravel]

Originally Posted by Anthony199

So I am looking from where the red arrow is pointing, and that's what i see.
I am assuming my headgasket is orange since under the ignition coils location on the passenger side of the engine, there is an orange "seal" all around the "equator" of the engine. No oil whatsoever. On the other side tho, here is a pic attached.

Orange gasket is the valve cover gasket which coincidentally is a common failure point, but that wouldn't leak coolant.

The position you've pointed to is tricky, as that oil could have come from a leaky valve cover gasket, a leaky head gasket or a leaky oil filter housing gasket.

Given your symptoms, oil filter housing gasket is likely too. Coolant passes through it as well so that could explain the coolant loss.

[Anthony199]

Originally Posted by fravel

Given your symptoms, oil filter housing gasket is likely too. Coolant passes through it as well so that could explain the coolant loss.

This is very true. I am taking closer looks from many different stand points, and here are couple more pics from the front of the engine that looks very oily.

[fravel]

Yeah, your oil filter housing gasket is shot and then some. I'd change that yesterday.

[Anthony199]

Originally Posted by fravel

Yeah, your oil filter housing gasket is shot and then some. I'd change that yesterday.

I'll definitely clean my engine and de-grease it, install a new oil filter housing gasket, and check for any additional leaks around that area.

I am assuming the exhaust smoke and the need for a coolant refill will be gone right?

Thanks for ur reply btw.

[fravel]

Originally Posted by Anthony199

I'll definitely clean my engine and de-grease it, install a new oil filter housing gasket, and check for any additional leaks around that area.

I am assuming the exhaust smoke and the need for a coolant refill will be gone right?

Thanks for ur reply btw.

Assuming your head gasket hasn't failed also/you aren't leaking coolant elsewhere (these cars are notorious for cooling system issues) - yes, it should fix those problems.

Have you noticed excessive oil consumption too?

[Wolf 335]

Originally Posted by Anthony199

I'll definitely clean my engine and de-grease it, install a new oil filter housing gasket, and check for any additional leaks around that area.

I am assuming the exhaust smoke and the need for a coolant refill will be gone right?

Thanks for ur reply btw.

It may also be a good time to just handle the valve cover gasket as well. Especially if you're going to take it to a shop, I'm sure they will give you a better deal if you do both oil housing gasket and valve cover gasket.

Another thing worth mentioning is that you may want to inspect your drive belt. Sometimes that oil housing drip can cause belt damage. This just another thing that can easily be done when doing this job. It will also give you an opportunity to clean up all the pulleys from oil.

Cheers

[Anthony199]

Originally Posted by fravel

Have you noticed excessive oil consumption too?

Nope, no excessive oil consumption. And it's weird too, but coolant consumption is not regular either. I haven't filled it in more than a month and it hasn't notified me about low coolant. Just yesterday I added about 1/8 gallon that was left from in a container of 50-50 water coolant.

[Anthony199]

Originally Posted by Wolf 335

It may also be a good time to just handle the valve cover gasket as well.

Good idea, I can do that too. I am doing it my self with a friend (mechanic).

Sometimes that oil housing drip can cause belt damage.

My belts are surprisingly clean even tho there is plenty of oil on the front of the engine as you can see on the pics. I can do these too though, they're not expensive.

Theres a lot of other places you could have a small coolant leak, I would check that first,

valve cover and oil filter housing gaskets are very common, (almost every e90 before 100k)

If you leave the oil filter housing gasket leaking, it will turn your coolant brown from oil, and clog your radiator from all the rubber pieces of the gasket coming apart in the cooling system.

[Anthony199]

Originally Posted by index1489

Theres a lot of other places you could have a small coolant leak, I would check that first,

Pressurizing the system would be enough?

If you leave the oil filter housing gasket leaking, it will turn your coolant brown from oil, and clog your radiator from all the rubber pieces of the gasket coming apart in the cooling system.

I think it's been a while, so would you recommend flushing the cooling system completely before replacing the oil filter housing gasket and valve cover?

Check your coolant, is it blue or brown?

You usually have to drain a little bit of coolant so you don't make a mess when you replace the oil filter housing gasket, I would say a good time to just drain it all.

Make sure you use BMW coolant and mix it with distilled water 50/50, look up the procedure to bleed the air out of the system on the E90 with the electric water pump.

But before you do any of that you should make sure its not the head gasket, a lot of the labor over laps if they have to replace the head gasket, so you'll be doing the job twice.