Yeah thats not a pic of my vehicle, just the same area for reference purposes. I'll try to take a pic later tonight - but the problem is that I already cleaned the area (like you suggested) and the leak hasn't re-occured. Granted the passenger front half axle is out of the car and I prob won't be driving it within the next couple of days if this only happens or is excaerbated by the engine running.
I'm not too concerned about it yet but if there is a problem I would like to take care of it sooner than later or perhaps even make the decision sell the vehicle because it has been pretty much nothing but problems.
I don't really expect anyone to diagnose it, just want to get some initial thoughts on what it could be and where to look. I know it could be a lot of things. I guess I figured oil leaking down in this area might only typically be one particular common issue.
No doubt the only way to know for sure is to do due dilligance and check all the possible items until the leak is found. I would also agree that replacing a part might not also solve the problem, root cause should be identified and addressed or else the leak may re-occur.
Maybe you can help me undersand how the valley pan leaking, which is coolant to my knowledge would be black in color? I'm pretty sure the substance is engine oil.
I did have a problem with the torque radial seal leaking but that was replaced and the TIB was done by a BMW dealership to tighten and locktite the transmission bolts. That fluid was different looking anyway.
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Originally Posted by JCL
Nobody can tell you, it isn't even a picture of your vehicle if I understand your post correctly.
With respect, the only way to check, as you put it, is to properly diagnose where the oil is leaking from. Your choices (in no particular order) are the oil pan, the oil drain plug, the oil separator, the valley pan gasket, one or both cylinder head gaskets, one or both valve cover gaskets, one of the lines leading to the oil separator, or potentially a vehicle that was parked in the same spot before the X5 (just testing). I am sure there are more possibilities.
Asking us to diagnose the cause of your possible oil leak based on one drop of oil on your garage floor is a real stretch. Any oil at the bottom of the engine inside the belly pan could have come from anywhere, including a previous fill that spilled.
There is no substitute for a proper diagnosis and failure analysis. While the temptation is to come to the web for answers, it has limits. My father, a very old-school mechanic, taught me that the lowest form of mechanic was a 'parts replacer', someone that simply replaced parts in an attempt to find the problem. I recommend that if you can't find the leak yourself, you rely on a trusted mechanic. Spend your efforts finding a mechanic to trust if you can't find the leak.
Standard protocol would be to clean the wet area of the vehicle, clean the floor, put out dry paper overnight, and see where it is dripping based on the evidence in the morning. Follow it up to find the source. That's it, no rocket science.
Good luck.
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