Oil Leak... from HELL (Story thus far)

[Calipsoe]

Another major source of oil leaks on the M54 3.0 engine is the oil filter housing gasket. The gasket loses it's elasticity after several years and fails to seal the housing to the engine block allowing oil to seep out. You might want to check that also.



Here's a DIY on replacing the oil filter housing gasket.
BMW X5 E53 Oil Filter Housing Gasket Replacement 3.0 M54

If that is the problem I would recommend using a gasket made from Viton. It cost more than the stock gasket but will last much longer. You can get it here: https://www.bavauto.com/11-42-1-719855v

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by Calipsoe

Another major source of oil leaks on the M54 3.0 engine is the oil filter housing gasket. The gasket loses it's elasticity after several years and fails to seal the housing to the engine block allowing oil to seep out. You might want to check that also.



Here's a DIY on replacing the oil filter housing gasket.
BMW X5 E53 Oil Filter Housing Gasket Replacement 3.0 M54

If that is the problem I would recommend using a gasket made from Viton. It cost more than the stock gasket but will last much longer. You can get it here: https://www.bavauto.com/11-42-1-719855v

If the oil is on the driver side of the engine and not on the passenger side of the engine you should inspect the OFHG.

[cn90]

If you ever change the OFH gasket...

1. Use only BMW dealer gasket ($6 at dealer).

2. Read ahead to avoid stripping the threads if possible. During installation, torque the 6 bolts down slowly and evenly. I posted the tricks in the forums.
The bottom line is torque it down, wait a bit for the gasket to settle down and torque a bit more etc. If you follow these tricks, you will not get any leak.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by cn90

If you ever change the OFH gasket...

1. Use only BMW dealer gasket ($6 at dealer).

2. Read ahead to avoid stripping the threads if possible. During installation, torque the 6 bolts down slowly and evenly. I posted the tricks in the forums.
The bottom line is torque it down, wait a bit for the gasket to settle down and torque a bit more etc. If you follow these tricks, you will not get any leak.

Order a Viton gasket from ECS Tuning if you plan on keeping the car. The OEM gasket will just get hard and fail again like it did before. The Viton lasts much longer. Costs more too, but you get what you pay for.

[cn90]

I have a 1998 528i M52 with 170K and 2006 X5 M54 with 125K.

Thanks for the Viton info.
- BMW OEM OFH Gasket = $6.
- ECS Tuning Viton Gasket = $20.

The factory seal leaked at 10y/110K miles. I think if the BMW OEM seal gives me 10y/110K service, it is fine with me. I don't keep cars beyond 200K miles.

Does anyone know how long the Viton seal lasts?

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by cn90

I have a 1998 528i M52 with 170K and 2006 X5 M54 with 125K.

Thanks for the Viton info.
- BMW OEM OFH Gasket = $6.
- ECS Tuning Viton Gasket = $20.

The factory seal leaked at 10y/110K miles. I think if the BMW OEM seal gives me 10y/110K service, it is fine with me. I don't keep cars beyond 200K miles.

Does anyone know how long the Viton seal lasts?

Like BMW transmission fluid, you won't need to change it because it is life time. LMAO

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by cn90

I have a 1998 528i M52 with 170K and 2006 X5 M54 with 125K.

Thanks for the Viton info.
- BMW OEM OFH Gasket = $6.
- ECS Tuning Viton Gasket = $20.

The factory seal leaked at 10y/110K miles. I think if the BMW OEM seal gives me 10y/110K service, it is fine with me. I don't keep cars beyond 200K miles.

Does anyone know how long the Viton seal lasts?

Don't know exactly how long, but from what I've read significantly longer than the BMW seal.

"Viton o-rings are an alternative to Buna-N seals in BMW's automobile engine variable timing units, known as VANOS. In the VANOS, the Buna-N o-rings deteriorate. The Viton fluorocarbon o-rings have similar functional characteristics to Buna-N, but with much higher temperature and chemical resistance characteristics."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viton