Mid left side engine oil leak

X5chemist · #1 11-28-2021, 11:42 AM

Scooter (wife's name for X5) has been parked for almost two weeks. Still waiting on GMIII repairs. Hopefully, the module will ship back this week. During this time, the power steering reservoir and returns hoses were replaced. The steering oil leak is now fixed. During this time, a mid LEFT side engine side has a few drips. The OFHG fixed the 1 quart per 500 miles issue. Now a smaller one is 1/2 quart per 800-1000 miles. What leaks oil when the engine is not running? Is oil puddling up somewhere? I'll keep watch over it. Maybe it's just residue but didn't see it drip at the new location for week. However, the carboard underneath caught the power steering and engine oil drip. I cleaned the engine side when the oil housing was out. What should I check?

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andrewwynn · #2 11-28-2021, 12:16 PM

The stiffening plate can send oil from many places to just a couple. Did you clean off the plate after OFHG? There is a foam sponge that can hold a quart of oil easy.

X5chemist · #3 11-28-2021, 12:28 PM

The stiffing plate was not removed. It will be removed when new shafts go on. Plus axle seals. I didn't know there was a foam sponge there. I'll see if oil dripping stops. It's topped off now and ready to run. Waiting on the GMIII module is agonizing.

andrewwynn · #4 11-28-2021, 12:46 PM

The foam pad is for sound deadening. I replaced mine after a big oil leak. It's impossible to know where oil source is with the stiffening plate on and the foam can store oil for a very long time before dripping

X5chemist · #5 11-28-2021, 12:53 PM

Any pictures available? Is there a foam part number to replace it? From reading, it will be a PIA to remove. Plus new bolts are needed after removal.

EODguy · #6 11-28-2021, 01:12 PM

Just be glad that your stiffening plate isn't built like a manhole cover.

PS. Bolts can be reused but to be fair this is one of those things that has battle lines drawn between replace or reuse folks.

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andrewwynn · #7 11-28-2021, 01:13 PM

The part number 7 is ghosted for me on realoem so I can't pull the part number.

I bought mine on eBay. You can see it's a giant sponge covers the whole bottom of the motor

andrewwynn · #8 11-28-2021, 01:18 PM

Removing the plate is simple. Offset 16mm 5/8 to hold the nut up top (socket can work: one is a tight fit my though hole ratchet works great).

You can reuse the bolts to get by. I bought 12.9 bolts so I can reuse as often as I want. If you torque to the start torque and only turn 45° is a good compromise to get the plate to mostly do its job of stiffening the suspension, prob not keep the car rectangular in a crash but a big enough crash to matter will total the car so kind of a moot point.

X5chemist · #9 11-28-2021, 01:47 PM

The plate has insulation attached. So there is another larger foam sponge?

It could take weeks for oil to soak through.

I have flex head metric wrenches. Bought a set installing timing chains on a GM 3.6L motor. I've been looking for an excuse to buy a through hole socket and ratchet set.

wpoll · #10 11-28-2021, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

The part number 7 is ghosted for me on realoem so I can't pull the part number.

I bought mine on eBay. You can see it's a giant sponge covers the whole bottom of the motor

Andrew, #7 is the foam for the auto transmission cover - pretty sure that is only the diesel engined cars... (I have one) - that's why it's dimmed out for you.

The reinforcing plate foam is #1.

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