Home Forums Articles How To's FAQ Register
Go Back   Xoutpost.com > BMW SAV Forums > X5 (E53) Forum
Fluid Motor Union
User Name
Password
Member List Premier Membership Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Xoutpost server transfer and maintenance is occurring....
Xoutpost is currently undergoing a planned server migration.... stay tuned for new developments.... sincerely, the management


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #11  
Old 03-06-2023, 11:35 PM
jac jac is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: US
Posts: 266
jac is on a distinguished road
Ok... Will try to find a compression testing tool tomorrow. thanks.
__________________
2001 BMW X5 3.0i, Automatic, Gasoline
Reply With Quote

Sponsored Links

  #12  
Old 03-06-2023, 11:50 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 1,423
oldskewel is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by jac View Post
In my case the rubber tube on the ignition coils is coming out completely clean. So I do not think the oil is coming from the top of the head. That is what I was trying to clarify when I said that the oil is found on the electrode side of the spark plug. The "electrode side" is the side of the spark plug exposed to the piston/injector in the attached diagram.

I also replaced the head cover gasket (all 3 pieces) about 2 years ago with original BMW parts... I guess I could have screwed that up (not seating the gaskets properly), but that would not explain why the coil tubes come out clean.
I think the confusion came from your titling the thread with "electrode" (which I think is what you mean), and then in the first post, say "injector" instead of electrode.

Yes, if your coil tubes are free of oil, and if you have oil on the electrode side of the plugs (internal to the cylinder, isolated from the oil under the cylinder head cover / valve cover) then that oil is probably coming from elsewhere. There are a few options, including valve stem seals leaking. Having all of them equally wet would be a clue. Is it liquid, caked residue?

M54?
__________________
2001 X5 3.0i, 203k miles, AT, owned since 2014
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 03-07-2023, 03:31 PM
jac jac is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: US
Posts: 266
jac is on a distinguished road
Yes, it is an M54 engine. The oil was in liquid form, but there is also caked stuff on there. The liquid oil has dried out now (please see photos below). But the threads of the spark plugs are also quite dirty with dried out oil and tiny little particles of something solid.
Attached Images
   
__________________
2001 BMW X5 3.0i, Automatic, Gasoline
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 03-07-2023, 03:49 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Murrieta, CA
Posts: 509
jdstrickland is on a distinguished road
Replace the plugs and monitor. It's my guess that this motor gets short trips and does not come up to full operating temperature, this results in sludge forming in all sorts of places, including the spark plug tips. The oil above the flats for the socket comes from the valve cover gasket, specifically the two pieces that have 3 circles, but the oil below the threads is coming from a source inside of the engine -- rings, valve guides/seals, those sorts of things. Another source would include things like the CCV system. I think you are having trouble with a vehicle that takes lots of very short trips in cold weather, in which case you can't do much beyond driving it more. I would put new plugs in and watch for the misfires to return. Perhaps in a month, pull the plugs again to inspect them.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 03-07-2023, 05:30 PM
X5only's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Bellevue, WA
Posts: 1,438
X5only is on a distinguished road
I had similar issue with my M52 engine (oil on electrode side of spark plugs) on my 1997 E39 standing at 215K miles on the odometer. It turned out to be the valve stem seals, which I replaced. They were hard, brittle and wider than the valve stems. Do you also get a puff of blue smoke when starting the car only after it has sat for a while, e.g. in the mornings? That would be a definite give-away your issue is similar to the one I fixed.
__________________
'05 E53 X5 4.4i, '97 E39 528, '07 E92 335i, '16 F86 X6M.

Last edited by X5only; 03-07-2023 at 05:35 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 03-07-2023, 06:16 PM
jac jac is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: US
Posts: 266
jac is on a distinguished road
@jdstrickland: You must have a crystal ball or something! Yes, the car is driven only a handful of miles each day. I will follow your suggestion and drive it a bit with the new spark plugs and see how it does. But... please! Could you explain HOW you knew this was the case? :-) Curious to learn :-)

@X5only: I had not paid attention to the exhaust in the mornings but will do so now. I am off to doing some google searches on valve stem seals. I bet that's the source of the problem because I know those have never been replaced (I am its only owner!) :-)

Thank you both!
__________________
2001 BMW X5 3.0i, Automatic, Gasoline
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 03-07-2023, 06:24 PM
X5only's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Bellevue, WA
Posts: 1,438
X5only is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by jac View Post
@jdstrickland: You must have a crystal ball or something! Yes, the car is driven only a handful of miles each day. I will follow your suggestion and drive it a bit with the new spark plugs and see how it does. But... please! Could you explain HOW you knew this was the case? :-) Curious to learn :-)

@X5only: I had not paid attention to the exhaust in the mornings but will do so now. I am off to doing some google searches on valve stem seals. I bet that's the source of the problem because I know those have never been replaced (I am its only owner!) :-)

Thank you both!
Valve stem seals is not a typical maintenance item and it's a very involving task, as such it's only done when it sure is the culprit for engine issues.
__________________
'05 E53 X5 4.4i, '97 E39 528, '07 E92 335i, '16 F86 X6M.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 03-07-2023, 08:45 PM
jac jac is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: US
Posts: 266
jac is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by X5only View Post
Valve stem seals is not a typical maintenance item and it's a very involving task
@X5only: That sounded like a super nice way of saying: "Sorry but so far you don't seem qualified to do that job!" jejeje... Thanks for the gentle tug on the arm!
__________________
2001 BMW X5 3.0i, Automatic, Gasoline
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 03-08-2023, 03:59 PM
jac jac is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: US
Posts: 266
jac is on a distinguished road
So, with the new plugs installed, the misfire is still there. For now it is only reported for cylinder #5.

I did clear the codes and they were gone for about 2 minutes, though the misfires could still be felt during that "clear" period. But then the misfire code returned and the SES light is back on.

I am going to try swapping the ignition coils again, and see what happens. Good thing I have them labeled... :-)
__________________
2001 BMW X5 3.0i, Automatic, Gasoline
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 03-09-2023, 01:19 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Virigina, USA
Posts: 2,573
StephenVA is on a distinguished road
Classic example of oil fouled plugs. Confirm plug is firing after coil replacement.
If yes, then you need to do a compression test and a leak down test. A bore scope can be a problem solver for your vehicle here by looking into the cylinder for bore scoring, valve sealing and a peek in the intake side will show if oil is leaking into the intake manifold.
__________________

2005 X5 4.8IS
The Blue ones are always FASTER....

Current Garage:
2005 X5 4.8is
2002 M5 TiSilver
2003 525iT
1998 528i
Former Garage Stable Highlights
2004 325XiT Sport
1973 De Tomaso Pantera, L Model
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 4 sp Alpine White
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 4 sp GoManGo Green
1971 Dart Sport, “Dart Light” package
1969 Road Runner 383
1968 Ply Barracuda 340S FB Sea-foam Green
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:03 PM.
vBulletin, Copyright 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. SEO by vBSEO 3.6.0
© 2017 Xoutpost.com. All rights reserved. Xoutpost.com is a private enthusiast site not associated with BMW AG.
The BMW name, marks, M stripe logo, and Roundel logo as well as X3, X5 and X6 designations used in the pages of this Web Site are the property of BMW AG.
This web site is not sponsored or affiliated in any way with BMW AG or any of its subsidiaries.