Oil around Spark Plugs!!

Hoopie · #1 01-13-2007, 06:58 AM

The title says it all, I found oil around 3 out of 8 spark plugs, all on the passenger side. I have a 2001 4.4 . What does this mean? Leaky gasket or worse? If it is the gasket how difficult is it to change out? Thanks guys.

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Wagner · #2 01-13-2007, 09:04 AM

Could be a few things, but I'm pulling experience with this issue on other motors, not the BMW 4.4. I had a friends ride that had oil in the plugs and I assumed blown heads, turned out to be a simple gasket change. Don't freak just yet, try to get it to a private shop that will not charge the dealers rate to trouble shoot it.

Mackskibum · #3 01-13-2007, 09:51 AM

Likely a valve cover gasket. Not a big deal. If you decide to diy, you may find that the gasket between the front timing cover protrudes a little above the valve cover mating surface. THIS IS NORMAL, DO NOT PICK AT IT OR TRY TO REMOVE!!!!! Ask me how I know. When I did mine I thought it was part of the valve cover gasket, I picked at it until it came out, and ended up replacing the timing cover gaskets as well. A royal PITA.

Hoopie · #4 01-13-2007, 12:04 PM

I actually took the car into the dealership for a dx checkup before I changed the plugs and discovered the oil. The car has a hard rev problem. They told me it was the MAF sensor. He disconnected it and the car ran perfect, but smelly (rich). Today my local mechanic told me it was probably the head gasket. How strange it is to describe the head gasket in Italian. I still don't know if that is what he said, but he did say that it will not stop me from driving the X. That is good.

Hey Maxskibum, any idea on how it took you to change out the gasket? Driver's side or passenger's. It took me 2 - 2.5 hours to do the plugs. I didn't think that I was that slow.

Sudesh · #5 01-13-2007, 01:03 PM

I would agree on the valve cover gaskets. This was a problem on an e39 540.

Tomaz · #6 01-13-2007, 01:44 PM

I had a oil leak on my 01' 4.4. It was just one O ring on one valve cover bolt. To find your leak, thoughly clean the area and watch for new oil seeping. Good luck

Hoopie · #7 01-13-2007, 01:56 PM

Tomaz, obviously you still had to remove the valve cover. How did you discover that that specific O ring was the problem?

I had oil around 3 spark plugs, 6,7,8. The three closest to the passenger, in increasing oiliness. Little pools of oil by the spark plugs and near the plugs. At first glance when I removed the cover to get to the plugs, it looked all clean.

Tomaz · #8 01-13-2007, 04:21 PM

Actually, the oil was seeping from the seal right under the valve cover bolt head. It was accessible once the plastic engine cover was removed. I only had to remove the single bolt, remove the rubber seal and replace it with a new one. My oil leak has just begun with a small puddle in only one spark plug hole. I hope your fix is as easy.

Mackskibum · #9 01-14-2007, 10:51 AM

Hoopie- I changed both sides- I didn't keep track of time. Was probably 2-2.5 hrs for the pair. The timing cover was 4-5 hours, however.

bmwe53fan · #10 01-14-2007, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoopie

The title says it all, I found oil around 3 out of 8 spark plugs, all on the passenger side. I have a 2001 4.4 . What does this mean? Leaky gasket or worse? If it is the gasket how difficult is it to change out? Thanks guys.

There are two possible sources of your leak. The first and most likely is that the valve cover gasket is leaking. It is not hard to replace but you need to take your time and follow the directions you can find on line exactly.

The second source is the o-rings that are around the bolts in the valve cover -- they get dry and then leak. They cost about $0.20 each and are easily replaced -- just make sure to not overtighten them or they will be crushed and leak worse.

If you look see traces of oil leaking down into the spark plug holes from the bolts then I would just replace the o-rings first. On my e39 540 (same engine) it was the o-rings...

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