Newbie Oil change/Oil Leak Please Help

Maximascorpio · #1 05-01-2009, 12:45 AM

Sorry if I seem to much of newb, but here it goes anyway. I recently changed the oil on my 04 - 3.0 and there seems to be quite a puddle of oil that has accumulated directly underneath the oil drain plug. After inspection it seems its not coming from the oil plug itself, but from somewhere else. Note: this is my first DIY oil change on the X5. I followed all procedure and tightened the oil plug to 18/ft lbs. However I did not use the torque wrench for the oil filter housing, because i did not have the double sided torque wrench. I simply tightened it till it no longer turned(possibly the probem) ?
I have read into how oil that has accumilated on the lower engine cover leaks out, but the puddle seems a little to big for that. Any imput would be appreciated.
Thanks so much

dkl · #2 05-01-2009, 01:04 AM

Same thing happened to me on my last oil change as I wasn't as careful with keeping oil off the skid plate. There's quite a bit of insulation materials on the skid plate that can suck up lots of dripped oil during the draining process. It's not a very good design as the opening for the drain plug isn't very wide. Mine dried up after a couple of days...no worries.

Maximascorpio · #3 05-01-2009, 10:23 AM

thank god, I feel like you just saved me from lots of worrry thanks again for your imput. Well anyhow I ll continue to monitor this. Anyone else have any imput please feel free to addd.
thanks so much.

motordavid · #4 05-01-2009, 10:43 AM

I'm with DKL...my stlr oil changes always left a pint+ of drained oil
up on the cover. It would drip, considerably, for days. Next time you do
a DIY, a trick is to use a piece of stiff cardboard near the oil drain hole,
as you crack the plug; a PIA and it takes a surgeon to do it, but it gives
those 8 qts rushing out a "trough" to head toward your pan.
GL,mD

BenX · #5 05-01-2009, 10:50 AM

Maximascorpio, glad to see another X5er from Rockwall and thanks for the thread as I plan on doing the oil change myself pretty soon.

Maximascorpio · #6 05-01-2009, 11:01 AM

X5's are awesome. I personally am a Maxima enthusiast(you can probably tell by the name) , but did n't learn how awesome BMW's are till my father purchased one a couple years back.I m in the works to get one for myself soon as I'm outta college. I am basically the all in all maintenance of all the vehicles at our house. Anything from oil change to transmission overhaul. I was a bit intimidated by the Bimmer and the thought of DIY on it, but as I read more and more to it I learned how the Bimmer was more easier to maintain than the other vehicles I've been working on. The Bimmer's are actually engineered to be easier to work on. Thanks for all your imput by the way.
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