Oil changed, no gears??

CurtisD · #1 12-12-2010, 04:13 PM

There isn't to much I haven't done to fix any of my bimmers. But I'm scratching my head on this one....

Had a shop change the oil (first time ever, didn't have time). Used 0-40 Mobil 1 for the first time instead of 5-30 Mobil 1. Put maybe 40 miles on it after the oil change. Had a few start and stop power cycles.

Also filled up the tank with premium and a bottle of HEAT (just want to cover the details).

16 miles after the fill about 40 miles after the oil change I came to a stop at a red light. Light turned green and I had no acceleration. everything sounded normal, revs were there. No warning lights were on. Looked underneath and oil was POURING out from under the canister.

Now the tricky part, the dip stick showed plenty of oil and you could see oil under the fill cap. Checked the canister and it also had oil in it. With the filter and proper o-ring in place.

WHERE DID THE OIL COME FROM AND WHY THE HELL IS THE TRANS NOT GRABBING ANY GEARS???

No it's not ATF that leaked.... HELP??

JCL · #2 12-12-2010, 04:43 PM

I know you posted that it isn't ATF, but.....

You have oil on the dipstick, yet there is oil underneath the vehicle pouring out, and you have no drive.

Sure sounds like an ATF leak. There are transmission cooler lines running to the front, that is where I would look for a leak.

CurtisD · #3 12-12-2010, 04:48 PM

Thanks JCL. I'm going to have to have it towed to my shop in the morning to get it on a lift and get a better look.

If it is ATF I'm very concerned because it's brown like oil and smells like oil.

If it ends up being a trans cooler line like you suggested. How big of a project will that end up being?

JCL · #4 12-12-2010, 04:54 PM

ATF will be brown, and smell like oil. It shouldn't smell burnt.

Lines are relatively cheap. The cooler itself it more expensive. This is just speculation, though, the first thing to do is to diagnose it properly.

CurtisD · #5 12-12-2010, 05:03 PM

Well, I have found in lurking on this forum you usually tend to be pretty accurate. So I appreciate the help. I'll check the lines out first. It's possible in the process the tech knocked a trans cooler line or disturbed something during the oil change.

Would that normally throw a warning lite of some sort?

CurtisD · #6 12-12-2010, 06:17 PM

JCL: this just in, I checked with my Tech who did the oil change. He said he also replaced the expansion tank which he said he found cracked.

Is there a possibility this could link a problem with the trans cooler and initiating a leak from there?

JCL · #7 12-12-2010, 07:37 PM

If he was working in there, it is always possible to disturb something. Same area under the hood. It doesn't necessarily mean he caused it, but he could have done so.

CurtisD · #8 01-10-2011, 01:24 PM

A little late on the response. However it was a very simple fix. Just like you said JCL, hose popped off the transcooler dumped all of my ATF. Perfect time for a drain and flush lol! All is well again.

joeboch348 · #9 01-10-2011, 04:53 PM

whenever someone says tranny. i get weak in the knees

CurtisD · #10 01-10-2011, 05:59 PM

Trust me, I was weak in the knees. Once I got the tow back home and I was rational JCL's idea sounded pretty reasonable and sure enough he was right.