2004 4.4 X5 oil leak (N62 motor)

[bsteel]

Hi,

I am new to this forum but hope someone here can help me out. My car started dropping clean pools of oil on the garage floor. Looknig into the engine bay I saw oil over the alternator, lower block area and oil pan. I read a lot about valve cover gaskets leaking so even though there was only a little oilly residue around the area I changed it anyway. Next day more oil on the floor. I really can't see where it is coming from but guess it is on the high pressure side somewhere because the oil seems to spray over the whole area.

Any ideas of typical areas where this engine leaks oil. I heard about an oil seperator issue but think that is only on the older motors. One thing I know is it is on the drivers side towards the front.

Any advice appreciated.

Brian

[o. l. t.]

Power steering hose blowing it out onto the engine? The PS reservoir is right there.

[sacx5]

My 04 X5 have leaking too, check to see that it is engine oil OR Cooling. You can smell it difference.
My dealer also claim that my expand cooling need to be replace and all of the power steering hose also leak. :-(.. I am looking for a good tech work on it.

[bsteel]

Thanks for the replies. I initially thought it was the PS hoses as they do look like they leak a bit but when you smell or taste the differnce between ATF and engine oil there is a big difference. The oil I am finding does not have that fishy ATF smell.

[_XS3C_]

change the hose clamp on the hose that goes IN the power st. reservoir [the one on the L side bottom ~ when facing the engine ...]. Cut the original clamp "loop" with dremel and replace it with Worm type screw hose clamp. [ Note: hand tie it when the hose & pwr steering reservoir wall is worm by the feel [from the engine heat] as the plastic is prone to brake from the cold weather and/or age .... ].

[o. l. t.]

Originally Posted by _XS3C_

change the hose clamp on the hose that goes IN the power st. reservoir [the one on the L side bottom ~ when facing the engine ...]. Cut the original clamp "loop" with dremel and replace it with Worm type screw hose clamp. [ Note: hand tie it when the hose & pwr steering reservoir wall is worm by the feel [from the engine heat] as the plastic is prone to brake from the cold weather and/or age .... ].

Mine leaks there, was going to do that today and got busy.

[Snapper692]

Just went through that....There are oil lines that pass through the alternator mount that has o-ring seals. If any of them fail, then hello oil all over the place!

[Nik]

Mine has a little oil residue on the drivers side Valley pan also. I'm lost, I changed gaskets like 5k miles ago. could it be that different leaking place could wet that place?
You should look at P.S reservoir. it should have dirt built up if it leaks.

[JonK]

It has to be Alternator Bracket Gasket. Expensive fix. I am looking for a specialist who would do the job without taking out the entire engine. Let me know if you know any in SoCal.

[sockethead]

Originally Posted by JonK

It has to be Alternator Bracket Gasket. Expensive fix. I am looking for a specialist who would do the job without taking out the entire engine. Let me know if you know any in SoCal.

Most likely this is what it is. It's a common problem. BMW gaskets suck. There is the same issue with the oil filter housing gasket on the 3.0 liter. Both use a rubber beaded style surface gasket.
You have to take everything off that side of the motor to replace it. BMW quotes 9 hrs for the job