pictures of my greasy, oily Oil Filter housing...

[Ghost-Flame]

4 Freakin' hours ...

....and I still couldn't get the power steering pump bolt off that is behind the pulley. I got frustrated and said the hoses must go and I'm yanking the whole thing out. the PSF needed changing anyway.






Any doubt this has been leaking? 2qts per week for the last month



Hard as a rock and gasket is really stuck in there. any way to soften it up for removal?

[petener999]

What engine do you have? Thanks

[phil47]

Originally Posted by Ghost-Flame

Hard as a rock and gasket is really stuck in there. any way to soften it up for removal?

Maybe try brake cleaner...it'll melt plastic it's so aggressive...

[TwinsPoppa]

Try PMing StartX5. He recently replaced the oil filter housing gasket in his 3.0.

[Ghost-Flame]

Originally Posted by phil47

Maybe try brake cleaner...it'll melt plastic it's so aggressive...

That's what I need something to melt the plastic... I want to get all medieval on the gasket!! How about light passes with a torch.?

[mrbmwx5]

$5.99 part 4 hours job...i used the plastic flat head and push it out little by little.

[Ghost-Flame]

Originally Posted by mrbmwx5

$5.99 part 4 hours job...i used the plastic flat head and push it out little by little.

Mrbmwx5, that's just to remove it. 1 hour to remove gasket and clean surface. 1 hour so far reinstalling. I expect at least 2 more hours. and I haven't cleaned the bottom of the engine. I'm thinking of taking it to a shop for degreasing maybe treat my self and get it professionally detailed.

I'm figuring 8 hrs start to finish. broken up over 3 days. I can see why the shop wanted so much. I got a quote for the valve cover gasket and canister gasket of close to $2000.

[StartX5]

Oh no - this happened to me and i fixed it during thanksgiving weekend. To remove the gasket you need a small flat philipp screw driver. Take time to romove gasket out of oil housing and using alcohol to clean it before installing new gasket.
I only removed oil filter housing and alternator, disconnected wire and battery cable that attached in the back of alternator. To avoid electric shock don't forget to use electrical black tape to tape the positive cable right after you disconnect it from alternator.

I found this leaking after replacing belt and tensioner/pulley. I have to add 3/4 quart of oil after completed this project.
If you need help, PM me. I think you are not far away from my place.

Yes Tom, this gasket is only $8.99 at dealer but it took me 3 hours to replace it.

[Ghost-Flame]

Originally Posted by StartX5

Oh no - this happened to me and i fixed it during thanksgiving weekend. To remove the gasket you need a small flat philipp screw driver. Take time to romove gasket out of oil housing and using alcohol to clean it before installing new gasket.
I only removed oil filter housing and alternator, disconnected wire and battery cable that attached in the back of alternator. To avoid electric shock don't forget to use electrical black tape to tape the positive cable right after you disconnect it from alternator.

I found this leaking after replacing belt and tensioner/pulley. I have to add 3/4 quart of oil after completed this project.
If you need help, PM me. I think you are not far away from my place.

Yes Tom, this gasket is only $8.99 at dealer but it took me 3 hours to replace it.

Yup, close to $2g's. If I didn't do diy I wouldn't be able to afford this beast!

I used my maps gas torch lightly to soften the gasket and then used a craftsman pick to pry out the soft gasket. took about 5 minutes. I didn't used alcohol. I used fantastic on a paper towel and it cleaned good. then dryed evrything. I am greasy from head to toe. I'm glad I am wearing coveralls.

[QUOTEIf you need help, PM me. I think you are not far away from my place. ][/QUOTE] yeah? what town? I'm in Doylestown north and west pf Phila.

[btmed]

I just did this sunday. 2001 x5 3.0. I couldnt get the power steering pump off either. I didnt remove the hoses though, i just held the housing with the pump attached over and removed the gasket. My wife works for an oral surgeon and i used a dental pick to get the gasket out little by little. Your pictures are exactly what mine looked like. If you havent reinstalled the alternator yet, a tip, bending over the left quarter panel with the alt. facing forward, work the bottom part of the bracket in and get the bolt in and starting to thread. Then swing the alternator up toward the engine and line up the top part of the bracket to install the top bolt. I tried installing by lining up the top and bottom bracket at the same time to no avail. Also i found one of the hoses leaking at the bottom of the power steering reservoir. Replacing that tommorrow along with the power steering fluid. Also going to take the bottom plate underneath off and cleaning all the oil residue off from the leak. Good luck to you