Valley pan gasket change on N62?

[garrett.fell]

I am not finding much information on this topic at all. No DIY's. Nothing on YouTube etc.

How big of a job is this?

I am suspecting that that's the source of my coolant leak but I cannot confirm it. I pressure tested the system over the weekend (16 psi) and it's pushing coolant over and around the outside of the bellhousing on the passengers side of the car. I've looked all over but cannot see the point if origination at this time I've peeked all over with an inspection camera. I just can't see it with enough clarity to confirm anything.

It doesn't seem to do this when the engine is warm - so the leak must be pretty slight. I took it for a 20 mile run and no drips at all. However I get a pretty steady drip-drip-drip when I pressure test cold.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[TwinTurboGTR]

The N62 VPG isn't like the M62... it's a real BIOTCH!. Not only that, there is also another manifold attached to the back of the block that is another failure point. VPG job on the N62, is not a fun job. Luckily, there are companies out there that have designed a new pipe to allows you to R&R without removing the front of the block. If you look up in google, Valley Pan Pipe N62 or something along those lines, a few vids will pop up. From there, you can see what is involved.

[garrett.fell]

As I've been researching this issue - I gather that the leakage symptoms I am experiencing could be either because of the VPG, the infamous "tube" or a combination of the two? The only way to tell for sure is to disassemble and see if coolant has filled the valley-area where the tube runs through. It should be dry? That valley pan is supposed to isolate those two areas? While it's all apart it probably makes sense to do the tube as well. Because it will fail.

I've seen a great deal of info on the various designs for tube replacement, but haven't seen much that outlines the disassembly process.

You mentioned one additional area that can leak. I should check that out a little more. I guess I'll need to remove all of ventilation stuff towards the rear of the engine compartment so I can see around the backside of the engine more

I need to pick up some more
coolant before I hook the pressure tester up again! I pushed quite a bit onto the floor the other night - so my reserves have been depleted. I am out of extra coolant now.

This issue is really disturbing for me. I guess I need to make the decision to keep it or dump it.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[TwinTurboGTR]

Well depending on outside temps, if it isn't dipping below freezing, just dump straight water in there for now. So you fill the system with water and see where you are loosing coolant. Then if you plan on still driving it, just add the coolant at full strength to even the mix out. This way at least you're not just wasting coolant.

Now I am not sure how mechanically inclined you are, but the job is pretty straight forward. Once you get the connections off and the intake manifold off, you will be presented with the Coolant transfer pipe/valley pan. Now in most cases,it is the valley pan or pipe, but sometimes it is the cap assembly shown here... No.5 on the diagram


If that is the culprit, the motor needs to be pulled.

But before doing all that work, I would pull the fresh air intake cowl and take a good look at the heater core hoses. There was a member on here that thought the same as you, but after a bit more investigating... it ended up being a cracked hose right by the heater core.

So check carefully.

[garrett.fell]

I am pretty confident with my mechanical skills in general - I've been working on cars for 20+ years, but it's been highly focused on air-cooled Volkswagens. Comparatively VERY simple when compared to the X!

I'll give it another go after I remove the cowl and see what I can see. From memory I did look at the heater hoses on the drivers side of the firewall. Those looked good - I don't recall where they went from there though. I'll get another shot this weekend.

I can't wait until we get temperatures above freezing!!! This winter in Chicago has been brutal.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[squidzilla]

I have the N62 engine in my 545i speed and I used the allgermanauto.com coolant pipe. All of the cars that have this engine and this leak do not need to pull the engine using this pipe. I don't see why you would need to pull the engine just because it is in an X5.

[TwinTurboGTR]

Originally Posted by squidzilla

I have the N62 engine in my 545i speed and I used the allgermanauto.com coolant pipe. All of the cars that have this engine and this leak do not need to pull the engine using this pipe. I don't see why you would need to pull the engine just because it is in an X5.

The motor doesn't need to be pulled for the coolant transfer pipe or valley pan, but it does need to be pulled if the rear cover seal is leaking. Then it needs to be pulled because it isn't accessible while it is in the bay.

[tmv]

^Yup, either pull the engine or drop the tranny to replace that gasket.
BMP design : When to Check your BMW Cooling System