Chasing that last little oil-leak

[garrett.fell]

So....

A couple months ago I replaced the valve cover gaskets and front timing cover gaskets on my BMW Valdez. The oil leaking problem has nearly been eliminated - however I am seeing just a little bit of fresh-oil hanging from the bottom of the tension-strut bushing on the drivers side.

It's not obvious where the source of this leak is. It's very slight. The top of the bushing seems relatively dry. The only thing I can think of - is what I think may be the "engine oil cooler pipe" and some of its associated joints? I don't think it's the alternator bracket.

I just cleaned the area up again - so might get a clue where it's coming from. It's defiantly not red-ATF although it looks like some lines that run from the PS reservoir are a bit moist

Has anyone else had similar problems? It's just not obvious where it's coming from above. Pics.




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[admranger]

Are you sure it is oil and not power steering fluid (atf)?

[garrett.fell]

It looks like clean oil - I just changed the oil two weeks ago so it's pretty easy to spot clean oil. At one point I thought it may have been residue from engine-degreaser from the first-cleaning - but I am unconvinced.


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[garrett.fell]

Okay - so now I am thinking it may be power steering fluid after-all! I cleaned up the engine compartment and tension-strut last weekend. I see a little evidence of leakage on one of the hoses from the PS reservoir. A year ago I replaced one of the clamps. Looks like I should do the other one. It's odd as the fluid that was lightly collecting on the tension strut looked relatively clean and clear - not red. That seems to be the only thing it could be. It hasn't collected on the strut yet as it's a very slow weep.

It's POSSIBLE one of the metal-crimp bands on one of those hoses is bad it's slightly-cracked where the machine crimped the band. It looked like there might have been a little fluid coming from an indentation on the band itself.


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[Doru]

Garett, your pics are too small and I can't see them.......

[garrett.fell]

Hah. I see them all with my phone so they look fine to me!


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[dkl]

Have you replaced those thrust bushings yet? Those bushings are fluid filled and could be your source of the leak. Both of mine leaked a few years ago and I had replaced them with Meyle HD bushings, which are non-fluid filled.

[garrett.fell]

No!!! I have not replaced them!! I think I need to though!


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[fmugur]

I have the same type of leak and I couldn't see where is coming from. It's not the valve cover gasket, nor the oil pan. I don't know what's in between these two that can cause an oil leak.

[fmugur]

sorry, mine is on the passenger side.