2009 Xdrive 4.8i oil leak: oil cooler thermostat or timing cover gasket, pic included

SeanC · #1 12-20-2015, 12:49 AM

Long time lurker, I knew this day would come. Started developing a small oil leak about a year ago, dealer said lower oil pan gasket. Tightened the bolts a bit, and the leak slowed down significantly. Last week I finally changed the lower oil pan gasket when it was due for an oil change. A few days later, the leak is back about a few drops every night, and there is fresh oil on the e10 bolt that is visible above the side of the front diff.

After searching, I think it is either the timing cover gasket or the oil cooler thermostat gasket. Here's the view:

Any ideas? The car is a 11/08 built X5 with the N62 engine. 78k miles.

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SeanC · #2 12-20-2015, 11:43 AM

After spending some time at realoem.com, I'm leaning more towards the oil cooler gasket. I wonder if supporting the engine with a brace from above will be necessary to get to it?

SlickGT1 · #3 12-20-2015, 08:51 PM

Alternator housing bracket. Yup. Just did this on my N62 e53. Same engine. I did a writeup l, in the e53 forum. I'll put up that link in a sec.

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...tos-sorry.html

wsmeyer · #4 12-20-2015, 09:22 PM

If you have an oil cooler you have a oil cooler thermostat housing gasket leak which is easy to fix.

If you don't have an oil cooler you have an alternator bracket gasket leak and that is a PITA to fix.

SlickGT1 · #5 12-20-2015, 10:00 PM

I have a cooler. And I have an alternator housing bracket.

Sam617 · #6 12-20-2015, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wsmeyer

If you have an oil cooler you have a oil cooler thermostat housing gasket leak which is easy to fix.

If you don't have an oil cooler you have an alternator bracket gasket leak and that is a PITA to fix.

How does one know if u have a oil cooler gasket or alternator gasket?

wsmeyer · #7 12-21-2015, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlickGT1

I have a cooler. And I have an alternator housing bracket.

A 2006 4.8si is an E53 chassis and this thread is in the E70 chassis category

SeanC · #8 12-21-2015, 12:17 AM

Thanks for the replies. I also want to know how I can make sure if I have one or the other other than realoem. The picture in the link below is what comes when I choose my MY on realoem, which shows an oil cooler - oil supply connection. I think the bolt in my picture is the E10 bolt labeled as number "4" in the realoem pic in the link:

RealOEM.com - Online BMW Parts Catalog

Also, what exactly make the job "easy" to fix as opposed to a PITA to fix? The physical gasket seems to be the same in both cases (same part number).

wsmeyer · #9 12-21-2015, 12:24 AM

There's three lower grills on the front of an E70; Driver, Center, Passenger. The passenger one is always fake, on cars with an oil cooler it is behind the driver side grill and easily seen.

The same engine block with in/out ports is used on both cars. On cars without an oil cooler, in their ultimate wisdom, they incorporated a block of plate for the ports into the bracket that holds the alternator onto the block. One of the bolts for this bracket is behind the driver side engine mount so to replace the gasket you have to lift the motor up, remove the engine mount, and then the alternator bracket.

For cars with an oil cooler the gasket is between the oil cooler thermostat block and the engine block. To get at it you just have to remove the electric fan, serpentine belt, alternator, then thermostat block.

HUGE difference in amount of time and effort.

SeanC · #10 12-21-2015, 12:41 AM

^ This may be the best news I received all day after getting stranded in my F30 on the interstate. Didn't want to drive the truck due to the oil leak just in case lol.

I checked and it looks like I do have an oil cooler. Fake passenger side, and an actual grill on the driver's. I should be able to do it myself.

Any other parts I should replace while in there?

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