x5 4.8is massive oil puddle..
 

Hey guys,

I Recently picked up a new to me, X5 4.8is, with a little over 100K miles. Now before you guys ask me why did I do that, lol, I picked her up due to many factors, for starters the P/O (who purchased it from Olek, who we may all know) was meticulous with her as well and all of the extensive maintenance done and well she looks great..

Since ownership I had to replace an expansion tank due to a seep at the seams. no biggie.

However, just yesterday morning, I cranked her over and within seconds i get a low oil pressure warning which I then proceed to shut her down. For some reason, maybe due to coffee deficiency, I proceed to turn her back over but turn her back off just as fast. Because I immediately recalled having to add about 2 qts to her and decided to check the oil level. To my surprise, the oil level is reading above the plastic part and on the metal portion of the dip stick. At this point and time I hear a trickling sound. I look over to the passenger side and see basically what looked like ALL of my oil pouring out.

Here is where I need your expertise.. Could it be coming from the alternator bracket gasket (which the P/O changed out about 1.5 yrs ago) or is there some type of hose on the passenger side that could have failed on me?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

you have a major leak. Jack it up and begin the investigation.

yessir, apparently so. It appears to be coming from the oil filter region..

My oil filter o-ring was the culprit I was leaving a drip trail I could use to find my way home. If the filter housing is wet start there


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thanks Andrew.. i wish it was just a drip, i could live with that.. basically all of my oil is on the floor. I could see it dripping on the concrete as if doing an oil change.. a perfect stream.

unfortunately I am at my new place and I dont have the necessary equipment to lift the truck and get up under there safely.. need to tow her to a shop..

Check the drain plug on the bottom of the filter housing to ensure that the little seal was installed and the housing is not cracked from over torque.

you sir, hit the nail on the head. Apparently, the filter housing was over torqued at its last oil change and it decided to give way.. Filter housing replaced, fresh oil and filter and good as new.

Thanks

That is fantastic news! People don't realize that there is no point to make it super tight! The seal is only from the o-ring.

Now for the clean-up; I took off the chin bumper plastic the fan and shroud the skid plate on the bottom then cleaned the crap out of my engine with commercial grade degreaser and scrubbing bubbles. I replaced the form sound absorber that is on top of the skid plate as it was completely saturated with oil.

indeed Andrew! And I totally agree.. these filter housings are ABS plastic and like you mentioned, hand tight could be suffice.

thats the next thing.. that foam sound absorber can be purchased separately? Happen to have a P/N?

x5 4.8is massive oil puddle..
 

https://www.ebay.com/i/192235929473 I bought my replacement on eBay. Caution: 4 of the bolts for the aluminum plate also hold the sway bar* so put them back in if you need to drive somewhere before you degrease and reassemble. I drove a few hundred miles while waiting for the foam part. I did notice that as the name of the aluminum part says it is structural not just for protecting the underbelly and I definitely noticed more jiggles and shakes until I got it bolted back on.

*Don't ask me how I know

20 N-m of torque is the spec which is not that much at all. Glad you found out the leak.

you sir are the man.. I appreciate all your help!

going to purchase this piece shortly.

definitely not much at all.. Thanks!

It does seem like it's designed to be very tight considering the nut is the same 36mm size as the axle nut which I think it's spec at 400 ft·lb.


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Very common issue with shops that use the "Magilla Gorilla" method of tightening everything - "Turn until it snaps then back of 1/2 turn"
:bustingup:bustingup:bustingup:bustingup:bustingup :bustingup:bustingup

My dad is that way: " if tight is good then tighter is better"


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