Oil Leak 2002 4.4i
 

I seem to be leaking a small amount of oil out of my 2002 X5 4.4i. For the longest time I thought my engine was consuming oil because I kept finding it a quart low every 2-3 thousand miles. I never noticed any oil on my garage floor so I assumed the motor was eating the oil. While changing the oil this afternoon, I noticed something I had not seen before. There was a few drops of oil clinging to the bottom of the strut that bolts on to the oil pan. There is also a tube that is next to the strut that has a heat shield around it. This tube goes deep up into the motor. It seems that the oil is travelling down this tube and is ending up as drops on the strut and oil pan. Once the oil drips off the pan it ends up on the engine side of that silver stiffening plate that is beneath the oil pan. That explains why I never saw oil on my garage floor.

My question for anyone who may have knowledge about this sort of thing is, where is the oil coming from? Its not a lot of oil. It takes a few thousand miles or a few months to lose between 3/4 and a full quart. Its obviously a very slow leak. Could it be coming from the place where the oil sensor screws into the engine? I posted a picture that I took of the area in question. Anyone ever had a slow oil leak on their 4.4 like what I am describing?

I am just glad that my engine has not been eating a lot of oil all this time as I previously suspected!

Thanks in advance.


Mark

Attachment 17717

A common problem are the valve cover gaskets which start leaking after 60k miles. The leak is usually not that obvious.

I have read about the valve cover gaskets leaking oil, but mine have already been changed. I had a valley pan gasket fail last year, and they had to pull both valve covers to get to it. The dealer installed new valve cover gaskets when putting it all back together. Also, I was experiencing the missing oil problem before the valley pan seal went bad, so I am doubting that the valve cover gaskets are part of the problem. I think this leak is coming from somewhere else.

Anyone else ever had a slow leak that was not related to the valve cover gaskets?

FWIW, you don't need to pull the valve cover gaskets to replace a valley pan/gasket.

is that pan at the passenger rear of the engine?

The pan in the picture is the main oil pan on the engine. It is located at the back of the engine just in front of the transmission. I would have to say that it is more center than driver or passenger. Perhaps I am confusing my gaskets, but I am pretty sure the SA told me that valve covers came off in order to get down to the valley pan. I might need to check into that further. If they did not change those valve cover gaskets then that could be the source of my leak.

Any of the mechanics on the board have any ideas or comments about this one? So far the likely culprits seems to be 1. Valve cover gaskets 2. Oil breather line 3. Oil Seperator 4. Oil check valve. Based on the picture, can anyone rule out any of the above issues?

Rear main Seal, I bet it's that. I had my replaced and some other plugs in the back of the engine. I had that slow leak also, until they put a dye into my engine oil, and with a special light they found where the problem was coming from. My bet is behind the engine on the upper part there is a engine plug and some other hoses. Some where there they said I had a slow leak and that my rear main seal was leaking. GD

a valve cover leak would be easy to trace visually. with the help of some lighting look up or down the sides.

I am also having a leak that is very similar to yours. What was your findings.

Any resolution to this problem? I have been told I need to replace my valve cover gasket as there is a slight leak

Right...use a flashlight look all around them front and back...If it is a valve cover leak then thats usually one of the common symptoms for the begining of a failed/failing oil seperator..

I have seen this leak in my X, and it seems to come from the power steering reservoir -check your power steering reservoir (under, to the left of the Expansion Tank) for leaks or the power steering hoses coming off it. I replaced the O ring on the reservoir cap, but have not checked lately for leaks. It may help to remove the plastic undercover to check - you will easily see it (use flaslight).

So did anyone find out what the problem was? I think I have the same problem lately. I don't see any drips on the garage floor, but I see the oil collected on the same parts. Plus, I get a oil burnt sent when I shut off the X in the gargage after I get home from work... Any input? I would like to resolve this small or big issue. Thanks.

And one more thing, my vavle covers have been fixed 3 months ago, oil sep is not the problem, I had my mechanic check all and he feels it may be the head gasket? :( I hope not....

From your photo, if the oil is traveling down that black tube, that is the oil return tube. The smaller tube that branches off of it comes from the bottom of the oil separator. Perhaps the small connecting tube from the oil sep. has a leak?

Check #10 and #11 in this diagram:
RealOEM.com BMW E53 X5 4.4i Crankcase-Ventilation/oil separator

i have the same issue, however i dont think its the valve cover gaskets because I changed them. my vote is for the rear main seal, once the winter comes and the oil seperator freezes up theres only one way to go and that is out through the weakest spot.

leftside front timing cover gasket. had it happen on my e39 4.4, exact same oil drip location.

Where is that exactly located? Is there a diagram? Thanks everyone, I really need to get this fixed.

Oils dripping from the left side front,when the engine is warned up, the x5 start up rough, spotting, like there is a injector problem. after warmed up runs OK..there was smoke coming out of the heater smell like oil,when i check the engine oil was dripping out left front below the valve cover... i think it might be the valve cover gasket...what do you think???

I'm in agreement with flatlander. I would check the little rubber hose that connects your oil separator to the small metal line that returns back to your oil pan. When I replaced my valley pan gasket, this hose was soft and leaking. I have a 2002 4.4 also and replaced all the hoses, it was definitly time. It's a bear to get to it and you may even need to remove your intake manifold to reach behind where the oil separator is located. Good luck.

[IMG]file:///C:/Users/John.f/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-12.png[/IMG]Maybe Gasket part# 11421719855 Check on diagram...That's what was leaking on mine.