Leaky Injector?
 

I have a 2004 X5 3.0 with about 52k on it. It's been cold today in Dallas and when I started the car the smell of gasoline filled the cabin and I had a loud rattle on the driver's side of the engine around the intake manifold. I assume it's a leaky injector, what do y'all think? The rattle seemed to quiet down the warmer the engine got.

I've read stories about X5's developing leaky injectors in cold weather that have caused engine fires but I thought they had that fixed by the 2004 model year. Mine was an August 2004 build.

If it is a leaky injector, is it a simle DIY? I'm a decent wrencher and have pently of time in on the E53, E39, and E46.

Thanks for the help.

I've worked on the fuel rail on mine (an '02 4.4). It's not too difficult.

With the engine cover off, have a friend get in the vehicle and turn the key to the position just before starting. The fuel pump relay should activate and allow you to see where the fuel is leaking from. You should be able to see fuel dripping or spraying from somewhere.

Once you've spotted it follow these steps.

1. Disconnect the battery.
2. Find the fuel quick-connect in the engine compartment.
3. Follow the silver fuel line to the connector. Have a small container ready to catch some fuel that will drip out.
4. Push the two sides of the connector together and then pull the two halves apart.
5. The fuel rail should be easy to access from this point.

If the leak is coming from an injector, then you'll probably have to replace an o-ring. Always lubricate the new o-rings with the fluid that they are sealing, in this case fuel :)

I recommend taking photos with a digital camera at each step so that you can put it all back together.

Good luck!

take the spark plug out and inspect.

Check your Oil Separator holes? They used to go bad at 50k or more.

holes = hoses.

What was the outcome to this? It's been a very cold day here in Kansas City and my wife called to say that the X5 is on a neighborhood street NOT RUNNING. There is a heavy fuel smell inside and I see liquid on the ground directly below the engine which I'm pretty sure it is fuel. I pulled the engine cover but not the side panels. Does anyone have any pictures of removing/replacing a fuel injector?