Exxon Valdez - oil Separator? PICS ADDED!
 

Found a massive oil spill on my driveway when I came home from work where my wife's X5 4.4 was parked earlier. My wife had already left for her shift and when I phoned to ask her if her X drove ok, she said it had but that the oil light was on, (no kidding honey?). Ugh. Anyway, we've had a an unusual cold snap here (well below freezing for several days) and I've read quite a bit about the OSV. This was clearly a huge leak and not the usual smaller leaks I've read about. I'm pretty sure most of the 8 liters was on the driveway and that she drove the 10 mins and 6 miles to work with little or no oil. I have no idea where to start. What can I expect? I'm debating allowing an Indie shop to do the work. My wife states that there was no smoke, no overheating, no odd noises. Just the check oil light. She said it drove fine.

Holy crap. ???? Any words of wisdom?:(

Oil puddled on the ground often looks like more than it is. If there were no additional warning lights beyond the check engine oil level, then it is more likely that it didn't run out of oil. First, see how low it is. Add oil back until it is on the dipstick.

Look under the hood and see if it is obvious where the oil came from. If so, describe it to us. If not, book it in with your mechanic.

Good luck.

Don't let women drive anything that is expensive to repair.

Mine drove 50 miles with the brake on.


Uhg................

Thanks for your responses. When I checked the oil level there was none on the dipstick - bone dry. There was a very minute amount of peanut butter at the end of the dipstick as well as a minute amount on the oil cap. I'm worried about putting all that oil in the engine and having it spew all out again, but I guess there's no other choice. I did have a quick look around the valve covers and it's dry.

Stay tuned.

8 qts of oil would look like a murder scene. how much did you have to add? speaking of wives driving. mine called one day telling me my pickup was a p.o.s. that it wouldnt go over 60 on the highway! my 1st thought was emergency brake on? then she called back a few minutes later after people kept pointing at her when they passed, so she pulled over. BOTH back tires were missing. she was driving on rims. she drove em flat til they came off. lololol when i went to rescue her the 1st words out of her mouth were "don't you say a word" hahaha

Update;

So i added 5 litres of oil and fired it up. At first, nothing as far as leak goes, but then it started to drip after 5 mins. I went under the vehicle and tried to trace the leak. It appears to be coming down between the block and bell housing. There are three square holes on the housing and the drip is coming from them. However, it would also appear that some coolant is involved as well. I took pics and I just need to figure out how to add them here. FWIW - no warning lights, no check engine, etc. Runs like a top.....well.....other than the leak! I had a good look at the OSV/CCV hoses and they're dry and in good shape. from what I could see the OSV looks dry too. I have noticed lately having to add coolant at the rate of a cup or so per month.

Ideas??

Looks like there in antifreeze mixed in that sludge/

Yes there's definately antifreeze leaking as well, but it is not mixed together. I believe they're two different issues. Coolant has leaked at the rate of about a cup per month (that I've added to the reservoir). The oil is leaking at a far more alarming rate (nearly all of the 8 quarts in a day).

You can't get a pressure washer wand under there from a car wash and spray it down with degreaser? Makes it pretty much impossible not to find BOTH issues with the only oil being from the leak point after it's clean. (I know you are in BC, but I have no idea what the temps average)

Well I can tell you that coolant leak is from the Valley pan gasket. And at a rate of a cup/mo, sounds about right. So there is your coolant answer, especially if there isn't any white smoke a sweet spelling odors. And with the oil leaking the CCV valve its self might be failing, or because of all that coolant, might have deteriorated the seals on the valve cover gasket? I know it is hard to see the back of the motor cuz the damn windshield is about a third over the motor, but feel around, take the BMW plastic acoustic cover off and check between the intake manifold. See if you see any oil there.