Is this my oil filter housing gasket leaking?

lvb125 · 11-16-2014, 05:22 PM

I just found two spots of of liquid near the oil filter housing. Is this the common OFHG leaking? How would explain the spot under the oil filter cap to the right? Thanks!

Denny347 · 11-16-2014, 05:31 PM

Yeah. Mine looks similar.

mike3000fl · 11-16-2014, 06:03 PM

yes

lvb125 · 11-16-2014, 06:12 PM

Curious. I changed oil less than two months ago and I didn't see any leak back then.

mike3000fl · 11-16-2014, 06:36 PM

spray it with castrol super clean or some brake parts cleaner. wait for it to come back and see whats up.

njdrive · 11-16-2014, 06:38 PM

my 330i looks the same way. My BMW SA said that is the sign of a leak.

iDriveanXi · 11-16-2014, 08:14 PM

Yes its the beginning of a leak. Don't wait until it gets worse. You can mix coolant and oil and that is not a good thing. Get it fixed asap

lvb125 · 11-16-2014, 08:39 PM

I ll clean it with brake clean and see how it goes. What could go wrong to DIY this gasket? How hard is this work comparing to VCG on n52?

ucdbiendog · 11-16-2014, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lvb125

I ll clean it with brake clean and see how it goes. What could go wrong to DIY this gasket? How hard is this work comparing to VCG on n52?

pretty easy, there are numerous DIYs in the DIY section. tricky part is getting that third bolt off under the manifold.

mike3000fl · 11-16-2014, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lvb125

I ll clean it with brake clean and see how it goes. What could go wrong to DIY this gasket? How hard is this work comparing to VCG on n52?

hmm worst cast scenario, dont start the car before you tighten the bolts back down.

mike3000fl · 11-16-2014, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ucdbiendog

pretty easy, there are numerous DIYs in the DIY section. tricky part is getting that third bolt off under the manifold.

i did this on the 330i and i think the bolts are all accessable, more so than the 335.

lvb125 · 11-17-2014, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iDriveanXi

Yes its the beginning of a leak. Don't wait until it gets worse. You can mix coolant and oil and that is not a good thing. Get it fixed asap

I didn't know that a leaky OFHG will case coolant and oil to mix? does coolant even go through oil filter housing? I noticed my coolant level dropped a bit compare to back in September, thought it was because of winter.

It actually got me thinking, since I just had VCG done in September, and no sooner OFHG now starts to leak, could it be something else like PCV clogging or whatever that is causing a positive pressure in the engine.

mike3000fl · 11-17-2014, 12:51 AM

if you look at the actual gasket, you will see two openings. one for oil and one for coolant. the gasket fails and they mix. worse, you can get part of the gasket in your cooling system and ultimately your water pump.

iDriveanXi · 11-17-2014, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lvb125

I didn't know that a leaky OFHG will case coolant and oil to mix? does coolant even go through oil filter housing? I noticed my coolant level dropped a bit compare to back in September, thought it was because of winter.

It actually got me thinking, since I just had VCG done in September, and no sooner OFHG now starts to leak, could it be something else like PCV clogging or whatever that is causing a positive pressure in the engine.

Yes it'll mix. Just as mike3000 said there are coolant lines running there as well. Mine was a good leak and I had a little inter mixing going on. If it gets bad enough bad things can happen. Rod bearings won't be happy among other stuff. I had mine done as I was doing my VCG and ran out of time so I had my indy do this leak. It's not a bad DIY though

Blackhawk36 · 11-17-2014, 12:19 PM

reach underneath of the oil filter housing and scrape with your fingernail. You will probably find a buildup of sludge there out of view. That will confirm it but you can be sure that is the start of the OFHG leak.

lvb125 · 11-17-2014, 02:22 PM

Is it necessary to do oil change and coolant flush for OFHG gasket?

I still don't understand about the fluid spot on the right, pointed by arrow. Seems no way the fluid near the gasket could reach there. Or there is another piece of gasket behind?

thomas88162 · 11-17-2014, 02:39 PM

Now, I'm not belittling the fact that OFHG's do fail. BUT, a DIY oil change (even professional ones) can result in some spilling, especially during the oil filter change procedure. If you never noticed anything having checked right before the change, I would just clean the area and keep an eye on it. Also, your PCV wouldn't cause this. FWIW, the PCV is harder to fix and is more expensive to replace than the OFHG.

iDriveanXi · 11-17-2014, 02:40 PM

It migrates upwards. It is wet with a trail of oil along the side where the coolant hose meets the housing and down towards the gasket area. Yes you should change oil, filter and coolant. There may be mixing going on and you want to flush it out and put fresh fluids in there. It may seem like a chore but it's the smart move here.

NGEE · 11-17-2014, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ucdbiendog

tricky part is getting that third bolt off under the manifold.

Not on the 330i. Piece of cake.

lvb125 · 11-17-2014, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NGEE

Not on the 330i. Piece of cake.

It appears there is a third bolt just under the intake to cylinder 1. Seems tight to reach.

mike3000fl · 11-17-2014, 08:58 PM

use a swivel socket adapter on that one.

NGEE · 11-18-2014, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lvb125

It appears there is a third bolt just under the intake to cylinder 1. Seems tight to reach.

Check out this DIY. It's tight but you can reach it. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=476419

11-16-2014, 05:22 PM	#1
lvb125 Private First Class 26 Rep 109 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Is this my oil filter housing gasket leaking? I just found two spots of of liquid near the oil filter housing. Is this the common OFHG leaking? How would explain the spot under the oil filter cap to the right? Thanks! Attached Images
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

11-16-2014, 05:31 PM	#2
Denny347 Major 347 Rep 1,076 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 E90 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Indianapolis, IN iTrader: (0)	Yeah. Mine looks similar.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-16-2014, 06:03 PM	#3
mike3000fl Banned 138 Rep 2,731 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tampa iTrader: (0)	yes
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-16-2014, 06:12 PM	#4
lvb125 Private First Class 26 Rep 109 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Curious. I changed oil less than two months ago and I didn't see any leak back then.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-16-2014, 06:36 PM	#5
mike3000fl Banned 138 Rep 2,731 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tampa iTrader: (0)	spray it with castrol super clean or some brake parts cleaner. wait for it to come back and see whats up.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-16-2014, 06:38 PM	#6
njdrive First Lieutenant 98 Rep 301 Posts Drives: e92 ZCP Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	my 330i looks the same way. My BMW SA said that is the sign of a leak. __________________ "…And the longer you deny yourself that M satisfaction the more unhappy your soul will be…. Get busy living or get busy dying and stop sweating the small stuff!" i001947
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-16-2014, 08:14 PM	#7
iDriveanXi Second Lieutenant 12 Rep 231 Posts Drives: 2007 328xi Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	Yes its the beginning of a leak. Don't wait until it gets worse. You can mix coolant and oil and that is not a good thing. Get it fixed asap
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-16-2014, 08:39 PM	#8
lvb125 Private First Class 26 Rep 109 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	I ll clean it with brake clean and see how it goes. What could go wrong to DIY this gasket? How hard is this work comparing to VCG on n52?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-17-2014, 12:51 AM	#13
mike3000fl Banned 138 Rep 2,731 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tampa iTrader: (0)	if you look at the actual gasket, you will see two openings. one for oil and one for coolant. the gasket fails and they mix. worse, you can get part of the gasket in your cooling system and ultimately your water pump.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-17-2014, 12:19 PM	#15
Blackhawk36 Captain 30 Rep 644 Posts Drives: 2007 335i 6MT No iDrive Join Date: May 2009 Location: MD iTrader: (0)	reach underneath of the oil filter housing and scrape with your fingernail. You will probably find a buildup of sludge there out of view. That will confirm it but you can be sure that is the start of the OFHG leak.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-17-2014, 02:22 PM	#16
lvb125 Private First Class 26 Rep 109 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Is it necessary to do oil change and coolant flush for OFHG gasket? I still don't understand about the fluid spot on the right, pointed by arrow. Seems no way the fluid near the gasket could reach there. Or there is another piece of gasket behind? Attached Images
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-17-2014, 02:39 PM	#17
thomas88162 Lieutenant 19 Rep 595 Posts Drives: E92 328i Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Clinton, IN iTrader: (0)	Now, I'm not belittling the fact that OFHG's do fail. BUT, a DIY oil change (even professional ones) can result in some spilling, especially during the oil filter change procedure. If you never noticed anything having checked right before the change, I would just clean the area and keep an eye on it. Also, your PCV wouldn't cause this. FWIW, the PCV is harder to fix and is more expensive to replace than the OFHG.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-17-2014, 02:40 PM	#18
iDriveanXi Second Lieutenant 12 Rep 231 Posts Drives: 2007 328xi Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	It migrates upwards. It is wet with a trail of oil along the side where the coolant hose meets the housing and down towards the gasket area. Yes you should change oil, filter and coolant. There may be mixing going on and you want to flush it out and put fresh fluids in there. It may seem like a chore but it's the smart move here.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-17-2014, 08:58 PM	#21
mike3000fl Banned 138 Rep 2,731 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tampa iTrader: (0)	use a swivel socket adapter on that one. Last edited by mike3000fl; 11-17-2014 at 09:03 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote