Head Gasket?

vr4spd · 10-06-2015, 06:50 PM

Ok guys I'm literally on my last straw with this car, it seems as though 90k was the magic number and my car has developed a host of problems forcing me to get a new DD and stick it in the garage for a while.

So in addition to the waste gate actuator on the rear turbo failing and the constant 30FF, My transmission is now slipping, my key CA key fob 75 percent in-op, my valve cover gasket leaking and my water pump failing twice it would appear I also have a blown head gasket.

Two weeks ago I parked my car in my garage after work only to come back out to a huge puddle of coolant. I had the car towed to an indie shop only to discover my water pump had failed again! I replaced it 13 months earlier. I paid for the repair and went to pick up my car, once I arrived my mechanic showed my the U shaped hose that runs from the water pump had a considerable amount of oil lining the bottom of it, also oil in the coolant expansion tank. Was informed I had a blown head gasket.

After a bit of research it seems the oil filter housing gasket can possibly be the culprit as well. Besides the 30FF the car certainly doesn't run like it has a leaky head gasket (there is no smoke out the tail pipe etc). The amount of oil in the line was significant though but at the same time I don't see too many reports of such an event. What are you guys' thoughts? He didn't do a compression test or didn't mention it if he did...

LQQKOUT · 10-06-2015, 06:54 PM

Inside or outside the hose?

vr4spd · 10-06-2015, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LQQKOUT

Inside or outside the hose?

Inside man, it was that milky brown color.

Miller335 · 10-06-2015, 07:15 PM

OFHG needs to be checked/replaced at that mileage if it hasn't already.

I don't hear of HG's failing on these engines.

theweebabySeamus · 10-06-2015, 07:18 PM

Your OFHG is allowing oil to enter the coolant. Both coolant and oil runs through that area so if the gasket is leaking it can allow cross contamination. Happened on mine, check your coolant resouvior. I'd be willing to bet you can see oil in there.

EDIT: just reread that you already have oil in your expansion tank.

Not a hard fix, do the OFHG and flush the coolant until no more oil on the system and keep an eye on it. Went through this a few weeks ago.

theweebabySeamus · 10-06-2015, 07:20 PM

And find a different indy shop imo.

vr4spd · 10-06-2015, 07:23 PM

Valve cover gasket needs to be replaced too. Probably something I can tackle myself. Is there any surefire way other than a leak down test to indicate a blown head gasket?

theweebabySeamus · 10-06-2015, 08:17 PM

Compression test is a lot easier than a leak down, but I don't know if it's sure fire.

KiwiRD · 10-06-2015, 09:51 PM

These engines use a triple layer headgasket stock. It is highly unlikely you have an issue with it.

Supra2k6 · 10-06-2015, 10:43 PM

don't they use metal head gaskets?

Anyways on your oil filter housing the gasket that separates the coolant and oil is about 1/4 thick once it wears out it allows both to get mixed.

Like most people said find a different Indy.

How to they know the water pump failed again did it crack? could be just a hose thats leaking. very unlikely that it would die so soon.

chinko · 10-06-2015, 10:53 PM

My indy worries me as well, but I went ahead and did the ofhg and oil cooler gasket. Oil looked fine (oil flush wasnt milky nor sludgy) even if the indy said I had coolant in it. There was oil in coolant but most likely because of ofhg, exhaust didnt smoke white either. Conpression test and oil test like the blackstone one would reveal coolant in oil.

vr4spd · 10-07-2015, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supra2k6

don't they use metal head gaskets?

Anyways on your oil filter housing the gasket that separates the coolant and oil is about 1/4 thick once it wears out it allows both to get mixed.

Like most people said find a different Indy.

How to they know the water pump failed again did it crack? could be just a hose thats leaking. very unlikely that it would die so soon.

I actually put it up on jack stands to find the leak first, your exactly right it did crack.

I changed the oil last month and didn't notice any coolant but that doesn't really mean anything however when he showed me the hose it looked like it had been collecting for awhile so I believe the opposite was true.... I.e. oil had been leaking in the coolant for quite some time.

theweebabySeamus · 10-08-2015, 03:22 PM

My water pump was bought at a dealership and failed (crack along the seam) within 2 months.

sk55 · 10-08-2015, 03:58 PM

yeah replace the ofhg... please get genuine bmw parts...

your indy prob getting some cheap after market crap... that's why I started diy everything myself...

just for reference I used to daily my 330xi... put like 25k miles a year on it...
man it was expensive to keep up...things would just break from NYC driving...

that's why I got 98 s70 t5 Volvo as my daily... cost me $2800.00 and parts are super cheap.. I modified it 265 hp... 230 was stock...

just wanted to give some options if ur daily is becoming a pain in the butt.

10-06-2015, 06:50 PM	#1
vr4spd Private First Class 7 Rep 132 Posts Drives: E93 335is Sapphire Black Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: California iTrader: (0)	Head Gasket? Ok guys I'm literally on my last straw with this car, it seems as though 90k was the magic number and my car has developed a host of problems forcing me to get a new DD and stick it in the garage for a while. So in addition to the waste gate actuator on the rear turbo failing and the constant 30FF, My transmission is now slipping, my key CA key fob 75 percent in-op, my valve cover gasket leaking and my water pump failing twice it would appear I also have a blown head gasket. Two weeks ago I parked my car in my garage after work only to come back out to a huge puddle of coolant. I had the car towed to an indie shop only to discover my water pump had failed again! I replaced it 13 months earlier. I paid for the repair and went to pick up my car, once I arrived my mechanic showed my the U shaped hose that runs from the water pump had a considerable amount of oil lining the bottom of it, also oil in the coolant expansion tank. Was informed I had a blown head gasket. After a bit of research it seems the oil filter housing gasket can possibly be the culprit as well. Besides the 30FF the car certainly doesn't run like it has a leaky head gasket (there is no smoke out the tail pipe etc). The amount of oil in the line was significant though but at the same time I don't see too many reports of such an event. What are you guys' thoughts? He didn't do a compression test or didn't mention it if he did...
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10-06-2015, 06:54 PM	#2
LQQKOUT Lieutenant 102 Rep 416 Posts Drives: 335XI Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: United States iTrader: (4)	Inside or outside the hose?
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10-06-2015, 07:15 PM	#4
Miller335 Colonel 291 Rep 2,189 Posts Drives: 2007 E92 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (0)	OFHG needs to be checked/replaced at that mileage if it hasn't already. I don't hear of HG's failing on these engines. __________________ 2007 E92 335 6MT w/335is clutch FBO MHD E60 Wedge map 49k miles
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10-06-2015, 07:18 PM	#5
theweebabySeamus Captain 376 Rep 902 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (1)	Your OFHG is allowing oil to enter the coolant. Both coolant and oil runs through that area so if the gasket is leaking it can allow cross contamination. Happened on mine, check your coolant resouvior. I'd be willing to bet you can see oil in there. EDIT: just reread that you already have oil in your expansion tank. Not a hard fix, do the OFHG and flush the coolant until no more oil on the system and keep an eye on it. Went through this a few weeks ago.
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10-06-2015, 07:20 PM	#6
theweebabySeamus Captain 376 Rep 902 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (1)	And find a different indy shop imo.
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10-06-2015, 07:23 PM	#7
vr4spd Private First Class 7 Rep 132 Posts Drives: E93 335is Sapphire Black Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: California iTrader: (0)	Valve cover gasket needs to be replaced too. Probably something I can tackle myself. Is there any surefire way other than a leak down test to indicate a blown head gasket?
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10-06-2015, 08:17 PM	#8
theweebabySeamus Captain 376 Rep 902 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (1)	Compression test is a lot easier than a leak down, but I don't know if it's sure fire.
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10-06-2015, 09:51 PM	#9
KiwiRD Captain 152 Rep 645 Posts Drives: 2007 E90 335i M Sport 6MT Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Auckland, New Zealand iTrader: (0)	These engines use a triple layer headgasket stock. It is highly unlikely you have an issue with it.
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10-06-2015, 10:43 PM	#10
Supra2k6 Lieutenant 132 Rep 573 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: The District iTrader: (1)	don't they use metal head gaskets? Anyways on your oil filter housing the gasket that separates the coolant and oil is about 1/4 thick once it wears out it allows both to get mixed. Like most people said find a different Indy. How to they know the water pump failed again did it crack? could be just a hose thats leaking. very unlikely that it would die so soon.
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10-06-2015, 10:53 PM	#11
chinko First Lieutenant 48 Rep 361 Posts Drives: 335i coupe Join Date: May 2013 Location: montreal iTrader: (0)	My indy worries me as well, but I went ahead and did the ofhg and oil cooler gasket. Oil looked fine (oil flush wasnt milky nor sludgy) even if the indy said I had coolant in it. There was oil in coolant but most likely because of ofhg, exhaust didnt smoke white either. Conpression test and oil test like the blackstone one would reveal coolant in oil.
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10-08-2015, 03:22 PM	#13
theweebabySeamus Captain 376 Rep 902 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (1)	My water pump was bought at a dealership and failed (crack along the seam) within 2 months.
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10-08-2015, 03:58 PM	#14
sk55 First Lieutenant 73 Rep 350 Posts Drives: 2010 335xi coupe Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	yeah replace the ofhg... please get genuine bmw parts... your indy prob getting some cheap after market crap... that's why I started diy everything myself... just for reference I used to daily my 330xi... put like 25k miles a year on it... man it was expensive to keep up...things would just break from NYC driving... that's why I got 98 s70 t5 Volvo as my daily... cost me $2800.00 and parts are super cheap.. I modified it 265 hp... 230 was stock... just wanted to give some options if ur daily is becoming a pain in the butt.
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