E90 engine oil leak experience

[donworks]

Re: E90 engine oil leak experience

Based on my limited knowledge, i believe it is to allow more air or pressure so theres greater combustion resulting in a more responsive throttle. Throttle lag is greatly reduced..

That is abt right, I also had the same treatment from Mr. FC, value-added service. All the Crackling sound from the doors treated with silicon spray - Gone !!, hindges oiled...sound like a bimmer again ! Hopefully he will maintained his attitude, pricing & honesty !!

 

[xiaofoggy]

Re: E90 engine oil leak experience

Haha. Eh how come i never get silicon spray! But this francis is a smart businessman i must say, rly know how to make customers happy with his value added service. That was the killer for me. Headsup to all those going. Happy driving

 

[lim_ck]

Re: E90 engine oil leak experience

i also had some leakage at 20+k mileage. sent in my car the other day for battery warranty claim and PML changed some valvetronic parts and o-rings and seals as diagostic tool threw some warnings/errors. i asked the SA about the oil leak after the repairs and she mentioned might be related to the valvetronic stuff as well.

anyway here's the pic of where the leakage was. you can see the patch of oil there.

the oil leak shown in the pic came back again. sent in to PML (under warranty) and SA immediately said it's leakage at rocker cover gasket. another bro here also had same problem and got it fixed in JB. replacement part cost about 65+ from Eng Soon.

another possibility of this oil leak may be from the vacumn pump which is right at the back of the engine near the firewall. here's a link of how someone in UK did a DIY repair on the vacumn pump leak. BMW: E90 N46 Vacuum Pump leak DIY removal repair reinstate guide : BMW 3 series Forum • BMWLand

 

[donworks]

Re: E90 engine oil leak experience

Haha. Eh how come i never get silicon spray! But this francis is a smart businessman i must say, rly know how to make customers happy with his value added service. That was the killer for me. Headsup to all those going. Happy driving

View attachment 43392


Bagus !!

 

[angrypenguin]

Re: E90 engine oil leak experience

Click on the BC button n see what the error is.... Probably top up.1litre engine oil haha

i have e same problem too... i thought only audi/vw engine get engine oil issue..

 

[donworks]

Re: E90 engine oil leak experience

i have e same problem too... i thought only audi/vw engine get engine oil issue..

Gaskets & Seals will hardened over time and need replacement, normal wear n tear lah !

 

[lim_ck]

Re: E90 engine oil leak experience

View attachment 43392


Bagus !!

original BMW one (aerosol kind) selling for about $20 at one of the stockists here in SG. i using the other type which is the sponge applicator one.

 

[canuck78]

Re: E90 engine oil leak experience

what does this spray do, soften the rubber seals at the window?

original BMW one (aerosol kind) selling for about $20 at one of the stockists here in SG. i using the other type which is the sponge applicator one.

 

[lim_ck]

Re: E90 engine oil leak experience

what does this spray do, soften the rubber seals at the window?

yup. supposed to condition the rubber seals and keep them soft and supple.

 

[donworks]

Re: E90 engine oil leak experience

what does this spray do, soften the rubber seals at the window?

Spray @ the correct location. If you see at the top of your door frame, Its something like the Soft rubber, Hard rubber then the Velvet. Spray at the hard rubber, (or plastic), the one in-between...then all your squeaking noises coming from the doors, when going over uneven surfaces will be gone !!

 

[stylistic]

Re: E90 engine oil leak experience

Thanks for sharing.

What do you mean by "widened the value opening"? How does this improve the ride?

Proper term is actually called the 'valve-lift adjustment'. It adjusts the valve-lift as the valvetronic engine doesn't use a throttle

 

[LuvVanos]

Re: E90 engine oil leak experience

I had a similar problem on my 2006 e90 - oil leak in engine bay. Mileage approx 100k. Sent to PML, and they quoted about $2k. Got a quote from one of the sponsor workshop here and was quoted $1k+ to replace "all related seals" to stop leak problem.

Not convinced, I brought car to my regular workshop in JB who specialises in BMW's. After diagnosis, mech replaced 2 o-rings at oil filter housing, and 4 more o-rings on the 2 VANOS solenoids. Viola! Oil leak no more and I'm poorer by less than RM270 - which includes my regular servicing. I brought my own oil, oil filter and air filter though....

And I must say that these guys are super pro! They even did a complete engine wash for me - meticulously cleaning EVERY item that has oil stain. Now my engine bay looks almost like new again! Hahaha!

If anyone here are feeling adventurous enough to head north to service your car, PM me for contact. Just to clarify, I'm NOT related to workshop in anyway. Just a happy customer after saving 90% of what the workshops here tried to charge me...

Hi lim, can pm me the workshop address and phone number pls? My 7.5yr old E90 has vacuum pump leak & valve cover need replacing... And it consumes petrol too. I was told an overhaul is due. Need to service the piston rings... Sigh.

 

[LuvVanos]

Re: E90 engine oil leak experience

just to share the costs of my e90 repair works.
took over a pre-fl 320i with 100000km on its clock.

parts bought at eng soon- 800
labor at jb workshop with francis- 340 (800+RM)
total 1140 (and an extremely satisfying drive after that!)

when i sent the car to AA for inspection before purchase, was diagnosed with
1. flywheel seal leak
2. oil sump sensor leak
3. oil sump joint leak
4. right hand engine block and water-pump filled with oil leak
5. 2 absorbers leaking and stoppers worn out

but i went ahead with the purchase because the car felt incredibly smooth during my test drive and engine was in good condition according to my mechanic who went down to check the car with me.
long story short, tried the recommendation from the seniors here and sent it to jb for some budget servicing.

took them 10 min to diagnose my problem and told me exactly as what AA said. a week later i went in with the relevant parts from eng soon and the car was fixed in a day.
best of all, francis cleaned up my door lock area and the car doors now close with a reassuring "thud" instead of a worn out "PIAK" from being tortured by its previous owners hehe.
then changed my atf fluid and widened the valve opening to 0.8mm and the car feels so much lighter and smoother that i was gleaming with joy the whole ride back. really a significant improvement after servicing. this is what a BM should feel like!

but that aside, thanks to lkm and all the seniors here who tried and recommended francis to me and solved my oil leak. this guy is really old-school and knows BM inside out, i feel extremely safe with my car in his car and pls do keep other recommendations coming!

Xiaofoggy, r u using the same workshop as lkm? Possible to share address & contact? My 7.5y/o E90 due for vacuum pump replacement & doing valve cover. Many thks!

 

[xiaofoggy]

Re: E90 engine oil leak experience

sure thing. pm sent!

 

[canuck78]

Re: E90 engine oil leak experience

Just did mine recently, you may want to see the extent of what is required

http://www.bmw-sg.com/forums/bmw-3-...s-de-tox-de-sludge-your-bmw-2.html#post915752

Hi lim, can pm me the workshop address and phone number pls? My 7.5yr old E90 has vacuum pump leak & valve cover need replacing... And it consumes petrol too. I was told an overhaul is due. Need to service the piston rings... Sigh.

 

[nhc]

Re: E90 engine oil leak experience

Pardon for the late reply

Yes, that's mine in there for a week to do the over-haul.

Now car engine is good as new

I posted some photos and links here in the other thread:
http://www.bmw-sg.com/forums/bmw-3-...s-de-tox-de-sludge-your-bmw-2.html#post915752

Changed quite alot of parts, i think the workshop use the full-top and bottom rebuilt kit, i.e. piston rings, valve seals, several like the timing chain guide are plastic, and also all the gaskets/seals etc, all in all, one mid size box full of parts change.

Bro, which part is the valve seal again ? Is it the same as the valve cover gasket ? I have been monitoring for white smoke coming out of the exhaust it seems to happen during the first start of the day especially during cooler temperatures .

 

[canuck78]

Re: E90 engine oil leak experience

Hi bro,

Your problem may not be the valve seals if it's simply from a cold start, esp with our current cool weather in Nov/Dec. This is more likely just normal condensation in the exhaust, which will clear once the engine and exhaust/catalytic converter warms up to operating temperature.

However, if you experience BOTH unexplained engine oil loss (i.e. no physical signs of oil leaks in the engine compartment), AND you experience white exhaust smoke when you get someone to rev the engine (whilst you watch the exhaust). This can be ascertained after you let car idle for at least 15min or more, it's then most likely due to the worn out engine valve seals.

See this link, it will explain better:
Smoking, Oil Consumption and Oil leaks – Tune-Tech

The valve seal is inside each of the engine valve stem (4 valve stems per cylinder) and will require:
1) removing the engine valve cover;
2) removing the top cylinder head
3) removing all the 16 valve stems (for e90), you will see in the picture i post about the overhaul, each cylinder, 2 intake and 2 exhaust valve;

So it's quite a lot of work, to replace the engine valve seals. The cost of the part is also relatively cheap, less than $40 for the 16 valve seals but the labour to open, replace, and re-assemble back is quite tedious, hence the cost involved.

But the good side of things is if you have this problem, which is common in e90, it can be fixed.

Hope this helps and best you check with your regular mechanic.

Bro, which part is the valve seal again ? Is it the same as the valve cover gasket ? I have been monitoring for white smoke coming out of the exhaust it seems to happen during the first start of the day especially during cooler temperatures .

 

[nhc]

Re: E90 engine oil leak experience

Hi bro,

Your problem may not be the valve seals if it's simply from a cold start, esp with our current cool weather in Nov/Dec. This is more likely just normal condensation in the exhaust, which will clear once the engine and exhaust/catalytic converter warms up to operating temperature.

However, if you experience BOTH unexplained engine oil loss (i.e. no physical signs of oil leaks in the engine compartment), AND you experience white exhaust smoke when you get someone to rev the engine (whilst you watch the exhaust). This can be ascertained after you let car idle for at least 15min or more, it's then most likely due to the worn out engine valve seals.

See this link, it will explain better:
Smoking, Oil Consumption and Oil leaks – Tune-Tech

The valve seal is inside each of the engine valve stem (4 valve stems per cylinder) and will require:
1) removing the engine valve cover;
2) removing the top cylinder head
3) removing all the 16 valve stems (for e90), you will see in the picture i post about the overhaul, each cylinder, 2 intake and 2 exhaust valve;

So it's quite a lot of work, to replace the engine valve seals. The cost of the part is also relatively cheap, less than $40 for the 16 valve seals but the labour to open, replace, and re-assemble back is quite tedious, hence the cost involved.

But the good side of things is if you have this problem, which is common in e90, it can be fixed.

Hope this helps and best you check with your regular mechanic.

Today, I tried reving the engine again after idle and there was no smoke. But guess what , I decided to open the oil cap for the first time and I could see some oil sludge formed on the side as well as the solenoid. Looks like I need to pay Mr Francis a visit soon as I need him to fix my valve cover gasket as well. Funny thing is I had the valve cover gasket replaced 8 months ago when I first had the car and the WS that did it for me did not say anything about sludging.

 

[lkm]

Re: E90 engine oil leak experience

Today, I tried reving the engine again after idle and there was no smoke. But guess what , I decided to open the oil cap for the first time and I could see some oil sludge formed on the side as well as the solenoid. Looks like I need to pay Mr Francis a visit soon as I need him to fix my valve cover gasket as well. Funny thing is I had the valve cover gasket replaced 8 months ago when I first had the car and the WS that did it for me did not say anything about sludging.

Most cars of age will have some form of sludge - just whether very jialat or still okay. I came back from Francis' yesterday after fixing a valvetronic issue. After opening up the valve cover, he called for a cleaning of the camshaft as he noticed some sludge. Initially, I didn't think it would solve the issue, but I went ahead with it anyway - since it's always a good idea to do some cleaning. But surprisingly, it DID solve my check engine light issue and now the engine feels smoother too!!

Mine looked like this when he first opened:

 

[canuck78]

Re: E90 engine oil leak experience

Some sludge at the oil cap is normal as the bimmer engine runs pretty hot, and with condensation, this is the normal place for some sludge to gather. But purely from the oil cap, even if you shine a light inside, most of the view is blocked so you can't really see whether the valvetrain / cylinder head is sludged up.

I can live with some levels of light sludge in the engine, but not the heavy levels I had in mine earlier. Whilst my was not the worse i saw, which already bothered me for quite some time, it's the fear that I know block oil passages can result in low oil pressure and worse case, for the engine to seize (aka car "heart attack").

The only effective way to tell whether your engine is sludged up or not, is either to open the engine valve cover, or drop the oil pan below.

Given you have changed your valve cover gasket 8 months ago, i don't think you need to replace it again as this gasket should last at least a couple of years. Also, do you have any oil leaks or burning oil, otherwise no need to waste money replacing all these parts.

Best is get your mechanic to take a look, gotta fix the right spot right?

Today, I tried reving the engine again after idle and there was no smoke. But guess what , I decided to open the oil cap for the first time and I could see some oil sludge formed on the side as well as the solenoid. Looks like I need to pay Mr Francis a visit soon as I need him to fix my valve cover gasket as well. Funny thing is I had the valve cover gasket replaced 8 months ago when I first had the car and the WS that did it for me did not say anything about sludging.