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The question is did the OP use fluorescent light to see the dye. If dye was used there's no way you can't see the dye if it's leaking.
That IS a great question - I assumed the use of a UV light, but not using one could sure explain the apparent issue (lots of new oil with no dye visible).
That IS a great question - I assumed the use of a UV light, but not using one could sure explain the apparent issue (lots of new oil with no dye visible).
All good points.
Not A/C. A/C works fine.
I did use UV light. I only had a 30cc bottle of dye which I assumed may not have been enough. I could use a stronger light too, but it was dark...
The PS pump is a great idea. I will check level tomorrow although there doesn't seem to be an issue with that. I mean, how much can leak out before it whines?
Since the fan disaster, the engine has needed the oil topped off a few times.
The oil does get blown around by the fan.
When I ran the very clean engine, until the radiator was very warm, without the fan, I couldn't see a leak. On the front of the engine area anyway.
What other lines on the engine carry oil? I'm beginning to think I have a non fan shrapnel related incidental oil leak.
I need get more dye, but I don't want to put too much.
Thanks for chiming in everyone, no gear heads around this week to bounce ideas off of.
My Ride: 2006 530xi. Deep green with beige interior. 6 speed manual. Premium package.
Have not posted here in a while. But I'll give this a go. I have a 2008 535xi
Take a pic of the leak if you can.
Then I would change the oil filter housing gasket and the oil cooler gasket. Then I would replace all four O rings. Into the bottom of the oil filter housing and also into the radiator.
And prime the engine before you restart it after doing this repair.
I'm still working on this when I can.
Today I cleaned everything up again.
I warmed it up and watched at everything on the front of the engine from the top. Nothing leaking.
Then I lifted it on my 2 post while still running and got under it. I couldn't see anything leaking.
I let it continue to run on the lift and took a walk. When I came back a few minutes later there was a puddle of oil.
It seemed to be dripping from the rear lip of the tray that the fan assembly sets into.
Nothing else had any signs of leaking.
Previously, I ensured that the oil cooler lines had good o rings and did not leak.
Where else could the oil be coming from? It seems to be coming from in front of the fan.
It is not power steering fluid. Does the oil circulate anywhere else but the oil cooler?
Thanks. You guys are a lot of help.
Still driving it and adding oil. Haven't had time to pull it apart again.
I did notice today that the heat exchanger below the radiator, as seen through the front grill is coated in oil. The radiator is not. The radiator looks clean in comparison.
This adds to my suspicions that the leak is in the area in front of the cooling fan.
I'm beginning to think that I may have an oil heat exchanger leak that doesn't happen until it is hot. Is the oil flow controlled by a thermostat?
Ok, for some reason I just assumed you have an oil cooler like the N52 cars....but, I see this diagram...#1 is the engine oil cooler. It's in front of the fan...it's coming from there somewhere. Replace it and you'll be fine. You know oil is getting blown about...you know it is engine oil...you see oil on the bottom of all that stuff...that's it. On the expensive side. Maybe a salvage yard is a good choice. Maybe a radiator shop can fix it.
