Where is this oil leak coming from?
06-03-2011, 08:08 AM
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I have a drip coming from somewhere. My skid plates are wet and I had a drip on the garage floor the other morning. Oil isn't low in the engine, though. 
The first pic is looking down from the top. The second pic is under the car looking up. The drip is coming down from somewhere over where that metal adapter thing is (not sure what it is). There are a couple plugs that are over it that appear wet. Oil is dripping down from there and then flinging onto other stuff. I'm not sure how bad it is because it's being blown around. I clean it off, drove around without the skid plates, put the car back on ramps and let it cool down. By the time it cooled down I already had a drip on the driveway. I've had the car for a couple months and the oil level isn't low so I wonder if it was over filled. I got everything to change my oil on my own here this coming weekend, curious how to fix the source of the problem though.
TIA.
Pic 1 (from the top)
Pic 2 (from below)
The first pic is looking down from the top. The second pic is under the car looking up. The drip is coming down from somewhere over where that metal adapter thing is (not sure what it is). There are a couple plugs that are over it that appear wet. Oil is dripping down from there and then flinging onto other stuff. I'm not sure how bad it is because it's being blown around. I clean it off, drove around without the skid plates, put the car back on ramps and let it cool down. By the time it cooled down I already had a drip on the driveway. I've had the car for a couple months and the oil level isn't low so I wonder if it was over filled. I got everything to change my oil on my own here this coming weekend, curious how to fix the source of the problem though.
TIA.
Pic 1 (from the top)
Pic 2 (from below)
06-03-2011, 08:40 AM
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oil pressure sensor is just below the vacuum pump and has been known to leak. it's a $20 part and can be removed from up top pretty easily, you just need a really deep socket. I think it was 23mm, not sure off the top of my head.
06-03-2011, 10:27 AM
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My Ride: 04 545i - Titanium Silver/Black, Sport pkg, Comfort Seats w/ Lumbar, Premium Sound, power rear sunshade, Adaptive Xenon Headlights, Steptronic, Park Distance Control, Fold down rear seats w/ski bag, Aux jack, 6-disk changer, puddle lamps...
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+1 - it's either that, or possible valve cover gasket leaks. The best way to diagnose is to have the area cleaned if there is excessive gunk, then look for the oil origination. My 545i has a similar leak. After cleaning, it was easy to see the problem was, indeed, a leaking cover gasket.
06-03-2011, 10:40 AM
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+1 - it's either that, or possible valve cover gasket leaks. The best way to diagnose is to have the area cleaned if there is excessive gunk, then look for the oil origination. My 545i has a similar leak. After cleaning, it was easy to see the problem was, indeed, a leaking cover gasket.
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