Minor Oil Leak due to Aged Cover Gasket?

renaissance · 03-25-2015, 07:41 PM

In my last maintenance (around 78,000KM) in early Feb, I was told that the cover gasket is aged because they found minor oil leak. And I noticed that the engine oil level was MAX when I left the dealership; however, after driving in highway (high RPM & M-Mode) over last weekend, it dropped. I only had 2 low engine oil level warning over last 78,000 KM. Anyone experienced the same issue and changed cover gasket?

How many hours labor will they charge for this?

Thanks,
Eddie

mazing M3 · 03-25-2015, 07:54 PM

Eddie you should not be losing that much old from your valve cover gaskets. you do have leaks but is not that bad. I would change them every 50k. I would also check front and rear main seals on the engine.

Flea7 · 03-25-2015, 08:03 PM

I have the same problem. Mine leaks more from the bolts & the oil filler cap.
I have a set of new gasket that i'm planning on installing this summer.

This is a common problem with our M3s.

TX · 03-25-2015, 08:36 PM

Eddie, how much oil did you need to add to correct the loss? The LCD display is impossible to judge based on how much oil you might have lost/burned driving.
I have the exact same oil leaking mark as your left circle in the first photo. I typically do not need to add oil between changes. I did do a hard drive about 150miles round trip once that I did need to add oil to bring it back to the top mark. I usually drive around the mid mark on my car. The difference between min and max line is usually 1L I believe. I see you also have the same bubbled up paint on your covers that I have. The dealer told me it was cosmetic and would not cover it under warranty even though the coating is peeling inside alos and getting into the oil.
I just walked out and took some photos of my car.

TX · 03-25-2015, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flea7

I have the same problem. Mine leaks more from the bolts & the oil filter cap.
I have a set of new gasket that i'm planning on installing this summer.

This is a common problem with our M3s.

have you found any DIY or guide on replacing the gaskets?
BMW TIS pages perhaps?

SMG M3 · 03-25-2015, 08:49 PM

Need new valve cover gasket on that side! Check the other side will be hard with the air box in the way. Had same problem with mine changed the gasket now it doesn't leak at all. Also WTF is up with your bubbling paint by fill cap you running hot?

Cost to replace gasket at BMW was $962.31 covered under warranty that included a engine bay wash as my fill cap gave out making a mess everywhere!( lost a liter on way home from beach

) Hope this helps good luck!

This was mine @ 42k miles

TX · 03-25-2015, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMG M3

Need new valve cover gasket on that side! Check the other side will be hard with the air box in the way. Had same problem with mine changed the gasket now it doesn't leak at all. Also WTF is up with your bubbling paint by fill cap you running hot?

Cost to replace gasket at BMW was $962.31 covered under warranty that included a engine bay wash as my fill cap gave out making a mess everywhere!( lost a liter on way home from beach

) Hope this helps good luck!

The bubbling paint was a defect from the factory. It lifts over time. It's hit quite a number of cars. I started a thread about it a few years back. Dealer refuses to do anything about it claiming it is only cosmetic.

Were you out of warranty at 42K when you had the dealer replace the gaskets?

Webb70 · 03-25-2015, 08:53 PM

It could be your oil filler cap, they are known to leak, I just replaced mine at 42,000KM.
Judging by the picture it looks like they cleaned away the area directly below the cap/tube....

SMG M3 · 03-25-2015, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX

The bubbling paint was a defect from the factory. It lifts over time. It's hit quite a number of cars. I started a thread about it a few years back. Dealer refuses to do anything about it claiming it is only cosmetic.

Were you out of warranty at 42K when you had the dealer replace the gaskets?

Have extended warranty so far it has payed for itself .

TX · 03-25-2015, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMG M3

Have extended warranty so far it has payed for itself .

This was covered under the extended warranty?

Flea7 · 03-25-2015, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX

The bubbling paint was a defect from the factory. It lifts over time. It's hit quite a number of cars. I started a thread about it a few years back. Dealer refuses to do anything about it claiming it is only cosmetic.

Were you out of warranty at 42K when you had the dealer replace the gaskets?

I have the bubbling as well. I'm planning on sandblasting the covers when i replace the gaskets and paint them with red winkle paint.

SMG M3 · 03-25-2015, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX

This was covered under the extended warranty?

Yes only paid the deductible. Had to pay out of pocket for the wash $200 which was a crappy job but they got all they crap from bottom of motor that i couldn't reach.

TX · 03-25-2015, 09:31 PM

Am I crazy to think we shouldn't have leaking valve cover gaskets at 42,000 miles?

spdy330 · 03-25-2015, 09:38 PM

Different vehicle but my 2005 Tundra has 195k and no oil leaks at all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX

Am I crazy to think we shouldn't have leaking valve cover gaskets at 42,000 miles?

Flea7 · 03-25-2015, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX

Am I crazy to think we shouldn't have leaking valve cover gaskets at 42,000 miles?

No shit ...right???

SMG M3 · 03-25-2015, 09:45 PM

IT appears that it is always the Left gasket that leaks also?

Flea7 · 03-25-2015, 09:48 PM

mine are both side plus the oil cap!

renaissance · 03-25-2015, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazing M3

Eddie you should not be losing that much old from your valve cover gaskets. you do have leaks but is not that bad. I would change them every 50k. I would also check front and rear main seals on the engine.

Usually after maintenance, the engine oil level is somewhere between MAX and MIN. However, this time is MAX so that when it dropped, I can tell the difference. So far it looks okay but I guess the engine oil level will drop (leak from gasket) again I use high RPM and M-Mode in highway.

renaissance · 03-25-2015, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flea7

I have the same problem. Mine leaks more from the bolts & the oil filter cap.
I have a set of new gasket that i'm planning on installing this summer.

This is a common problem with our M3s.

I saw leak from oil filter cap before if they are not installed well after maintenance.

Flea7 · 03-25-2015, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by renaissance

I saw leak from oil filter cap before if they are not installed well after maintenance.

Ops...I meant oil "filler" cap ...not filter.....or just oil cap.

renaissance · 03-25-2015, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX

Eddie, how much oil did you need to add to correct the loss? The LCD display is impossible to judge based on how much oil you might have lost/burned driving.

So far (78,000KM) I only experienced 2 engine oil level low warning, what I did is to add half bottle of engine oil and then it worked. Just can't understand where the oil is going (burned or leak?) after high RPM and M-Mode, it should not be...

mazing M3 · 03-25-2015, 10:28 PM

These engines because the do rev so high will burn some oil.

03-25-2015, 07:41 PM	#1
renaissance Private First Class 70 Rep 171 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Taipei iTrader: (0)	Minor Oil Leak due to Aged Cover Gasket? In my last maintenance (around 78,000KM) in early Feb, I was told that the cover gasket is aged because they found minor oil leak. And I noticed that the engine oil level was MAX when I left the dealership; however, after driving in highway (high RPM & M-Mode) over last weekend, it dropped. I only had 2 low engine oil level warning over last 78,000 KM. Anyone experienced the same issue and changed cover gasket? How many hours labor will they charge for this? Thanks, Eddie Attached Images
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03-25-2015, 07:54 PM	#2
mazing M3 Private First Class 16 Rep 130 Posts Drives: E93 M3 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Mass iTrader: (0)	Eddie you should not be losing that much old from your valve cover gaskets. you do have leaks but is not that bad. I would change them every 50k. I would also check front and rear main seals on the engine.
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03-25-2015, 08:03 PM	#3
Flea7 Major 112 Rep 1,260 Posts Drives: E92 M3 6MT/F48 X1/F430/F12 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: PNW iTrader: (6) Garage List 2016 X1 [0.00] 2008 E92 M3 [0.00] 2005 Ferrari F430 [0.00] 2014 Ferrari F12 Be ... [10.00]	I have the same problem. Mine leaks more from the bolts & the oil filler cap. I have a set of new gasket that i'm planning on installing this summer. This is a common problem with our M3s. __________________ Last edited by Flea7; 03-25-2015 at 10:23 PM..
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03-25-2015, 08:36 PM	#4
TX Captain 366 Rep 860 Posts Drives: 2009 ///M3 E92 APW 6MT Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: South FL iTrader: (0)	Eddie, how much oil did you need to add to correct the loss? The LCD display is impossible to judge based on how much oil you might have lost/burned driving. I have the exact same oil leaking mark as your left circle in the first photo. I typically do not need to add oil between changes. I did do a hard drive about 150miles round trip once that I did need to add oil to bring it back to the top mark. I usually drive around the mid mark on my car. The difference between min and max line is usually 1L I believe. I see you also have the same bubbled up paint on your covers that I have. The dealer told me it was cosmetic and would not cover it under warranty even though the coating is peeling inside alos and getting into the oil. I just walked out and took some photos of my car. Attached Images __________________ Last edited by TX; 03-25-2015 at 08:49 PM..
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03-25-2015, 08:49 PM	#6
SMG M3 Private First Class 23 Rep 159 Posts Drives: 08 M3 6MT Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: cental ma iTrader: (0)	Need new valve cover gasket on that side! Check the other side will be hard with the air box in the way. Had same problem with mine changed the gasket now it doesn't leak at all. Also WTF is up with your bubbling paint by fill cap you running hot? Cost to replace gasket at BMW was $962.31 covered under warranty that included a engine bay wash as my fill cap gave out making a mess everywhere!( lost a liter on way home from beach) Hope this helps good luck! This was mine @ 42k miles Attached Images __________________ Jerez Black: 6MT: Lux: 35% Tint: IND gills ,grill , reflectors: K&N Filter: ACM exhaust mod: Dinan pulley
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03-25-2015, 08:53 PM	#8
Webb70 Captain 114 Rep 915 Posts Drives: Bmw M3, X6M, 2 Ducati 1098's Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Toronto iTrader: (4)	It could be your oil filler cap, they are known to leak, I just replaced mine at 42,000KM. Judging by the picture it looks like they cleaned away the area directly below the cap/tube.... __________________ Kiss French, Drive German, and Ride Italian....
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03-25-2015, 09:31 PM	#13
TX Captain 366 Rep 860 Posts Drives: 2009 ///M3 E92 APW 6MT Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: South FL iTrader: (0)	Am I crazy to think we shouldn't have leaking valve cover gaskets at 42,000 miles? __________________
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03-25-2015, 09:45 PM	#16
SMG M3 Private First Class 23 Rep 159 Posts Drives: 08 M3 6MT Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: cental ma iTrader: (0)	IT appears that it is always the Left gasket that leaks also? __________________ Jerez Black: 6MT: Lux: 35% Tint: IND gills ,grill , reflectors: K&N Filter: ACM exhaust mod: Dinan pulley
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03-25-2015, 09:48 PM	#17
Flea7 Major 112 Rep 1,260 Posts Drives: E92 M3 6MT/F48 X1/F430/F12 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: PNW iTrader: (6) Garage List 2016 X1 [0.00] 2008 E92 M3 [0.00] 2005 Ferrari F430 [0.00] 2014 Ferrari F12 Be ... [10.00]	mine are both side plus the oil cap! __________________
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03-25-2015, 10:28 PM	#22
mazing M3 Private First Class 16 Rep 130 Posts Drives: E93 M3 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Mass iTrader: (0)	These engines because the do rev so high will burn some oil.
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