Don't over torque THAT oil filter housing...

[Dackelone]

Hey Guys,

Just read this over on the e90 forum, posted by "Mr.5". IF this is happening on N54's (and probably N55's!) in the three series - it is gonna happen to our ones too!

I think part of this issue must be from over tightening the oil filter cap/housing.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=507653

I probably should add that Mr. 5 never over torqued his oil filter housing cap... it is just the seals on the housing to cylinderhead that seem to fail. But I think this must be due to the twisting effect over time - changing the filters. ?


Dackel


PS: that carbon buildup is scarry!

[Focusedintntions]

The carbon buildup is typical of DI engines as the cleaning agents they put in gas can no longer help clean the valves...

[blacknbean]

the oil filter housing degrades due to the extreme heat of the n54. the dirty valves are a product of DI. its actually not as bad as ive seen with other manufacturers, but a good cleaning every 50k should be enough. the car shown has almost 100k.

[DriveHard]

I respect Dackels posts alot, but i dont think the "overtorquing" of the oil filter cap has anything to do with it...

there are 3 bolts triangulated holding the housing on.. there is no way you are stressing the housing..

The gasket just gives up the ghost due to heat.. they come out pretty brittle BTW, Stiff even.. some guys have to chip out the pieces stuck in the groove.

They leak ALOT... id say on average at the 30k mark ...ill try to keep track as to when they go..

[JimD]

I'm not sure what to think. It seems it would not be too hard to have the oil ring mislocated during installation. That could easily result in a leak. Maybe overtorqueing damages the o-ring but it's a little hard to see how that happens. The diameter of the housing doesn't seem to change as the plastic cap goes in. If you split the housing that would cause a leak. My guess is the o-ring was not in the groove of the plastic cap.

I also see temperature as a potential contributor. It could cause the o-ring to lose elasticity. It could also cause differential expansion between the aluminum housing and the plastic cap challenging the elasticity of the o-ring to make up the difference. I would expect the plastic cap to expand faster than the housing which would improve sealing, however.

Changing the oil and filter (and thus the o-ring) more often might help.

Jim

[Dackelone]

Sorry guys, I was just taking a gues here abouy over torquing the oil filter. it seems plausable though. Every engine has its achiles heel. Perhaps this is just another one for ours. I do think IF my car's housing were to leak... I would first try retorquing those three bolts first. I just wanted to make us aware of this potenial problem.

You would think the guy with 115K would have run into this problem. But then again he was going with BMW long OCI's so maybe not.

Dackel

[RimasRS]

Ok, but how can we clean carbon biuld up on our valves. Would sea foaming help?

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by RimasRS

Ok, but how can we clean carbon biuld up on our valves. Would sea foaming help?

I think SeaFoam would be a good profuct to use. Although I have not tried it myself. Or LiquMolly makes an intake manifold cleaner - with a 1m long pipe to get down in there. It is also a foam type product.

[RimasRS]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

I think SeaFoam would be a good profuct to use. Although I have not tried it myself. Or LiquMolly makes an intake manifold cleaner - with a 1m long pipe to get down in there. It is also a foam type product.

I will google for it... Just interesting thing that I've read somewhere that seafoam product you have to fill together with petrol to gas tank which doesn't make sense for DI motor

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by RimasRS

I will google for it... Just interesting thing that I've read somewhere that seafoam product you have to fill together with petrol to gas tank which doesn't make sense for DI motor

Seafoam works several ways. One way is to put some in with your fuel in the gas tank. Most people hook it up to a intake manifold vacum port and suck it in little by little. You want to hear that gurgle noise like when slipping that last bit of soda thru a straw. That way the Seafoam gets atomized and sucked into the engine. And the third way is to mix some in with the engine oil - then change the oil. Actually - I would change the engine oil right after ANY decarbon service like Seafoam or LiquMoly.

You can do some searched on 1addicts. This was a popular thread last year (Seafoam).

Dackel

[Das Ein]

Instead of meth...Seafoam injection?

[Dackelone]

Here is that old thread on Seafoam I was thinking about...

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...t=seafoam+liqu



Dackel

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by maxnix

Read the Seafoam MSDS. It is pretty benign. Mostly a placebo effect.

Could be so. I know I have read that before on these forums.

A good friend of mine has an Audi RS4 (the photo I posted in that old thread)that had some pretty nasty carbon buildup. He used BG products carbon buildup remover. Normally you feed it into the intake tract via a vacum port. He did do that. But first he took off his intake manifold - and over a few days he would spray down his valves with the BG stuff. Twice a day he would spary down his valves - at point blank range. Then he used a plastic putty knife to scrape off the "softened" carbon buildup. Then he used a bottle thru the vacum port once everything was back together.

When he was done he swore it felts like a 40 hp increase in power. Top end revs felt much stronger he said. And a smoother idle. I believe him bc he has one calibrated butt dyno!

I also remmeber years ago Volkswagen and Audi would use crushed walnut shells to shot blast the intake valves. This was in the 80's and 90's. Any old walnut shells would simply burn off in the exhaust. Fairly harmless. Not sure about that technique now a days. lol


Dackel

[RimasRS]

Thanks Dack you are good as always. Just I'm not sure do I want to do this. Will it help? Do I need that? will it not damage anything

[Dackelone]

No problem RimasRS. Well.. I don't want to damage anything either. I think IF done correctly you will not damage anything on the engine.

What I would like ot do on my car is use a endoscope (electronic camera) to look inside the cylinderhead valves... see how much carbon is on them. Then run some kind of cleaner thru the motor and recheck for any improvement.

The only problem is a decent endoscope is like $400 or so. One with a tiny O.D. 8mm or less cable/camera and a 1.5+ meter long cable - to run down thru the intake tract.

[Dackelone]

[jkoral]

Old thread, but I was searching oil filter housing leaks. I'm curious what would cause the oil filter housing leak after just 16 months and 10K miles. The oil filter housing gasket (and the oil cooler gasket) were replaced with Genuine BMW gaskets by a highly reputable indy shop.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by jkoral

Old thread, but I was searching oil filter housing leaks. I'm curious what would cause the oil filter housing leak after just 16 months and 10K miles. The oil filter housing gasket (and the oil cooler gasket) were replaced with Genuine BMW gaskets by a highly reputable indy shop.

So... your car is only 16 months old and the OFH is leaking? How many (total) miles on your car?

I think you know what I will say... but it sounds like some gorilla over torqued your oil filter cap.

Dackel

[jkoral]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

So... your car is only 16 months old and the OFH is leaking? How many (total) miles on your car?

I think you know what I will say... but it sounds like some gorilla over torqued your oil filter cap.

Dackel

No, I had the oil filter housing leak at 63K miles (16 months ago) and now at 73K miles, I got the same leak again (significant leak). Only one oil change between then and now (5K OCI) and it was at the same place that fixed the OFH (well known BMW race shop/service place).

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by jkoral

No, I had the oil filter housing leak at 63K miles (16 months ago) and now at 73K miles, I got the same leak again (significant leak). Only one oil change between then and now (5K OCI) and it was at the same place that fixed the OFH (well known BMW race shop/service place).

Ohh Ok. Well... maybe the parts they used were not of the greatest quality ? All repairs at a BMW dealer come with a 24 month warranty. Maybe they will help you out. Show them that they only have worked on your car. Not sure what an indi shop's warranty is. This will be a good "test" of how "good" your shop is for their customers.

Hopefully its not something else like a cracked valve cover. ? Keep us updated.

Dack

[PA135i]

A reputable Indy shop should stand behind their work. Just explain it to them nicely. Has always worked for me. Good luck.

[jkoral]

My car was already at another indy shop when they found the issue, so I just had them fix it. Both shops used the genuine BMW part numbered gaskets (or at least as reported on the invoice).