My car is leaking oil

205

Asked by David Dec 05, 2012 at 01:19 PM about the 1996 BMW 3 Series 318i Sedan RWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I noticed my car was leaking oil. Its not a lot of oil, and the car seems to be running fine. I'm thinking it could just be a worn out gasket or something. Any input???

7 Answers

5,895

Check all of your gaskets. The Valve cover gaskets are notorious for leaking.

4 people found this helpful.
14,905

what i recommend: buy engine degreaser, like 2 cans bring the car to the car wash you have to do it, leave it running at temp. spray the cleaner all over the block, heads, side just all of it...then spray it, while it is running, clean as much as possible, go home and park it, (card board and kitty litter work best) but place something under the engine on the ground to try to find where the leak may be coming from, then in day light look for the trail of oil...valve gaskets are common, or do you mean you noticed because the level was low??? it does not have to be engine oil, so check and top off all fluids to determine which one it is...ie. transmission, power steering. etc...

6 people found this helpful.
2,245

If you just had an oil change, look around your oil filter & check around your drain plug.

6 people found this helpful.

use non chlorinated brake cleaner so you wont have white residue on your engine and then check for your oil leaks. This way you wont have to deal with any kind of oil on your engine

m43 engine oil filter housing one rubber ring cost 2p sits in the drilled hole.... oil pressure spring not the oil switch on the sized of the housing .. this gos over time you may think its the sump gasket not hard to do 2hrs maybe no more did mine one and half hours loosen the power steering bolts push it down after you have taking alternator out two long 14 mm bolts you will see a bracket 4/ 13mm bolts filter housing bolts 8/ 10mm also drop the drive belt 14mm bolt on tensioner you will see the plastic round oil relief spring valve new one £10 ebay rubber ring gos over time...that's it

20

My issue with my BMW 116i. It has only done about 80,000km although it is 4 years old At about 75 000 km i had a prompt that engine 1 litre top up. I did it almost immediately. Thereafter I noticed almost about every month I need to top 1 litre. It has never happened on my japanese cars or Korean cars let alon on my previous BMW 3 series. I question what kind of car are they producing. Have their standards dropped compared the Japanese and Korean models. i don't expect engine oil loss every 2000 km. especially when my car has only done about 80K km.. BMW disclaims responsibility says it is wear and tear.. of the gasket I don't intend to buy my next car a BMW for sure .. I will go back to my JAP cars which has better resale value. The reason given by the dealer is wear and ter

2 people found this helpful.
20

Hi , My BMW e46 , has oil leaks and sometimes loss power during drive and has occassionally fuel cuts ...what could be reasons

2 people found this helpful.

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