Oil in strange place?

JR5674 · 08-02-2018, 02:11 PM

2016 428xi coupe. N20.

I’m going to refer to the sparks plugs in distance from front of car, #1 being closest to front of car, #4 being closest to the back of the engine bay.

Just went to change my spark plugs and got to spark plug #2 ( 2nd closest to front of car) took it out, it had a speck of very old dry oil, now dust only on the white ceramic part of the plug near the central bolt. Ignition coil #2 (same as plug) has oil, which is now oil dust around the bottom 1/2” of the rubber boot. The was no oil dust on the threaded portion of the plug and no oil inside of the rubber ignition coil boot. To me it seems a drop of oil was on the bottom edge of the ignition coil rubber boot upon original installation and it heated up seeped down on to white ceramic part of the plug and them the oil turned to dust through heat cycles. No other plugs or boots had oil or oil dust.
I’ve changed many a spark plug, but this is a first.
Thoughts?

Solidjake · 08-02-2018, 04:41 PM

A bit strange indeed... Clean off the oil, drive the car a bit and check after maybe 100 miles to see it any new oil is present. If so change the valve cover gasket

Noelified · 08-04-2018, 08:03 PM

Yeah strange. Are you the original owner, how many miles? If not perhaps the dealer had the engine cleaned/detailed and that's just residual from dirt/oil contaminated cleaner.

I agree 100% with Solidjake clean it, run 100+ miles and check again. Hopefully it doesn't return.

JR5674 · 08-05-2018, 01:16 PM

Interesting thought.... I did just have a full detail a month ago at the dealership including the engine bay. The engine bay looks extra polished and shiny, looks like they used lots of grease. By end of this week, I should hit 100 miles since I noticed the “oil dust”. I’ll update after re-inspection. Original owner, approx 20k.

Noelified · 08-05-2018, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JR5674

Interesting thought.... I did just have a full detail a month ago at the dealership including the engine bay. The engine bay looks extra polished and shiny, looks like they used lots of grease. By end of this week, I should hit 100 miles since I noticed the “oil dust”. I’ll update after re-inspection. Original owner, approx 20k.

Yeah, reason I asked if you were original owner is you might not know if the resale dealer did an engine bay detail. Most of the time they do. It's possible some "cleaned up" dirt/oil residue just came to rest there. That's what I'd hope for. And if its a gasket seal leak, you're under warranty anyway.

Noelified · 08-26-2018, 10:18 PM

Have you checked again after a couple hundred miles?

JR5674 · 08-27-2018, 05:15 AM

I’ve only driven the car about 50 miles since I noticed the “dust” on 8/2, I will recheck after I reach 100 Miles. It’s been a hot humid summer and as brilliant as BMW is, they lack in the A/C Department in my opinion. Been driving the soapbox, GM knows how to cool a vehicle! I’ll be sure to update once I drive another 50 miles.

08-02-2018, 02:11 PM	#1
JR5674 New Member 29 Rep 71 Posts Drives: Chevy Suburban Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	Oil in strange place? 2016 428xi coupe. N20. I’m going to refer to the sparks plugs in distance from front of car, #1 being closest to front of car, #4 being closest to the back of the engine bay. Just went to change my spark plugs and got to spark plug #2 ( 2nd closest to front of car) took it out, it had a speck of very old dry oil, now dust only on the white ceramic part of the plug near the central bolt. Ignition coil #2 (same as plug) has oil, which is now oil dust around the bottom 1/2” of the rubber boot. The was no oil dust on the threaded portion of the plug and no oil inside of the rubber ignition coil boot. To me it seems a drop of oil was on the bottom edge of the ignition coil rubber boot upon original installation and it heated up seeped down on to white ceramic part of the plug and them the oil turned to dust through heat cycles. No other plugs or boots had oil or oil dust. I’ve changed many a spark plug, but this is a first. Thoughts? __________________ “New Member” since 2007 Mine: 2018 Chevy Suburban LTZ (rain/snow) 2016 BMW 428 XDrive M-Sport (SOLD) Mrs: 2017 Chevy Suburban LTZ (nighttime) 2018 BMW M5 (daytime) Last edited by JR5674; 08-02-2018 at 02:17 PM..
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08-02-2018, 04:41 PM	#2
Solidjake ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 945 Rep 1,762 Posts Drives: '13 328i Msport 6MT Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NYC/SNJ iTrader: (2)	A bit strange indeed... Clean off the oil, drive the car a bit and check after maybe 100 miles to see it any new oil is present. If so change the valve cover gasket __________________ Tensioner/belt DIY \| Side skirt extension DIY Apex SM-10/DWS06+ \| 400m/X-ice Xi3 \| Injen Exhaust \| Stoptech SS Lines \| 335 Front Brakes Hawk HPS 5.0 \| RBF600 \| ER Charge Pipes \| Wagner Evo Comp 2 FMIC
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08-04-2018, 08:03 PM	#3
Noelified First Lieutenant 228 Rep 325 Posts Drives: 2016 F36 Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: CT iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 BMW 428ix F36 GC [0.00]	Yeah strange. Are you the original owner, how many miles? If not perhaps the dealer had the engine cleaned/detailed and that's just residual from dirt/oil contaminated cleaner. I agree 100% with Solidjake clean it, run 100+ miles and check again. Hopefully it doesn't return. __________________ ◊ 2016 F36 xDrive N26 ◊ Black Sapphire Metallic ⁞ Dakota Black ◊ ║ VRSF HD FMIC ║ ER DP custom paint ║ AWE cat back Exhaust Suite ║ NGK Plugs ║Bootmod3 Stage 1 93 ║ GFB DV+ ║ BMS 10mm Front ⁞ 12mm Rear Spacers ║ P Style BSM Rear Spoiler ║ Smoked Front Reflectors ║ Madico Onyx 20 Tint ║ LCI Lighted Trim Bezel ║ Opti-Coat Pro+ ║
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08-05-2018, 01:16 PM	#4
JR5674 New Member 29 Rep 71 Posts Drives: Chevy Suburban Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	Interesting thought.... I did just have a full detail a month ago at the dealership including the engine bay. The engine bay looks extra polished and shiny, looks like they used lots of grease. By end of this week, I should hit 100 miles since I noticed the “oil dust”. I’ll update after re-inspection. Original owner, approx 20k. __________________ “New Member” since 2007 Mine: 2018 Chevy Suburban LTZ (rain/snow) 2016 BMW 428 XDrive M-Sport (SOLD) Mrs: 2017 Chevy Suburban LTZ (nighttime) 2018 BMW M5 (daytime)
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08-26-2018, 10:18 PM	#6
Noelified First Lieutenant 228 Rep 325 Posts Drives: 2016 F36 Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: CT iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 BMW 428ix F36 GC [0.00]	Have you checked again after a couple hundred miles? __________________ ◊ 2016 F36 xDrive N26 ◊ Black Sapphire Metallic ⁞ Dakota Black ◊ ║ VRSF HD FMIC ║ ER DP custom paint ║ AWE cat back Exhaust Suite ║ NGK Plugs ║Bootmod3 Stage 1 93 ║ GFB DV+ ║ BMS 10mm Front ⁞ 12mm Rear Spacers ║ P Style BSM Rear Spoiler ║ Smoked Front Reflectors ║ Madico Onyx 20 Tint ║ LCI Lighted Trim Bezel ║ Opti-Coat Pro+ ║
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08-27-2018, 05:15 AM	#7
JR5674 New Member 29 Rep 71 Posts Drives: Chevy Suburban Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	I’ve only driven the car about 50 miles since I noticed the “dust” on 8/2, I will recheck after I reach 100 Miles. It’s been a hot humid summer and as brilliant as BMW is, they lack in the A/C Department in my opinion. Been driving the soapbox, GM knows how to cool a vehicle! I’ll be sure to update once I drive another 50 miles. __________________ “New Member” since 2007 Mine: 2018 Chevy Suburban LTZ (rain/snow) 2016 BMW 428 XDrive M-Sport (SOLD) Mrs: 2017 Chevy Suburban LTZ (nighttime) 2018 BMW M5 (daytime)
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