N55 oil filter cap or housing gasket leak?

Hiroler · 01-22-2021, 06:09 PM

What are the main signs of gasket failure vs filter/cap? Is it possible to tell without dye? Wife had Valvoline change oil 9 months ago and now it's dripping off by the transmission. The passenger side is dry and it's clearly coming from the oil filter area. It looks like it was slinging around and pooling down on the block but it's not in the front of the engine at all. The serp belt and entire front is dry. Could it just be the filter itself or that filter cap??

The dealer is an hour away (appt next Fri) and the local shop is hesitant to look at a newer BMW. Thanks ! 2014 435i 60k miles

View post on imgur.com

Billfitz · 01-22-2021, 10:06 PM

It could be the O-ring on the filter cap. OEM Mann and Mahle filters come with the correct replacement O-ring, but others have been known to leak. Using dye to find an oil leak isn't rocket science.

Hiroler · 01-23-2021, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billfitz

It could be the O-ring on the filter cap. OEM Mann and Mahle filters come with the correct replacement O-ring, but others have been known to leak. Using dye to find an oil leak isn't rocket science.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billfitz

It could be the O-ring on the filter cap. OEM Mann and Mahle filters come with the correct replacement O-ring, but others have been known to leak. Using dye to find an oil leak isn't rocket science.

Thanks ordered dye and light.

F32Fleet · 01-23-2021, 08:23 AM

clean off the area around the cap and run the engine looking for leaks. An improperly seated gasket cap typically results in oil spraying. The caps themselves don't fail. A 60k miles I'm going to say it's your oil filter housing gasket

pdxpeter · 02-05-2021, 08:36 PM

I used a Mobile1 filter/o-ring and it was trash. Had a hard spot in it causing oil to blow out under boost. Never again...

DJSF3014 · 02-05-2021, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hiroler

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billfitz

It could be the O-ring on the filter cap. OEM Mann and Mahle filters come with the correct replacement O-ring, but others have been known to leak. Using dye to find an oil leak isn't rocket science.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billfitz

It could be the O-ring on the filter cap. OEM Mann and Mahle filters come with the correct replacement O-ring, but others have been known to leak. Using dye to find an oil leak isn't rocket science.

Thanks ordered dye and light.

Where did you order from?

Orion4 · 02-06-2021, 11:24 AM

Check the location where the OFH mounts to the engine. That gasket is also prone to leak. You usually can see that area by pulling off the engine cover and look under the intake manifold and between the OFH with a flashlight.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hiroler

What are the main signs of gasket failure vs filter/cap? Is it possible to tell without dye? Wife had Valvoline change oil 9 months ago and now it's dripping off by the transmission. The passenger side is dry and it's clearly coming from the oil filter area. It looks like it was slinging around and pooling down on the block but it's not in the front of the engine at all. The serp belt and entire front is dry. Could it just be the filter itself or that filter cap??

The dealer is an hour away (appt next Fri) and the local shop is hesitant to look at a newer BMW. Thanks ! 2014 435i 60k miles

View post on imgur.com

AudiEaterF30 · 02-07-2021, 05:31 PM

I 2nd to replace the oil filter and o-ring to a mann filter/oring kit.
I've seen it too many times that the aftermarket orings will leak. if it's the ofhg it will 99% of the time leak down the front of the block as well as under the intake and out by the trans

01-22-2021, 06:09 PM	#1
Hiroler Private First Class 8 Rep 144 Posts Drives: Horse and buggy Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	What are the main signs of gasket failure vs filter/cap? Is it possible to tell without dye? Wife had Valvoline change oil 9 months ago and now it's dripping off by the transmission. The passenger side is dry and it's clearly coming from the oil filter area. It looks like it was slinging around and pooling down on the block but it's not in the front of the engine at all. The serp belt and entire front is dry. Could it just be the filter itself or that filter cap?? The dealer is an hour away (appt next Fri) and the local shop is hesitant to look at a newer BMW. Thanks ! 2014 435i 60k miles View post on imgur.com
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01-22-2021, 10:06 PM	#2
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8218 Rep 16,054 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	It could be the O-ring on the filter cap. OEM Mann and Mahle filters come with the correct replacement O-ring, but others have been known to leak. Using dye to find an oil leak isn't rocket science.
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01-23-2021, 08:23 AM	#4
F32Fleet Lieutenant General 3566 Rep 10,346 Posts Drives: 2015 435i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southeastern US iTrader: (0)	clean off the area around the cap and run the engine looking for leaks. An improperly seated gasket cap typically results in oil spraying. The caps themselves don't fail. A 60k miles I'm going to say it's your oil filter housing gasket __________________ "Drive more, worry less. " 435i, MPPK, MPE, M-Sport Line
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02-05-2021, 08:36 PM	#5
pdxpeter Private First Class 62 Rep 152 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 M50, 1991 E30 vert Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Portland OR iTrader: (0)	I used a Mobile1 filter/o-ring and it was trash. Had a hard spot in it causing oil to blow out under boost. Never again...
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02-07-2021, 05:31 PM	#8
AudiEaterF30 Second Lieutenant 73 Rep 211 Posts Drives: Bmw f30 328xi Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (2)	I 2nd to replace the oil filter and o-ring to a mann filter/oring kit. I've seen it too many times that the aftermarket orings will leak. if it's the ofhg it will 99% of the time leak down the front of the block as well as under the intake and out by the trans
	Appreciate 0 Quote