M20 Annoying Oil leak

Need technical Q/A then you're in the right place

Moderator: martauto

lammy
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri May 22, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: Loughborough , Leicestershire

Post Mon May 09, 2011 11:22 pm

:? My 1990 320i cab has an annoying oil leak from the front rhs of the head between the block and head just behind the distributor. It drips down the block and onto the under guard tray or my drive! Can anyone suggest what could cure it. It does not lose coolant or overheat. there is no mayonaise on the filler cap. Could it be head gasket or cam shaft oil seal? It is a 2 owner car 78k miles,with full service history. It has had two head gaskets in its life and one skim of the head. It has also had new cam, followers & rockers at around 60k miles. what could I try to solve the probelm? before biting the bullet and stripping the head off and repalcing the gasket. Where could these leaks come from? Could I try tweaking the head bolts down again? any suggestions. Cheers.
Ajsingh
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 2378
Joined: Sun Mar 28, 2010 11:00 pm
Location: West Laaaandaan init! / Milton Keynes

Post Mon May 09, 2011 11:49 pm

Rocker cover gasket possibly???
E30 Crazy!
Rav335uk
E30 Zone Meets/Events Team
E30 Zone Meets/Events Team
Posts: 27978
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Mad mad mad

Post Mon May 09, 2011 11:52 pm

I would take a look at the above first, Rocker gasket.
Mine used to leak in exactly the same place, new gasket, and all was sorted.
Image
If you Got "Haters",Then your doing something Right!
CR24v??? Where's it all gone?? LOL
User avatar
mattycoops43
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 471
Joined: Sun Jan 02, 2011 11:00 pm
Location: Newport, South Wales

Post Tue May 10, 2011 9:14 am

Mine leaked here, turned out the front, right rocker cover bolt was loose and oil was weeping past.
1990 325i se "weinrot"-How did they know?
lammy
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri May 22, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: Loughborough , Leicestershire

Post Tue May 10, 2011 6:46 pm

Cheers all for the suggestions . I'll give them a look and see if that cures it. :)
lammy
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri May 22, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: Loughborough , Leicestershire

Post Mon Dec 03, 2012 9:31 pm

Cheers all. A bit late but thought I would post I cured the oil leak! It was the cam shaft oil seal cover plate. The O ring seal was trapped when it was put together last and caused the slow leak.
Hope this helps someone in future. :) :)
TPS
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 13119
Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: Hampshire

Post Mon Dec 03, 2012 9:32 pm

D Plugs
Image
1991 325i Touring Alpine White II
1994 318i Touring Sterling Silver