Are this gaskets supposed to look like this?

[Johanian]

I was getting ready to do couple fluid changes this Monday when I ran into this. I’m not sure if this gaskets are suppose to look like this. I just bought this X5 35i 2 weeks ago and the dealer told me they changed the valve cover gaskets. That’s it. Some help would be helpful. Thanks!

[Tomcat_F15_STL]

That isn’t a valve cover gasket shown in your photos. I see an oil pan with its gasket protruding - which is normal. That certainly was not changed anytime recently on this vehicle. An oil pan gasket job is very expensive and time consuming on this model.

The n55 engine has one seal that lives in a groove in the bottom of the plastic valve cover.

[tlow98]

Agree with the above and would add… prolly just some old oil leaked down from the previous failed valve cover gasket.

Wipe it down and check it next time. No really issues that I can see.

[Johanian]

Awesome, thank you very much for the quick responses. It was definitely some oil around a couple areas which I cleaned and going to have another look on Monday when I’m doing the fluid changes. Is possibly old fluid of when the valve cover gasket was changed so that gives me a little hope. Thanks again guys!

[stocktree]

Valve cover gaskets and oil filter housing gaskets are common leaks, and will make a mess if ignored enough. You should be fine.

[Johanian]

Originally Posted by Tomcat_F15_STL

That isn’t a valve cover gasket shown in your photos. I see an oil pan with its gasket protruding - which is normal. That certainly was not changed anytime recently on this vehicle. An oil pan gasket job is very expensive and time consuming on this model.

The n55 engine has one seal that lives in a groove in the bottom of the plastic valve cover.

So I definitely have a leak somewhere. I’m guessing the valve cover gasket? I see oil in the catalytic and I think that’s right behind where this gasket leak?
Pics attached even tho they’re not the best photos

[Johanian]

Originally Posted by tlow98

Agree with the above and would add… prolly just some old oil leaked down from the previous failed valve cover gasket.

Wipe it down and check it next time. No really issues that I can see.

Any thoughts on this new photos would be appreciated.

[RED_Y_]

Well if you can't spot the leak by looking at it, might be hard to spot it by picture. I would try to clean everything the best you can, let it sit for a day and then try to pinpoint location of the leak.

[stocktree]

Originally Posted by Johanian

Any thoughts on this new photos would be appreciated.

Was the valve cover gasket just changed? Could be oil from the old leak.

[Johanian]

Originally Posted by RED_Y_

Well if you can't spot the leak by looking at it, might be hard to spot it by picture. I would try to clean everything the best you can, let it sit for a day and then try to pinpoint location of the leak.

I cleaned everything yesterday. Those areas where you see oil where clean before that new oil appeared in the pictures

[Johanian]

Originally Posted by stocktree

Was the valve cover gasket just changed? Could be oil from the old leak.

I don’t know how long ago the job was done. The dealer just told me that they replaced it. I cleaned everything yesterday to see if it was a leak and for my surprise there was oil in my garage after a couple hours.

[crystalworks]

How many miles on this? N55? That certainly looks like a classic valve cover leaking.

[Johanian]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

How many miles on this? N55? That certainly looks like a classic valve cover leaking.

2014 / 92k miles 35i. The dealer said they replaced the valve cover gasket tho. Can they put it wrong? It looks like they only change the gasket and not the cover.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by Johanian

2014 / 92k miles 35i. The dealer said they replaced the valve cover gasket tho. Can they put it wrong? It looks like they only change the gasket and not the cover.

I'm not sure about the N55... but on previous BMW i6 motors it was not uncommon for the plastic valve cover to warp and need replacement along with the gasket. At 92k miles and living in Texas I imagine it's a possibility.

[Johanian]

Originally Posted by cholks_48

Doesn’t look bad anyways

It still a leak. Being bad or not shouldn’t mean is right.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by cholks_48

Doesn’t look bad anyways

It's not necessarily about how it looks. But if it's dripping that much that quickly... you'd definitely have to top off even with a 5k OCI. And that's not even mentioning the burnt oil smell all the time... no thanks.

[Johanian]

Quick update. This is my garage after 24hrs. I know is not a crazy leak but definitely something to address right?

[F15_SGM]

Originally Posted by Johanian

Quick update. This is my garage after 24hrs. I know is not a crazy leak but definitely something to address right?

If you can see the leak on the floor it must be very bad. mine was leaking alot aswell before but it never left a dot on the ground ever. The tray under it catches it and hides it. So for it to be leaking out the tray you should get it checked out.

[Johanian]

Originally Posted by osmansiddiqui95

If you can see the leak on the floor it must be very bad. I'm was leaking alot aswell before it never left a dot on the ground ever. The tray under it catches it and hides it. So for it to be leaking out tray you should be it checked out.

I removed the bottom tray to try to locate the leak. So this picture is without the bottom tray.

[Chilled]

Originally Posted by Johanian

Quick update. This is my garage after 24hrs. I know is not a crazy leak but definitely something to address right?

Sorry dumb question, are you talking about the water? Because that could just be the condensation. or the Brown ish.

Because yes if you dripping this fast , get it looked at. Try some LM Molygen, that stuff is UV reactive.

So wash the engine down, clean as much as possible. Fill with Molygen, and see where it leaks from.


*Edit* You may have to clean a couple of times, to get all of the caked on/hard to reach places. Go for a quick drive after a clean to let it heat up, this will show any spots you missed.

[Johanian]

Originally Posted by Chilled

Sorry dumb question, are you talking about the water? Because that could just be the condensation. or the Brown ish.

Because yes if you dripping this fast , get it looked at. Try some LM Molygen, that stuff is UV reactive.

So wash the engine down, clean as much as possible. Fill with Molygen, and see where it leaks from.


*Edit* You may have to clean a couple of times, to get all of the caked on/hard to reach places. Go for a quick drive after a clean to let it heat up, this will show any spots you missed.

Yea I’m refering to the actual oil. I washed the garage so there was still water in there. I think I’m going to contact the dealership I bought it from. Since I have a 3 month warranty and they told me the valve cover gasket was replaced. I’m pretty sure is a valve cover gasket leak. I have oil dripping into the catalytic so that’s a sign of a valve cover gasket leak

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by Johanian

Yea I’m refering to the actual oil. I washed the garage so there was still water in there. I think I’m going to contact the dealership I bought it from. Since I have a 3 month warranty and they told me the valve cover gasket was replaced. I’m pretty sure is a valve cover gasket leak. I have oil dripping into the catalytic so that’s a sign of a valve cover gasket leak

Good idea. The oil will kill that O2 sensor eventually.