Massive sudden oil Loss

[jenksy0198]

Wow, I started up this morning all ok and drove out only to have the red oil pressure light come on within 1/4 mile.

Got back home to find a massive oil puddle on the road outside drive.

Have no idea what has occurred and am just wondering other than say a sump plug coming out what I might expect to find when I get the car up on a ramp. Certainly wont be driving it.

See video attached. Something has blown so trying to think what would cause this prior to putting it into garage. No warnings or any other noises before this happened and had been on Motorway on Wednesday purring along. 

Any thoughts welcome.  

[jenksy0198]

Follow up for you on this issue. The aluminium cup which holds the filter had cracked. I am retaining the part as I think this could be defective casting. The reason being is that the car is regularly serviced and there was zero history of oil loss up to the day this happened. So lucky I was'nt doing 80 mph otherwise new engine I feel.  Was able to stop quickly within 1 mile of loss of oil pressure light.

Has any one had this happen. Car is 2006 and is lightly driven circa 2.5 - 3K per annum. I had thought an impact or something like that but this area is well protected by skirts etc and no specific event to speak off and no witness marks of any contact.  Anyway will retain the part and contact BMW to see if they are interested to run some tests. Does suggest a potential defective casting.

Video on way from service garage and will post that as soon as received. 

  

[Greydog]

Thanks for the update Paul, never heard of that before and I have fixed a few oil leaks over the years. I have seen Oil filter put back without a sealing O ring, Split oil cooler, Split oil pipes, I have even see a situation where the old oil filter had broken up and the new filter forced in on top of the remains.

Good Luck with BMW

Dave

[jenksy0198]

Yes, thanks Dave. Been gong through my head on reasons, metallurgy and otherwise. Only thing I can reason is cap was dropped on a service, as that is the only time it has been off, suffered a minute impact damage which by a process then of pressurisation cycles has eventually led to a brittle failure. Just so lucky was at slow speed. All good and back on the drive now.

Will report back with BMW dialogue for experience share.

[jenksy0198]

OK, eventually got the part for pics. It wasn't aluminium it was a plastic part. I have attached two pics that clearly shows the crack through the body and down towards the tightening nut. No signs of impact or scratching anywhere. Anyhow, it failed on start it seems, or that is what the oil trail suggests and only managed 20 mph before oil pressure light came on so no damage to engine. £250 fix including oil change, filter and replacement part. A massive result.   

[Greydog]

Morning Paul

I have seen split Filter housing's on an E46 and E53 almost identical to your pictures, both cars had dripping heavy oil leaks. Neither had anything as catastrophic as you had. The guy with the E53 had managed to paint the engine bay with Castrol though where the fan had thrown it around.

Good result on the save matey

Dave

[jenksy0198]

Yes, Hi Dave. It was a lucky one for sure. Took the part to BMW seeking any kind of experience share and learning. They mentioned a torque setting when tightening up the filter holder. Good question I thought, so am asking is there an actual recommended torque value for the oil filter holder. My first impression is that I have never heard of a torque setting for such a serviceable part.

Any knowledge would be helpful on that score and might help others understand it is not just about nipping it up when changing the oil filter.

 

[Greydog]

Morning Paul

BMW TIS/WIS tells us 25nm for Drain Plug and Filter Housing 

For what it is worth the lad with the E53 was meticulous with servicing and torque settings and he still had a split housing?

Dave

[jenksy0198]

OK thanks for that advice Dave.

 

[jenksy0198]

Well I took the part to BMW main dealer in southport and there has been absolutely zero feedback from them, this despite me emailing seeking a reply.  Seems they just could not be arsed following up with me.

 

[Greydog]

Such a shame that in their arrogance they don't even have the respect for their customers to bother even trying. Don't they realise that without us, their customers they wouldn't have a business 😠

Car still OK fingers crossed

Dave

[jenksy0198]

HI all, I was recently in Canada and saw a garage saying BMW specialist. I thought I would seek a 3rd opinion. He was a very nice German sounding gent and he was also very helpful. Seems in Canada they replace a lot of these items because of failures due to the extreme temperature cycling in Canadian winters causing material failures. So whilst in the UK we don't get the same extreme winters it does look like temperature cycling does create failure issues in these items.

Would be nice for BMW to admit this is something that needs attention on a regular basis as it is so easy to ensure it is done on a service say each 3 years or so, or maybe more frequently in severe winter conditions.

    

[Greydog]

Hi Paul

The plastic bits in the engine bay have caught out MB, BMW, VW/Audi what seemed the answer to a prayer being light and easy to produce they all went helter skelter fitting plastics.

Inlet Manifolds, Water Pipes, Filter Housings, and worse Timing Chain guides all of which are a cause of trouble but for the owner not the Manufacturer as these parts tend to give trouble long after their Warranty responsibility is over allowing them to wash their hands

Nice piece of information 

Dave

[jenksy0198]

To be fair the gent providing the info was extremely excited to be asked and just gushed the information. It was a proper nugget. Would advise all to take heed of this little piece of advice. The plastic oil filter holder can fail due to temperature cycling.   

[jenksy0198]

Still no comment from BMW............................

[jenksy0198]

So a further two months on and still no comment from BMW................ just admit you have cocked it up with plastic parts and we can all then check our motors with a degree of confidence.

All good since I made the change also, no further issues on the oil filter housing but will certainly check if we have some cold weather come through this winter..

  

[jenksy0198]

so 4 months on and still no comment from BMW. I will certainly look to change this filter holder each 30K miles. Seems good practice to do so. Hopefully BMW will think it courteous at a minimum to actually provide some guidance on this matter.      

[Greydog]

I wouldn't be holding my breath for that Paul 🤣

Dave