She's dying :(

And there isnt anything I won't do to save her. Nothing. I don't know if it's the HG going bad or if I got a cracked head. There's oil leaking onto the exhaust manifold around cylinder 5. It just forms on it when the car sits. And after a startup after a long sit (~2 weeks) there's oil burning in the exhaust but it quickly goes away, also there is a sweet smell in the exhaust, coolant, I'm sure.

I don't want to get in there for a HG and hear that the head has a crack, or uneccesarily buy a head... Opinions? Questions? Comment?



This isn't the first time I tried to diagnose this oil problem, the first round I reseated the valve cover gasket and re torqued all the bolts down in the valve cover and I though that fixed it but it hasn't done anything, I'm afraid.

When you did VCG did you replace rubber washers that are in the picture under the nut?

Yeah. Everything got replaced when I did the head overhaul.
I'm also getting a very rough idle upon startup that smooths out in about 30seconds. There isn't any oil from the VCG down the head to the manifold so my thinking is that it's coming from between the head and the block. And that why it blows oil smoke out of the exhaust on startup after a long sit, and why there's a coolant smell in the exhaust. It must be very minor right now because it runs like a top at speed and temp and only after siting for a while do I get the smoke and smell

That leak does not look like it's internal to me, maybe VCG mating problem or gourmet issue but since you used new gourmets I guess that is out of the picture.

dunnolol.jpg

Hey Joe, have you tried putting a stock valve cover back on? Just wondering if the rough texture powder coat causes a mating problem hence the leak. Just thinking out loud.

The heat could have changed the spec as well heh

I don't have the stock cover. It was core'd. And the mating surface is completely clean, no paint or texture on it.

Maybe the heat did warp it (?)

But I do get blue smoke on startup after a long sit and a sweet coolant smell in the exhaust. My coolant is performing a vanishing act without making it to the ground which is a neat trick which makes me fear the worst. I wouldn't care so much about simple oil consumption (250k motor) but the coolant consumption is like a K.O.

Did you use gaskets on the valve cover?
Not sure how the coolant might get in but you can always do a head gasket leak test to verify.
Autozone has them as a free rent a tool. You just buy the fluid. $15 or so....

Yes. Valve cover has proper gaskets.

I'll just do a compression test. Also, I feel like its cylinder 5 so I'll pull plug and coil pack and see how they look. I only have about 500 miles on the plugs so and visible wear will be conclusive.

Use this as an excuse to do an M52/S52 swap.

I wanted an M52 and put the m50 in the E28 but in the immediate moment, I want to fix the M50

Sorry to hear your results thus far Joe. I anticipate that #5 plug will be "steam cleaned"

Im pulling the plug tomorrow, hopefully not in the standard metaphorical sense. Worst case scenario. I replace the head and HG. S50 head anyone?

This is it: plug 5

How does it compare to the other plugs?

That looks normal

Originally Posted by 1995i540

That looks normal

I agree. Looks like it's burning just right. That's why I wanted to see it compared to the others.

Joe, have you done a compression test yet?

I haven't. I need to get the tool or borrow it from someone

i have a little oil leakage on mine to but no coolant smell. I figure i"ll change the manifold gasket

and also mine is in the same area

Now you got me frightened now cant you just replace the exhaust manifold gasket? From what bentley shows it looks pretty easy kinda

Originally Posted by 93tillInfinity

i have a little oil leakage on mine to but no coolant smell. I figure i"ll change the manifold gasket

Which manifold? Exhaust?

And you have to think, why would oil be coming out of the exhaust manifold gasket. There shouldn't be any oil there...

Try your valve cover gasket first.

I'LL try that first then

Did you use any kind of sealant on the VCG? It is a rubber gasket so sometimes sealant will actually cause it to leak.

yes, I used black RTV, as per BMW requirements and specifications.

Are you suggesting that i replace my VCG and retry a finer coat of sealant rather than a haphazard bead? I got a promotion and i'm makin it rain all up in dis place so im more than willing to throw money at this car. Its my most prized possession, and because i just sunk $500 into the OEM 9" wide style 32s, i want to get her back to flaunting