Significant amounts of Oil in expansion tank.

Tonkatruck · 03-22-2018, 01:47 PM

I recently had the OFHG replaced at a local Indie shop, a few weeks later I noticed coolant leaking. So I checked coolant level.
I found significant amounts of oil was in there, my finger looked as if I just dipped it in pure oil. So I took it into the same shop and they can't seem to locate where oil is getting into the coolant.

It's a 2007 335i (non oil cooler) with 163k miles. I've owned it for 8 years and 145k miles. I usually do most work myself, but had a shop tackle this and a few other things while I was on vacation.

Car runs completely fine, no white smoke, no misfire, no coolant in the oil. No visible oil leaking externally from the Oil filter housing. It's always been stock.

Any ideas? I am going to pick it up, probably replace the OFHG again, do a complete flush. I don't know what else it could be.

Advice is appreviated. I did search, but didn't notice anything similar to my situation.

CTinline-six · 03-22-2018, 02:04 PM

My guess is the shop somehow messed up the install or the gasket is defective and oil is getting into your coolant.

Wolf 335 · 03-22-2018, 02:10 PM

Or maybe oil mixed with coolant from the bad ofhg.

Flush your coolant, fill it up. Check again now that you have a new ofhg.

Tonkatruck · 03-22-2018, 02:43 PM

System was flushed after OFHG was replaced. Trace amounts were noticed after, which I assume was from the bad/old OFHG.

I am just glad to hear others think it's from a malfunctioning OFHG. Whether it be install or manufacturer defect.

labrador · 03-22-2018, 02:47 PM

Either a bad install or they did not drain the oil filter (just the filter area) or drain out about 2.5 qts of coolant before removing the housing.

I did that a month ago. Never a problem.

I guess if you want anything done right, do it yourself.

Btw I used Erling Klinger gasket, hopefully better than the last Victor Reinz.

dsjr2006 · 03-22-2018, 10:58 PM

Bolt torque must be correct and use a quality gasket for this. I bought the kit from FCP Euro.

I did a coolant flush as well because of the oil in the coolant and and oil change of course because of coolant in the oil.

Tonkatruck · 03-23-2018, 10:36 AM

Elring is the gasket that was used. I may flush the system a couple times to get it clear. See if the oil returns, then if it does dive into the OFHG.

Once again appreciate the help, I was hoping to get at least 200k out of this vehicle.

dsjr2006 · 03-23-2018, 12:37 PM

Did you have oil leaking externally? And was the serpentine belt replaced?

Tonkatruck · 03-23-2018, 02:56 PM

Yes, it was leaking externally. Belt and pullies were replaced.

labrador · 03-23-2018, 04:31 PM

As said, do check that the housing is equally tightened down. Check that the seam looks even.

Tonkatruck · 03-23-2018, 06:04 PM

Just to clarify so there isn't any confusion. It's not currently leaking "externally" from the OFH.

fastordiy · 03-24-2018, 10:08 PM

Only Oem Ofhg . Please !!!

dsjr2006 · 03-24-2018, 10:14 PM

If it’s been fixed and the coolant wasn’t flushed that’s probably why there’s oil in your coolant.

Tonkatruck · 04-15-2018, 10:03 PM

Wanted to update the thread. After installing a new expansion tank for good measure and flushing the system 3 times. I haven't noticed any traces of oil mixed with the coolant. I am at a loss of how that much oil mixed with the coolant. The OFHG was changed at a reputable shop, but clearly they forgot a step.

tlow98 · 04-16-2018, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonkatruck

Wanted to update the thread. After installing a new expansion tank for good measure and flushing the system 3 times. I haven't noticed any traces of oil mixed with the coolant. I am at a loss of how that much oil mixed with the coolant. The OFHG was changed at a reputable shop, but clearly they forgot a step.

When doing the OFHG it's a good idea to unscrew the oil filter cap before removing the OFHG 3 bolts. This allows the oil to drain back into the pan that's normally held with the filter.

Maybe this wasn't done?

Good fix tho, on your part. Sounds like you're knowledgeable enough to do your own work in the future...

Tonkatruck · 04-16-2018, 08:08 AM

I usually do my own work. I've done OFHG gasket before, this was just out of convenience as we were out of town for a week. So the Wife didn't need to drive the truck while her car was down. Turned out to be not so convenient.

03-22-2018, 01:47 PM	#1
Tonkatruck New Member 3 Rep 25 Posts Drives: 07 335i E90 Alpine on tan Join Date: May 2012 Location: Herriman UT iTrader: (0)	Significant amounts of Oil in expansion tank. I recently had the OFHG replaced at a local Indie shop, a few weeks later I noticed coolant leaking. So I checked coolant level. I found significant amounts of oil was in there, my finger looked as if I just dipped it in pure oil. So I took it into the same shop and they can't seem to locate where oil is getting into the coolant. It's a 2007 335i (non oil cooler) with 163k miles. I've owned it for 8 years and 145k miles. I usually do most work myself, but had a shop tackle this and a few other things while I was on vacation. Car runs completely fine, no white smoke, no misfire, no coolant in the oil. No visible oil leaking externally from the Oil filter housing. It's always been stock. Any ideas? I am going to pick it up, probably replace the OFHG again, do a complete flush. I don't know what else it could be. Advice is appreviated. I did search, but didn't notice anything similar to my situation.
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03-22-2018, 02:04 PM	#2
CTinline-six Hoonigan 6876 Rep 3,000 Posts Drives: '09 328i, '98 Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 328i N51 [0.00]	My guess is the shop somehow messed up the install or the gasket is defective and oil is getting into your coolant. __________________ "Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." -Dr. Ian Malcolm, Jurassic Park
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03-22-2018, 02:10 PM	#3
Wolf 335 Brigadier General 2341 Rep 3,542 Posts Drives: 2007 E92 335i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: GTA - Greater Toronto Area iTrader: (0)	Or maybe oil mixed with coolant from the bad ofhg. Flush your coolant, fill it up. Check again now that you have a new ofhg.
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03-22-2018, 02:43 PM	#4
Tonkatruck New Member 3 Rep 25 Posts Drives: 07 335i E90 Alpine on tan Join Date: May 2012 Location: Herriman UT iTrader: (0)	System was flushed after OFHG was replaced. Trace amounts were noticed after, which I assume was from the bad/old OFHG. I am just glad to hear others think it's from a malfunctioning OFHG. Whether it be install or manufacturer defect.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-22-2018, 02:47 PM	#5
labrador Second Lieutenant 65 Rep 218 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: California iTrader: (0)	Either a bad install or they did not drain the oil filter (just the filter area) or drain out about 2.5 qts of coolant before removing the housing. I did that a month ago. Never a problem. I guess if you want anything done right, do it yourself. Btw I used Erling Klinger gasket, hopefully better than the last Victor Reinz.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-22-2018, 10:58 PM	#6
dsjr2006 Captain 157 Rep 848 Posts Drives: '01 E39 540iA, '09 E90 M3 Join Date: May 2013 Location: Metro Detroit iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 BMW 335i [0.00] 2001 BMW 540i [0.00]	Bolt torque must be correct and use a quality gasket for this. I bought the kit from FCP Euro. I did a coolant flush as well because of the oil in the coolant and and oil change of course because of coolant in the oil. __________________ E90 M3 DCT LCI \| E90 LCI N54 M-Sport(retired) \| E90 Technical Docs download: http://j.mp/bmwe90docs *good read, very detailed.
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03-23-2018, 10:36 AM	#7
Tonkatruck New Member 3 Rep 25 Posts Drives: 07 335i E90 Alpine on tan Join Date: May 2012 Location: Herriman UT iTrader: (0)	Elring is the gasket that was used. I may flush the system a couple times to get it clear. See if the oil returns, then if it does dive into the OFHG. Once again appreciate the help, I was hoping to get at least 200k out of this vehicle.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-23-2018, 12:37 PM	#8
dsjr2006 Captain 157 Rep 848 Posts Drives: '01 E39 540iA, '09 E90 M3 Join Date: May 2013 Location: Metro Detroit iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 BMW 335i [0.00] 2001 BMW 540i [0.00]	Did you have oil leaking externally? And was the serpentine belt replaced? __________________ E90 M3 DCT LCI \| E90 LCI N54 M-Sport(retired) \| E90 Technical Docs download: http://j.mp/bmwe90docs *good read, very detailed.
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03-23-2018, 02:56 PM	#9
Tonkatruck New Member 3 Rep 25 Posts Drives: 07 335i E90 Alpine on tan Join Date: May 2012 Location: Herriman UT iTrader: (0)	Yes, it was leaking externally. Belt and pullies were replaced.
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03-23-2018, 04:31 PM	#10
labrador Second Lieutenant 65 Rep 218 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: California iTrader: (0)	As said, do check that the housing is equally tightened down. Check that the seam looks even.
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03-23-2018, 06:04 PM	#11
Tonkatruck New Member 3 Rep 25 Posts Drives: 07 335i E90 Alpine on tan Join Date: May 2012 Location: Herriman UT iTrader: (0)	Just to clarify so there isn't any confusion. It's not currently leaking "externally" from the OFH.
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03-24-2018, 10:08 PM	#12
fastordiy Enlisted Member 5 Rep 37 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Miami iTrader: (0)	Only Oem Ofhg . Please !!!
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03-24-2018, 10:14 PM	#13
dsjr2006 Captain 157 Rep 848 Posts Drives: '01 E39 540iA, '09 E90 M3 Join Date: May 2013 Location: Metro Detroit iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 BMW 335i [0.00] 2001 BMW 540i [0.00]	If it’s been fixed and the coolant wasn’t flushed that’s probably why there’s oil in your coolant. __________________ E90 M3 DCT LCI \| E90 LCI N54 M-Sport(retired) \| E90 Technical Docs download: http://j.mp/bmwe90docs *good read, very detailed.
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04-15-2018, 10:03 PM	#14
Tonkatruck New Member 3 Rep 25 Posts Drives: 07 335i E90 Alpine on tan Join Date: May 2012 Location: Herriman UT iTrader: (0)	Wanted to update the thread. After installing a new expansion tank for good measure and flushing the system 3 times. I haven't noticed any traces of oil mixed with the coolant. I am at a loss of how that much oil mixed with the coolant. The OFHG was changed at a reputable shop, but clearly they forgot a step.
	Appreciate 1 Wolf 3352340.50 Quote

04-16-2018, 08:08 AM	#16
Tonkatruck New Member 3 Rep 25 Posts Drives: 07 335i E90 Alpine on tan Join Date: May 2012 Location: Herriman UT iTrader: (0)	I usually do my own work. I've done OFHG gasket before, this was just out of convenience as we were out of town for a week. So the Wife didn't need to drive the truck while her car was down. Turned out to be not so convenient.
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