N55 OFHG Leaking After 21k miles

MTK24 · 02-03-2020, 06:04 PM

Just replaced my oil filter housing gasket at 69k miles at an Indy. Now it is leaking again at 90k miles 3 years later.

I bought the car at 64k miles. It wasn't changed until then.

What causes the oil filter housing gasket to go bad so fast? Am I going to keep having to replace this shit every 20-25k mikes

clegg · 02-03-2020, 06:25 PM

Check your Valve (head) cover gasket for possible leaks. I just changed one at 131000 miles. It was actually the valvetronic motor seal that bolts in the side of the valve cover.

tlow98 · 02-03-2020, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clegg

Check your Valve (head) cover gasket for possible leaks. I just changed one at 131000 miles. It was actually the valvetronic motor seal that bolts in the side of the valve cover.

335sDon’t have this part

El Cheapo Loco · 02-03-2020, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vampire335i

Just replaced my oil filter housing gasket at 69k miles at an Indy. Now it is leaking again at 90k miles 3 years later.

I bought the car at 64k miles. It wasn't changed until then.

What causes the oil filter housing gasket to go bad so fast? Am I going to keep having to replace this shit every 20-25k mikes

Are you sure it's leaking from the OFHG? If you have oil down the front of the engine, then it's OFHG. But if you have oil on the passenger side down onto the exhaust manifold, then your VCG is leaking. If done right, a new OFHG should last at least 60k.

CTinline-six · 02-03-2020, 06:57 PM

I need to replace mine after about 20k miles also. I replaced it with what I believe was a non-OEM part that claimed to be OEM from an online source. Now that I look at the new OEM part with the ribs on the gasket, it looks better than what I put in.

I read a few years back to apply a thin layer of RTV ultra black onto the gasket to help it seal, and let it sit for 24 hours without fluids in it. I tried this as an experiment on my 2006 325xi, and when I sold the car about 30k miles later it had zero leaks. I will be trying that again when I replace the gasket hopefully this weekend on my current car.

TunafishE93 · 02-03-2020, 07:34 PM

N55 does have the Eccentric Shaft Actuator Gasket which is known to leak which I believe was called the valvetronic motor seal above.

feuer · 02-03-2020, 08:15 PM

If OEM gasket wasn’t used, if bolts weren’t replaced and weren’t torqued properly you could be replacing the OFHG every 21 miles lol Re-do it, and do it correctly

CTinline-six · 02-04-2020, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feuer

If OEM gasket wasn’t used, if bolts weren’t replaced and weren’t torqued properly you could be replacing the OFHG every 21 miles lol Re-do it, and do it correctly

The bolts are actually steel and don't need to be replaced (they go into the head not the magnesium block), but yes torquing them correctly and evenly is important.

TunafishE93 · 02-04-2020, 07:35 AM

And don't use oem.. Why replace something that's faulty with the same thing and expect different results that's just crazy..

CTinline-six · 02-04-2020, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TunafishE93

And don't use oem.. Why replace something that's faulty with the same thing and expect different results that's just crazy..

The OEM design has been improved, and from my own personal experience using an aftermarket one, the aftermarket ones are not substantial enough.

The new OEM design has ribs that help provide stability to the gasket (see below).

TheMidnightNarwhal · 02-04-2020, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TunafishE93

And don't use oem.. Why replace something that's faulty with the same thing and expect different results that's just crazy..

You again. You've still haven't replied to me regarding your eBay purchases in that other thread. Why replace something that's faulty with the same thing is because that is your best option. Ebay shit isn't going to last nearly as long as OE/OEM stuff. Your logic is flawed.

Furthermore, the new OE gasket is made in Japan and the design is also different.

TunafishE93 · 02-04-2020, 07:54 AM

My ebay gaskets are working fine.. Don't be mad bro.

When have you used ebay gaskets?

By the way my ebay tranny filter, gaskets, no oem tranny fluid, supertech oil, valve cover gaskets, pvc valve are all working fine, no leaking like oem..

Next is non OEM charge pipe, intercooler, self built meth kit..

TheMidnightNarwhal · 02-04-2020, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TunafishE93

My ebay gaskets are working fine.. Don't be mad bro.

When have you used ebay gaskets?

It wasn't just about gaskets. You were talking about a chineese no brand name HPFP.

TunafishE93 · 02-04-2020, 08:03 AM

Yes I would recommend that over OEM... Except if there is lifetime warranty which I would go with that since it doesn't matter when it fails..

tlow98 · 02-04-2020, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TunafishE93

My ebay gaskets are working fine.. Don't be mad bro.

When have you used ebay gaskets?

By the way my ebay tranny filter, gaskets, no oem tranny fluid, supertech oil, valve cover gaskets, pvc valve are all working fine, no leaking like oem..

Next is non OEM charge pipe, intercooler, self built meth kit..

I bet you have extensive meth experience.

oVeRdOsE. · 02-04-2020, 10:06 AM

ebay is a STORE. You can find premium stuff and bad stuff.

so in that logic, if I get a set of genuine NGK sparkplugs on ebay, those will go bad way faster than the FCP euro one?

TheMidnightNarwhal · 02-04-2020, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oVeRdOsE.

ebay is a STORE. You can find premium stuff and bad stuff.

so in that logic, if I get a set of genuine NGK sparkplugs on ebay, those will go bad way faster than the FCP euro one?

No but he is talking about non branded ebay chinesium, At least in the other thread he was.

TheMidnightNarwhal · 02-04-2020, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TunafishE93

My ebay gaskets are working fine.. Don't be mad bro.

When have you used ebay gaskets?

By the way my ebay tranny filter, gaskets, no oem tranny fluid, supertech oil, valve cover gaskets, pvc valve are all working fine, no leaking like oem..

Next is non OEM charge pipe, intercooler, self built meth kit..

But how long has those all been there in terms of millage and age?

nsjames · 02-04-2020, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlow98

335sDon’t have this part

Quote:

Originally Posted by TunafishE93

My ebay gaskets are working fine.. Don't be mad bro.

When have you used ebay gaskets?

By the way my ebay tranny filter, gaskets, no oem tranny fluid, supertech oil, valve cover gaskets, pvc valve are all working fine, no leaking like oem..

Next is non OEM charge pipe, intercooler, self built meth kit..

and how many miles have you put on them?

I find it amusing that you think al the OEM parts are trash because people have problems.
well look at the sample size. Literally every single car left with OEM parts, how many are putting unnamed ebay parts on and then driving for 100K miles so we can have the same test conditions to compare them too?

your logic is flawed because the data you're using to craft your argument is flawed.

edit:
and I didn't replace a single gasket on my car until it hit 125K miles.
that's hardly a poor service life.
I've done plenty of other leaking engine seals before that kind of mileage on supposedly more reliable brands.

02-03-2020, 06:04 PM	#1
MTK24 Lieutenant 485 Rep 599 Posts Drives: 2011 335I X Drive Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	Just replaced my oil filter housing gasket at 69k miles at an Indy. Now it is leaking again at 90k miles 3 years later. I bought the car at 64k miles. It wasn't changed until then. What causes the oil filter housing gasket to go bad so fast? Am I going to keep having to replace this shit every 20-25k mikes __________________ Vermillion Red
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02-03-2020, 06:25 PM	#2
clegg First Lieutenant 87 Rep 301 Posts Drives: 335i E92, 435i F32,X5 F15 Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: O'Fallon, MO iTrader: (0)	Check your Valve (head) cover gasket for possible leaks. I just changed one at 131000 miles. It was actually the valvetronic motor seal that bolts in the side of the valve cover.
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02-03-2020, 06:57 PM	#5
CTinline-six Hoonigan 6848 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]	I need to replace mine after about 20k miles also. I replaced it with what I believe was a non-OEM part that claimed to be OEM from an online source. Now that I look at the new OEM part with the ribs on the gasket, it looks better than what I put in. I read a few years back to apply a thin layer of RTV ultra black onto the gasket to help it seal, and let it sit for 24 hours without fluids in it. I tried this as an experiment on my 2006 325xi, and when I sold the car about 30k miles later it had zero leaks. I will be trying that again when I replace the gasket hopefully this weekend on my current car. __________________ "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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02-03-2020, 07:34 PM	#6
TunafishE93 Major 418 Rep 1,152 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: NV iTrader: (0)	N55 does have the Eccentric Shaft Actuator Gasket which is known to leak which I believe was called the valvetronic motor seal above. Attached Images
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02-03-2020, 08:15 PM	#7
feuer Major General 4276 Rep 9,206 Posts Drives: wife crazy! Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (5)	If OEM gasket wasn’t used, if bolts weren’t replaced and weren’t torqued properly you could be replacing the OFHG every 21 miles lol Re-do it, and do it correctly
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02-04-2020, 07:35 AM	#9
TunafishE93 Major 418 Rep 1,152 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: NV iTrader: (0)	And don't use oem.. Why replace something that's faulty with the same thing and expect different results that's just crazy..
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02-04-2020, 07:54 AM	#12
TunafishE93 Major 418 Rep 1,152 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: NV iTrader: (0)	My ebay gaskets are working fine.. Don't be mad bro. When have you used ebay gaskets? By the way my ebay tranny filter, gaskets, no oem tranny fluid, supertech oil, valve cover gaskets, pvc valve are all working fine, no leaking like oem.. Next is non OEM charge pipe, intercooler, self built meth kit.. Last edited by TunafishE93; 02-04-2020 at 08:02 AM..
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02-04-2020, 08:03 AM	#14
TunafishE93 Major 418 Rep 1,152 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: NV iTrader: (0)	Yes I would recommend that over OEM... Except if there is lifetime warranty which I would go with that since it doesn't matter when it fails..
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02-04-2020, 10:06 AM	#16
oVeRdOsE. Lieutenant Colonel 2709 Rep 1,538 Posts Drives: F25 E91 Audi Avnt E90 Cayenne Join Date: May 2018 Location: mtl iTrader: (0)	ebay is a STORE. You can find premium stuff and bad stuff. so in that logic, if I get a set of genuine NGK sparkplugs on ebay, those will go bad way faster than the FCP euro one?
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