MAJOR OIL LEAK!!!!

[backtrail69]

I just rebuilt my first m10. I replaced, all seals, bearings, gaskets, oil pump, timing chaing, oil pump chain/gear, valve springs (dual), SS valves, grinded seats and a 292 cam and all kinds of other things. I had everything clean as a whistle and block and head hot tanked. I just got the car running this weekend and it blew out the oil seal on the filter. I bought a new filter and filled up the oil again. It did it again. I put the seal back on and tightened it more...did it again. What the heck is wrong with my motor. I am VERY close to giving up on this car. I have spent SOOOO much time and money on this car and nothing ever seems to go right.

Thanks for your Help,

Isaac

[jgerry2002]

what filter? bmw? aftermarket? what p/n?

[cj]

This topic came up awhile back. Do a search with "pressure relief valve" to find it. Seemed there was an easy fix and one that involved pulling the oil pan.

Cris

[backtrail69]

I tried a WIX filter and a carquest blue filter. I don't know the part numbers but i have used both in the past and have worked fine on the old motor.....GOD...I didnt want to pull the pan.... esp since is is soo nicely sealed right now.

[jgerry2002]

Those filters do not have the correct pressure relief valve or can strength.

Try a bmw filter, P/N ending in 059.

You will stop blowing up filters.

[backtrail69]

Will a Mann filter work?

[jgerry2002]

Mann is OEM manufacturer for BMW filters, it should work fine.

If you blow that one up it is definitely an oil pump pressure relief valve issue.

[backtrail69]

I would hope that the pressure releif valve would work fine on a brand new oil pump.... I am going to be dissapointed if i have to pull the pan on this motor.

[tinkidz]

Happened to me. Pressure relief valve. Blows the o-ring right out of the filter. BIG MESS!!

Good luck.

[ChuckinNC]

When I rebuilt my engine, I was warned to not use a Febi oil pump due to the pressure relief valve problem. I was able to source another brand, and so far so good. I hope that isn't your problem, as I believe it was a fairly rare problem.

Chuck in NC

[merlin]

A cheap junky oil filter shouldnt blow as fast as these did. We are correct that those cheap filters for a multitude of reasons are no good (see pressure of valve, if it even has a valve, and filtering ability). Before we condem the pump as being bad I think some investagation is in order. First is this a new oil pump? Did you prime the new pump? Failure to do this can trash the pump leading to this problem. How did you prime the new pump? Either way I think the pump is trashed (and its pressure valve) but we dont want you to repeat this experence with another new pump. I have also heard of the Febi oil pump problems but have yet to see one that had this problem (we are avoiding them just to be safe).

Sam

LaValle's Import Restorations

[DukeRimmer]

When mine failed the car lost pressure, but perhaps it could cause high pressure too? It's a very easy fix. Good luck.

[backtrail69]

To prime the oil pump we put oil through it manually and then cranked it a bunch before we started it. It was a brand new febi oil pump....

[Hugh]

where'd you get the engine work done?

[BAhyow02]

Isaac,

Take a step back, take a deep breath, calm down all is not lost. Most likely as others have suggested you have an oil pressure regulator problem.

This means that either the oil pressure regulator is stuck or assembled incorrectly. If you did not assemble the oil pump to the regulator piston/spring assembly correctly, the piston will bottom out on the tube and not allow the oil pump to relieve pressure.

I have seen this done and it basically will blow the filter o-ring out every time upon startup. The febi pumps aren't necesarily bad, as long as you make sure there are no machining chips and trash in them before installation (mine looked like crap when I opened it up from the box)

Take a look at this page http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=ST12&mospid=47140&btnr=11_2582&hg=11&fg=30

And make sure you inserted part #10 the correct way. When the pump is assembled correctly the long part of the tube of #10 should protrude out the bottom of the oilpump. If it is put in the opposite way this will cause the problem you have (don't ask how I know this).

If this is not the case, then the piston in the oil pressure relief valve (#8) is sticking in it's bore. Make sure that the cross drilled passages do not have any machining flash left on them that could bind up this piston.

I hope this helps you out. Most likely you are going to need to drop the oilpan and take the pump out for inspection.

Goodluck and let me know if you have any other questions.

Bernard