» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM 05-02-2024 08:18 PM 6 Replies, 330,000 Views | | | | | | | 11-15-2008, 07:26 PM | #1 | Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 40 | oil in spark plug recess right so today I thought i'd change my plugs, part of a cpmplete service on my 318ti m44. i did an oil change, checked the levels etc and ran the engine for about a minute pulled the plug cover off and the plug connector nearest the front of the engine bay. i slotted my 16mm plug tool down there and pulled it out again to find oil all over the tool, thought this was a bit odd and the spark plug wasnt very tightly seated(seemed semi nipped up) i put my tool in the other slots and they were all perfectly clean. any idea on what could have caused the oil? just the fact the plug is loose? will i need to blow any sh1t3 out of the sylinder b cranking it? any help much appreciated | | | 11-15-2008, 07:42 PM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,895 | Funny you should post this as I am doing this repair as we speak. You need a new valve cover gasket. Lucky for you (and me) it's all spelled out right here: http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=12007 __________________ ... ʎɐqǝ uo pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ ʎnq ı ǝɯıʇ ʇsɐן ǝɥʇ sı sıɥʇ | | | 11-15-2008, 07:52 PM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | I changed my valve cover gasket last week. The gasket was hard as a rock. Not sure of a M42/M44 has the same type of gasket, but if there is a separate gasket that goes around the spark plugs, you may need a dental pick to remove it. Be sure nothing drops in there. __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 11-15-2008, 07:53 PM | #4 | Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 40 | cheers guys shall do this tomorrow and let you know how i get on, are the plug gaskets part of the rocker cover gasket set? | | | 11-15-2008, 07:56 PM | #5 | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 | While you have the valve cover off, take some brake cleaner and a poker and scrape all of the crud out of the fitting where the crank case vent(CCV) hose slides onto. Your car will run better __________________ 4 MORE YEARS BABY!!! | | | 11-15-2008, 09:09 PM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,895 | Quote: Originally Posted by rik89 cheers guys shall do this tomorrow and let you know how i get on, are the plug gaskets part of the rocker cover gasket set? | I would not assume it all comes together because when I called my BMW dealer, they guy was ordering each part. But other aftermarket sellers might have it all as a kit. __________________ ... ʎɐqǝ uo pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ ʎnq ı ǝɯıʇ ʇsɐן ǝɥʇ sı sıɥʇ | | | 11-15-2008, 09:19 PM | #7 | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 | you can get the part numbers from realoem.com. I'm sure the part numbers are posted on this forum somewhere as well, try searching "valve cover gasket" or "spark plug gaskets" __________________ 4 MORE YEARS BABY!!! | | | 11-15-2008, 09:35 PM | #9 | Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 40 | yea cheers for that i just found that on realoem. now gotta find somewhere local to get the bits from thats open on sunday number 13 i presume is the ccv hose, i'll get it cleaned up nicely whilst the cover's off. read that guide does evryone here use sealer on the cam cover? | | | 11-15-2008, 09:40 PM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | Quote: Originally Posted by rik89 now gotta find somewhere local to get the bits from thats open on sunday | Didn't pay attention to your location. Good luck. Should be an easy job. If I could do it on my 2.8, should be a snap on a M44. __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 11-15-2008, 10:29 PM | #11 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,895 | Quote: Originally Posted by rik89 does evryone here use sealer on the cam cover? | Yeah, get a tube of high temp sealer. You'll see it on the old gasket when you take it out. By the way, I just pulled my valve cover and did a practice run putting it back on and I definitely will need to remove the ductwork above the rear of the cover to make it easier to place when I reassemble. It's too tight a squeeze without removing it. I'm done for today and my gaskets aren't in til Monday - but, I figured I could get myself 50% of the way today and drive my other car. __________________ ... ʎɐqǝ uo pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ ʎnq ı ǝɯıʇ ʇsɐן ǝɥʇ sı sıɥʇ | | | 11-16-2008, 07:31 AM | #12 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 3,212 | Yeah i had this done at the dealer a couple months back. I did my oil change a couple weeks ago and found oil in one of the sprak plugs. It's really annoying when you pay someone to do a job and they don't do it correctly. I need to take it back and have them fix, that's if it's still under warranty. | | | 11-16-2008, 04:51 PM | #13 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,895 | That sucks - I wonder if they put the old inner gaskets back in instead of new ones? __________________ ... ʎɐqǝ uo pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ ʎnq ı ǝɯıʇ ʇsɐן ǝɥʇ sı sıɥʇ | | | 11-16-2008, 05:14 PM | #14 | Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 40 | right, i phoned round a few places. found a place that does a gasket set for £100 delivered next day. seems a little expensive to me? thats approx $150 :s i might try tightening up the bolt by plug 2 as its next to plug one that thats the only plug with oil in the hole. also is it ok to just spray degreaser down the hole? (obviously i would leave the plug in so as not to let anything get in the cylinder) | | | 11-16-2008, 05:22 PM | #15 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,895 | Be very careful about overtightening that aluminum thread! You can swab out the oil one way or another for as long as you need to. __________________ ... ʎɐqǝ uo pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ ʎnq ı ǝɯıʇ ʇsɐן ǝɥʇ sı sıɥʇ | | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |