Please help identify oil leak

[Shadowhunter]

97 M44 engine. The oil leak has been with the car since I got it, but I recently got some oil leak dye in there and traced it back to the passenger side.

Underneath the head looks wet and what I think is the EGR tube looks wet as well as well as most of the passenger side of the motor.

The leak is not too bad and never drips on the ground, but I just can't find what it is that might be leaking on the pass side other than the valve cover which from the topside at least looks dry but slightly wet on the bottom Any ideas? Here are some pics.

[pdxmotorhead]

When the Oil filter housing on my car started leaking it did the same thing,, the fan blows the oil over there I think... <best guess.. good luck!> Also the valve cover gasket allows oil to migrate to the darndest places..

Dave

[Shadowhunter]

Yeah I read the article about the oil filter housing on here and know it's a common leak but when I look under the housing I really don't see it being wet at all, I guess it's worth having another look at. Thanks!

[pdxmotorhead]

Mine would run down the back side, hit the oil pan gasket and run clear around to the passenger side.. I power washed the bejeezuz out of it with degreaser, but finally just did the oil tower cause its like 10 bucks and a 1 to 2 hour job tops..

Dave

[apyndo]

It could be the profile gasket, another common oil leak source. I pinched mine when installing a new one and it leaked in the same exact location as yours. It requires taking the valve cover off and upper timing cover.

[Shadowhunter]

Any links as to where this is located or what it looks like? Thank you!

[apyndo]

There is a more extensive write up on bimmerforums that includes this but also includes chain guide replacement. You do need to remove the thermostat for this job as it is located in the middle of the upper timing cover.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...d-Chain-Guides

The profile gasket is in between the upper timing cover and lower, right above the water pump I can take pictures if you do need them.

[Shadowhunter]

Wow that does seem like a pain in the ass ,I hope it's not that but I will check this area over more closely again. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

[apyndo]

No problem, look where the chain guide tensioner is located, below that is the lowest point of the profile gasket