retorque oil pan bolts? - N54Tech.com

slenser · **retorque oil pan bolts? -** 02-24-2018, 03:39 PM

I've had a very small leak in my oil pan for some time now, but I just recently replaced the left motor mount using a 2x4 and a floor jack to lift the engine by the oil pan. Since then, I've noticed heavy oil spots on the ground. I really don't want to replace the gasket if I don't need to.

I don't think I've seen any thread of someone just retorquing the bolts on BMWs, but I've done this before on other vehicles that developed small leaks with some success.

Let me know what y'all think!

Thanks,
Sam

erichale · 02-24-2018, 05:02 PM

If you tighten the oil pan bolts down and it stops leaking, great. If it still leaks then you're right where you started, no harm no foul.

Boland01 · 02-24-2018, 08:20 PM

The oil pan bolts on the 335i are aluminum so be careful and don't over-torque them.

slenser · 02-24-2018, 09:18 PM

Thanks guys!

Eric: That's what I figured too. It's just that I never see it done on these forums, so I didn't know if it was a big no-no.

Boland: I'll be using a torque wrench to make sure I don't.

135hoser · 02-24-2018, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slenser

Boland: I'll be using a torque wrench to make sure I don't.

Hey,

I wish you the best of luck. Be careful as the single use, stretch-to-fit factory bolts may break, or loosen over time if you attempt to tighten/torque them again (to any spec)

I wish BMW had a core charge on the old stretched bolts to offset the cost of new ones.

E92 420 · 02-25-2018, 03:49 AM

Should be fine. I had my motor build recently and after torquing the pan bolts correctly I had oil seeping from gasket area on sump pan. Went back around and gave them all a nip up. Problem fixed and have had no issues since.

guancho34 · 02-25-2018, 05:20 AM

want to echo the word of caution on the aluminum pan bolts breaking / overstretching... the book says 8nm then additional 1/4 turn for the short ones and 1/2 turn for the handful of long ones along the transmission housing. i dont know what the final torque value becomes but you are pulling pretty good on the additional turn rotation. (8nm is practically nothing)

erichale · 02-25-2018, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E92 420

Should be fine. I had my motor build recently and after torquing the pan bolts correctly I had oil seeping from gasket area on sump pan. Went back around and gave them all a nip up. Problem fixed and have had no issues since.

Same here. No problems at all since.

Nitrousbird · 02-27-2018, 05:25 PM

Could always just buy a set of new bolts and replace/torque them one at a time.