Re: <E36> Profile gasket issues for M42 motor.

["Ron Buchalski" <rbuchals@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Anup,

You can have the car tested for compression leaks at cold and hot 
temperatures, and they can also perform a leakdown test, where they 
pressurize the cylinders and see if the pressure leaks out...usually 
overnight.

However, this won't always catch a leaking head gasket problem.

Your best bet, and one that's relatively cheap to do (around $20) is to send 
an oil sample in for analysis.  They will be able to determine how much (if 
any) coolant is in your oil.

There are many oil analysis labs out there (do an Internet search on Oil 
Analysis), but I've used Blackstone Labs:

www.blackstone-labs.com/

and have been happy with them.  Give them a call (check out the URL) and 
you'll find out how to draw a sample and send it in for analysis.


Seeing a milky substance on your dip stick isn't necessarily a sign of a 
leaking head gasket.  It could just be condensation in the engine. With 
colder atmospheric temperatures, you'll tend to accumulate more condensation 
when the engine cools off, as the cooler air can't hold as much moisture.  
Also, lots of short trips (under 5 miles) will tend to not allow the engine 
oil to reach operating temperature, so the condensation will never have a 
chance to completely evaporate, and will accumulate in the engine.

- -rb

>
>Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2001 17:03:37 -0500
>From: Anup Lakare <alakare@domain.elided>
>Subject: <E36> Profile gasket issues for M42 motor.
>
>Hello,
>
>The profile gasket defect is an old known problem with M42 engines
>manufactured earlier to 11/93. My car was manufactured in 2/94, it has 
>about 68k miles. I recently noticed reduction in coolant level over a 
>period of 2-3 months. The oil dip stick showed some white residue when the 
>car was cold, the residue disappeared when the engine was warm. What is the 
>best way to know if there is a gasket problem in this engine? Are there any 
>evident leaks or other symptoms? Thank you for your help.
>
>Regards,
>
>Anup
>318i '94.

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