Need help finding cause of oil leak

[davidjay]

I have a 97 z3 1.9 that has an oil leak problem. I used some uv dye to find the source. From the engine bay there is no sign of the leak. So I jacked up the car to check from the underside.



From there I could see the main source of the leak. Any ideas what the cause of this is? The car has 60k miles and recently had the timing cover gasket replaced.

Thanks

 

[t-tony]

Looks like it's the oil filter housing which is leaking. A very common issue on the Z engines, especially the 4 cyl. ones. I would use a hand pumped pressure sprayer and a 5 ltr. can of brake and clutch cleaner to thoroughly clean down that area and then re-assess the leak.

Tony.

 

[jonco]

Agree with @t-tony . The filter body gasket degrades over time and inevitably leaks - the gasket on mine just crumbled when I took housing off. Once proven you will need new gasket and it's as well to change NRV while you have it apart. See pics.

 

[davidjay]

Thanks guys. Glad to hear it's the filter housing and not an issue with the timing cover gasket

 

[jonco]

Thanks guys. Glad to hear it's the filter housing and not an issue with the timing cover gasket

Can't rule out rocker cover but from pic it looks like filter housing. I've had to do both. The filter housing is the easier to do.