How I Diagnose Oil & Coolant Leaks - Project Hunter BMW E83 X3

In todays video Ill be showing you how I diagnose oil and coolant leaks on any vehicle I work on. This will be part two of Project Hunter, the 2006 BMW E83 X3 with an M54 engine. Today we are doing a thorough diagnosis so we can get parts ordered up and get this BMW under the knife. I hope you all enjoy. I will link tools used below.
If you missed the first video where we inspect the car, you can find the link here:
• New BMW Project + Insp...
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Cooling System Pressure tester w/ BMW adapter:
amzn.to/439McHG
Fluid Pump for filling transmission:
amzn.to/3q95Bd3
Cheap Pressure Washer option:
amzn.to/3BWgQbu
Inspection Mirror:
amzn.to/3BX4jo7

[@CorbinWilliams]

Another great video. Nice diagnosis on the dipstick o-ring leak😎👍🏽

[@DayOffDIY]

Thank you Corbin! it kicked my ass, took multiple drive cycles and lots of cleaning to find that sucker

[@Frankysbeemer]

The man. The myth. The legend! Nice vid my friend 🤘

[@DayOffDIY]

Frankie! Thank you brother! Not the most exciting but hoping it could be helpful 👍🏻 Have a kickass holiday weekend

[@JVBNorway]

Good catch! Hopefully thats the end of the problems enginewise. Keep on making the great content👍🏼

[@DayOffDIY]

thanks Schnappi! I hope so too. waiting on parts to show up then we can tear into it!

[@evanturro5458]

Excellent video, thanks for sharing this!

[@DayOffDIY]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@bogusienombre355]

Your on fire!!!!!

[@DayOffDIY]

Thanks Bog! Tryin to do my best 👍🏻

[@bogusienombre355]

@@DayOffDIYMuch needed transmission check process covered. Check! Saw oil pan o ring is tricky to push in pan to get it set right. Maybe there is 2 o rings incorrectly there instead of the single o ring for correct procedure.? Great content. Enjoy your weekend!

[@13_death_jester24]

I just got done DIYing my Oil coolant Lines on my 2001 E46 330xi. wish you had a Video on changing something like that when I had to do it.. But I like the way you do your Videos.. 👍

[@DayOffDIY]

I do have a video on that actually! Replacing all the water pipes and all the coolant hoses on my E46, it was my second video I believe!

[@DayOffDIY]

Thanks for the support

[@julioirizarry4262]

Another great video. I wanted to hose down my 330ci but, I was hesitant to wet the alternator and cables that I can see in the engine bay but after seeing you, I will do exactly as you did . Also I tried AT-205 re-seal product on the engine and I don’t see any more oil leaks so far… probably it will just delay the inevitable gasket work until I find a knowledgeable mechanic that doesn’t charge me a kidney like the dealership. Anyways, keep the awesome work.

[@DayOffDIY]

Thanks Julio! Yeah ive never had an issue with pressure washing the engine bay with the vehicle running. only issue ive had was an N55, water settled down into the area around the ignition coils and caused a misfire, but I always leave the valve cover plastics over them. I hope you can find a good mechanic!

[@edkalsbeek1765]

No way. NO. My pressure washer is too strong, may blow off a connector or get into components and cause MORE problems

[@vanhuuphuocofficials519]

Thanks for video

[@DayOffDIY]

glad you enjoyed! thanks for the comment

[@scott4036]

Great vid! wish I lived closer so you could work on my e91! I have a front diff leak. I serviced it last month and it had 1/4 oil in it. Cleaned everything real good and from what I can tell, the diff is where the majority of the oil leak underneath the car is coming from.

[@DayOffDIY]

Thanks Scott, I’m hoping to keep working on viewers cars! A trailer would make things real easy. Is it coming from the differential itself? Or from the axle seals

[@scott4036]

@@DayOffDIY from what I could tell, it’s coming from the diff itself, maybe the o-ring on driver side where the axel connects

[@Wentworthjd]

Have you ever thought of trying lube guard platinum for the transmission? I did it in my 08 328xi and it made it shift a whole lot better and also completely fixed my severe torque converter shudder. Im usually not a fan of additives but lubeguard has a bunch of science behind their products, but I think it's worth a shot

[@DayOffDIY]

Great idea, I think I’ll order some up, I was talking to Josh this morning about using some!!!

[@DayOffDIY]

just purchased a bottle this morning! :)

[@mr2_mike]

​@@DayOffDIYdid it help?

[@thetoughcookie3665]

Pretty nice job. Would not wonder when this car has seen some servicing too, maybe they did remove the dipstick at some point and then put it back with an old seal and it's not working as intented anymore since it.

[@DayOffDIY]

Yeah I think someone left it out after an oil pan job… thanks for the support!

[@norejose]

Would love to see you work on an E36 and listen to your opinion on those models.. my first car was a 1998 323is and I missed it everyday lol

[@DayOffDIY]

id love to add an e36 to the list! If i got one, id have an e30, and e36, e46, and e90 all at the same time! that would be epic!

[@ytfeverguy8367]

I'm about to try some Lucas (stop slip) into my GM540LE trans. Ill report back. 04 x3 E83 (165k). Also battling oil leaks under her. Good stuff!

[@DayOffDIY]

i used a product in one of the later episodes on this build, i forget the name, but it fixed the transmission beautifully!

[@landuXD]

I know youll be doing a full service on it but i'd like to see the shop vac method with pulling a vaccum on the oil cap with a shop vac then pulling the oil level sensor and not loosing any oil.

[@DayOffDIY]

ya know, ive never tried it! ill have to give it a try one day

[@drippingwax]

I overpressurized my cooling system. If it wasn't leaking there before, it was now!

[@DayOffDIY]

Thatll do it!

[@markburnett7461]

Hi Alec I had a GM tranny on an e46 330d always held in 3rd gear under hard acceleration about 125k miles,did a fluid change with dextron 6 at first didnt seem to work but after a few thousand mile it was buttery smooth and never held 3rd again

[@DayOffDIY]

awesome to hear! im hoping a good trans service will fix this one up. waiting on parts atm so we shall see! thanks for the info Mark!

[@friguy4444]

Great video THANK YOU! Should have used a little engine degreaser or dish washing liquid on that undercarriage IMHO. LOL.

[@DayOffDIY]

Thanks Greg! Don’t worry I’ll be giving it another engine clean after I take care of the oil leak repairs 👍🏻

[@Biscaynedave]

I have an oil leak on my 07 X3 3.0, thanks for good info....Maybe do the filter housing oring and drive for a bit before oil dipstick tube o ring...was it both areas leaking ?

[@DayOffDIY]

yeah both were leaking but that dipstick tube o ring was missing!!! it was hemmoraging oil under highway speeds and heavy load, it was also making a giant vacuum leak. glad i was able to find that one

[@Biscaynedave]

our 07 E83 is a 3.0si with the N52 engine and there is no dipstick which i hate. i am gonna start with the oil cooler gasket. thanks for all the content !@@DayOffDIY

[@nealkinevil]

awesome

[@DayOffDIY]

thanks neal!

[@bogusienombre355]

can you explain how and why after trans fluid top off you " reset" adaptations on transmissipn? I have an idea but havent read mucj on it yet nor seen video.Thanks.

[@DayOffDIY]

from my understanding it relates to the learning process of the transmission, it changes shift points based off of driving style, so I was hoping to change how the trans was shifting by resetting adaptations.

[@gregorytolson1648]

I replaced that same oil sensor gasket on my e85 m54 just a couple months ago. I had similar leaking oil in that area. Haven’t gone under to check since, hoping that was it

[@DayOffDIY]

Well if you haven’t found a puddle then you’re in good shape so far! Hopefully that was all it was, if so, you’re lucky!

[@bogusienombre355]

Oil sensor has a gasket and at higher milage that's a good guess it needs a new sensor.

[@gregorytolson1648]

I’ll need to get down there and check. Didn’t even think the plastic of the sensor itself could be cracked. Only got 87k miles, hoping it wasn’t that lol

[@bogusienombre355]

@@gregorytolson1648 No wish it's just a sensor and find a good holiday sale on oil. Fcp and pelicans got sales and clearance going on. You might find it to be perfect timing to buy and have it ready. 🤞

[@user-qq1up4eb7e]

If a BMW doesn't have oil flowing, it's not a BMW🤣

[@DayOffDIY]

thats how you know you still have oil LOL

[@Deftones445]

I wonder if someone has replaced the oil pan gasket and didn’t replace the dipstick tube seal

[@DayOffDIY]

I think thats what happened! never seen one squirt oil like this but i bet its original, the pan gasket looks like its been done

[@Vyker]

Long hair suits you better. 😂

[@DayOffDIY]

lol thanks vyker

[@killuv811]

Why not use a UV dye?

[@DayOffDIY]

you could totally use UV dye, i just didnt have any on hand

[@adasterdezaster2865]

Alec it's not a proper transmission fluid check unless you get it in your eyes and hair. Please see the BMW tech manual for how to do this.

[@DayOffDIY]

LOLOLOL seriously, or warm ATF dripping into your armpit

[@Mommyhas2smokefirst]

🟢🟢🟢😁I ❤ when u post new videos🎉

[@DayOffDIY]

I ❤️ that you enjoy my content !!! :)

[@Mommyhas2smokefirst]

@@DayOffDIY I watch them all the time. I miss my car. I’m mad it got stolen but I’m saving for a motorcycle now. 😁🥳

[@bogusienombre355]

@@Mommyhas2smokefirst Sorry it was stolen. Gut punch nightmare.

[@Mommyhas2smokefirst]

@@bogusienombre355 I had it almost all the way done🥺😩

[@bogusienombre355]

@@Mommyhas2smokefirst oh I'm crying with you on that.

[@DannyBoyGhost]

I would love for you to work on my 2006 325i 😏🫡 I would trust you no problem

[@DayOffDIY]

if youre not far from CA id love to!

[@DannyBoyGhost]

@@DayOffDIY I actually stay in California in the Bay Area

[@DayOffDIY]

@@DannyBoyGhost if you ever want to work something out, email me! im only a few hours away

[@DannyBoyGhost]

@@DayOffDIY sounds good man definitely have something’s on the list need check off 🫡