98/540ia timing cover removal ?

I seem to have developed a nasty leak coming from the timing cover on the
drivers side on 98/540ia and i am trying to find out how difficult this is
to repair. Do I have to lift the engine to remove everything I need in order
to remove the cover plate(s). It is not clear in the manuals - I am not
going to replace the timing chain - just want to remove the covers (upper
and lower?) and replace the gasket to stop the bleeding... help please with
a little explanation of "how to"

thanks in advance --

"zz" > wrote in message ...
>I seem to have developed a nasty leak coming from the timing cover on the
> drivers side on 98/540ia and i am trying to find out how difficult this is
> to repair. Do I have to lift the engine to remove everything I need in
> order
> to remove the cover plate(s). It is not clear in the manuals - I am not
> going to replace the timing chain - just want to remove the covers (upper
> and lower?) and replace the gasket to stop the bleeding... help please
> with
> a little explanation of "how to"
>
> thanks in advance --
>
>

Try tightening up the bolts on the cover before you go replacing the
gaskets. My 98 740iL (same engine) had a leak last spring. Tightened the
bolts and its been leak free since then.

Kyle.

On Sat, 08 Jan 2005 16:33:06 -0600, zz wrote:

> I seem to have developed a nasty leak coming from the timing cover on the
> drivers side on 98/540ia and i am trying to find out how difficult this is
> to repair. Do I have to lift the engine to remove everything I need in
> order to remove the cover plate(s). It is not clear in the manuals - I am
> not going to replace the timing chain - just want to remove the covers
> (upper and lower?) and replace the gasket to stop the bleeding... help
> please with a little explanation of "how to"
>
The first thing I'd do would be to clean the engine really well to help in
determining where the leak actually is. There's not much room in that area
for close examination and the fan blows any oil that leaks all around,
making it difficult to determine the source. Watch things closely after
you've cleaned the engine and you should be able to spot the first
sign of oil leaking.

I say cleaning and looking is the first step because everytime I've
thought that I had a timing cover gasket problem on one of the in-line
sixes it has turned out to be something else. Typically it wound up being
something behind the crank pulley, which is just as bad to fix as if it
had been the timing cover gasket.

Yes, it can be done with the engine in the car. Everything on the front
has to come off, hoses, belts, fan, etc. Protect the radiator and your
hands with a heavy piece of cardboard, or take it out for a bit more
working room.

--
The instructions said to use Windows 98 or better, so I installed RedHat.

thanks , but I have cleaned and tried to retighten everything but it still
leaks -- so I was looking for an accurate answer as to whether I could do
replace/fix without raising the motor (not removing it), and just taking off
the normal ac/alt/waterpump/crankpulley ?


"Jim Levie" > wrote in message
news
> On Sat, 08 Jan 2005 16:33:06 -0600, zz wrote:
>
> > I seem to have developed a nasty leak coming from the timing cover on
the
> > drivers side on 98/540ia and i am trying to find out how difficult this
is
> > to repair. Do I have to lift the engine to remove everything I need in
> > order to remove the cover plate(s). It is not clear in the manuals - I
am
> > not going to replace the timing chain - just want to remove the covers
> > (upper and lower?) and replace the gasket to stop the bleeding... help
> > please with a little explanation of "how to"
> >
> The first thing I'd do would be to clean the engine really well to help in
> determining where the leak actually is. There's not much room in that area
> for close examination and the fan blows any oil that leaks all around,
> making it difficult to determine the source. Watch things closely after
> you've cleaned the engine and you should be able to spot the first
> sign of oil leaking.
>
> I say cleaning and looking is the first step because everytime I've
> thought that I had a timing cover gasket problem on one of the in-line
> sixes it has turned out to be something else. Typically it wound up being
> something behind the crank pulley, which is just as bad to fix as if it
> had been the timing cover gasket.
>
> Yes, it can be done with the engine in the car. Everything on the front
> has to come off, hoses, belts, fan, etc. Protect the radiator and your
> hands with a heavy piece of cardboard, or take it out for a bit more
> working room.
>
> --
> The instructions said to use Windows 98 or better, so I installed RedHat.
>

I have repair instructions that I can email you. If you would like them,
send me your email address.

Kyle.

"zz" > wrote in message ...
> thanks , but I have cleaned and tried to retighten everything but it still
> leaks -- so I was looking for an accurate answer as to whether I could do
> replace/fix without raising the motor (not removing it), and just taking
> off
> the normal ac/alt/waterpump/crankpulley ?
>
>
> "Jim Levie" > wrote in message
> news
>> On Sat, 08 Jan 2005 16:33:06 -0600, zz wrote:
>>
>> > I seem to have developed a nasty leak coming from the timing cover on
> the
>> > drivers side on 98/540ia and i am trying to find out how difficult this
> is
>> > to repair. Do I have to lift the engine to remove everything I need in
>> > order to remove the cover plate(s). It is not clear in the manuals - I
> am
>> > not going to replace the timing chain - just want to remove the covers
>> > (upper and lower?) and replace the gasket to stop the bleeding... help
>> > please with a little explanation of "how to"
>> >
>> The first thing I'd do would be to clean the engine really well to help
>> in
>> determining where the leak actually is. There's not much room in that
>> area
>> for close examination and the fan blows any oil that leaks all around,
>> making it difficult to determine the source. Watch things closely after
>> you've cleaned the engine and you should be able to spot the first
>> sign of oil leaking.
>>
>> I say cleaning and looking is the first step because everytime I've
>> thought that I had a timing cover gasket problem on one of the in-line
>> sixes it has turned out to be something else. Typically it wound up being
>> something behind the crank pulley, which is just as bad to fix as if it
>> had been the timing cover gasket.
>>
>> Yes, it can be done with the engine in the car. Everything on the front
>> has to come off, hoses, belts, fan, etc. Protect the radiator and your
>> hands with a heavy piece of cardboard, or take it out for a bit more
>> working room.
>>
>> --
>> The instructions said to use Windows 98 or better, so I installed RedHat.
>>
>
>

> Try tightening up the bolts on the cover before you go replacing the
> gaskets. My 98 740iL (same engine) had a leak last spring. Tightened the
> bolts and its been leak free since then.

But do NOT overtighten them! They're just going into aluminium and are
easy to strip.

--
Who needs a life when you've got Unix? :-)
Email: , John G.Burns B.Eng, Bonny Scotland
Web : http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk - The Ultimate BMW Homepage!
Need Sun or HP Unix kit? http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/unix.html

Hi Kyle - if you could send me the instructions you have I would very much
appreciate it.. I tried to look at an ETK cd but it looks like everything
applies to the 6 cylinder not the 8 cyl M62 engine - plsease send to




"Kyle and Lori Greene" > wrote in message
m...
> I have repair instructions that I can email you. If you would like them,
> send me your email address.
>
> Kyle.
>
> "zz" > wrote in message
...
> > thanks , but I have cleaned and tried to retighten everything but it
still
> > leaks -- so I was looking for an accurate answer as to whether I could
do
> > replace/fix without raising the motor (not removing it), and just taking
> > off
> > the normal ac/alt/waterpump/crankpulley ?
> >
> >
> > "Jim Levie" > wrote in message
> > news
> >> On Sat, 08 Jan 2005 16:33:06 -0600, zz wrote:
> >>
> >> > I seem to have developed a nasty leak coming from the timing cover on
> > the
> >> > drivers side on 98/540ia and i am trying to find out how difficult
this
> > is
> >> > to repair. Do I have to lift the engine to remove everything I need
in
> >> > order to remove the cover plate(s). It is not clear in the manuals -
I
> > am
> >> > not going to replace the timing chain - just want to remove the
covers
> >> > (upper and lower?) and replace the gasket to stop the bleeding...
help
> >> > please with a little explanation of "how to"
> >> >
> >> The first thing I'd do would be to clean the engine really well to help
> >> in
> >> determining where the leak actually is. There's not much room in that
> >> area
> >> for close examination and the fan blows any oil that leaks all around,
> >> making it difficult to determine the source. Watch things closely after
> >> you've cleaned the engine and you should be able to spot the first
> >> sign of oil leaking.
> >>
> >> I say cleaning and looking is the first step because everytime I've
> >> thought that I had a timing cover gasket problem on one of the in-line
> >> sixes it has turned out to be something else. Typically it wound up
being
> >> something behind the crank pulley, which is just as bad to fix as if it
> >> had been the timing cover gasket.
> >>
> >> Yes, it can be done with the engine in the car. Everything on the front
> >> has to come off, hoses, belts, fan, etc. Protect the radiator and your
> >> hands with a heavy piece of cardboard, or take it out for a bit more
> >> working room.
> >>
> >> --
> >> The instructions said to use Windows 98 or better, so I installed
RedHat.
> >>
> >
> >
>
>