Can anyone diagnose?

[photonzu]

Just wondering if any one can help.

My m60 has a few issues. It has low compression in 2 of the cylinders and a couple of the spark plugs were covered in oil. I have replaced all the spark plugs but it still runs rough. I am guessing that the new one are now covered in oil.

Dose this mean head gasket or piston rings or something else?

It also has another oil leak from somewhere on the lower front passenger side (RHD vehicle) of the engine.

I will be getting in there soon to have a look to get a better idea of its source.

It is running very rough and feels like its not fireing on all cylinders. It wont idle properly.

Before i start tearing down the engine i would be good to know what bits i will need to get for replacement.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[zubbie]

what are your compression numbers and have you done a leakdown?

[yaofeng]

Post compression numbers. Forget about leak down if you have low compression numbers. The oil in the spark plug holes is because your valve cover gaskets do not seal anymore.

[photonzu]

I am not sure about the comp numbers but i will be getting in touch with the mechanic to get the specifics. I have not done a leakdown test as yet.

[sixerhaus]

I just got my valve cover gasket replaced and the mech that did the job told me old oil leaked into the spark plugs also.....he said if I just get a cloth and soak up the excess oil when I replace my spark plugs it will be fine.......this true?

[photonzu]

Just spoke to the mechanic. Unfortunaltely he could not give me/remember any exact numbers but he did say that the rear most cylinders of each bank were the ones with the lowest compression in comparrison with the rest. He told me that the most likely cause is the rings. Will I need exact comp numbers for a proper diagnosis?

Not sure if this helps but the car is not blowing any smoke from the exhaust.

[gricey]

How many miles does it have?

[photonzu]

Originally Posted by gricey

How many miles does it have?

About 218000 km which is about 135458 miles.

[gricey]

Originally Posted by photonzu

About 218000 km which is about 135458 miles.

Im not the greatest expert, but that seems a little young for it to be the rings.

Are you losing coolant? Any signs of Coolant in the oil or vice versa.

I had heard that the cylinders at the back are the most susceptable to hg failure as they are further back.

I recently had a bad hg on 7,8. It had low compression in cylinder 8.

[m60b30530i]

nikasil linings have failed because someone ran low octane fuel for the life of the motor

[photonzu]

Originally Posted by gricey

Im not the greatest expert, but that seems a little young for it to be the rings.

Are you losing coolant? Any signs of Coolant in the oil or vice versa.

I had heard that the cylinders at the back are the most susceptable to hg failure as they are further back.

I recently had a bad hg on 7,8. It had low compression in cylinder 8.

Dose not appear to be any coolant loss or coolant/oil contamination.

Originally Posted by m60b30530i

nikasil linings have failed because someone ran low octane fuel for the life of the motor

Are you talking about my engine or was that just a general statement? I was told that my motor had the alusil block. I would like to get a second opinion if i could.

Can someone tell from the engine number? and where is the engine number located?

[gricey]

Its on the passenger side of the block just next to the coolant drain plug.

[jfj707]

Originally Posted by m60b30530i

nikasil linings have failed because someone ran low octane fuel for the life of the motor

Low octane doesn't cause that problem, it was sulfur levels that were too high.

[m60b30530i]

Originally Posted by jfj707

Low octane doesn't cause that problem, it was sulfur levels that were too high.

yeah your right, but there was more sulfur in the lower octane fuel . not so much any more.

double check to make sure you have a alusil block and go from there

[photonzu]

Thanks for the help so far.

I think i found what i am looking for.
I found a listing for what engines are nikasil and what are alusil.

Refering to that list with the number 1725963H, which was on the side of my motor, i beleive it to be a nikasil block.

This is not good as it probably means that itd the cylinder linings that have worn out.

Any views on this?

[yaofeng]

You bimmer drives on the wrong side of the road so the stamping should be on the right side of the engine block. Your starter may be on the wrong side of the engine too. The picture below is for cars which drive on the right side of the road. The stamping is just above the starter which is also on the right side.



Check this out for the Nikasil stamping numbers.

Wikipedia (Links)

BMW_M60

[photonzu]

Originally Posted by yaofeng

You bimmer drives on the wrong side of the road so the stamping should be on the right side of the engine block. Your starter may be on the wrong side of the engine too. The picture below is for cars which drive on the right side of the road. The stamping is just above the starter which is also on the right side.



Check this out for the Nikasil stamping numbers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M60

Thanks for the help so far.

I think i found what i am looking for.

Refering to that list with the number 1725963H, which was on the side of my motor, i beleive it to be a nikasil block.

This is not good as it probably means that itd the cylinder linings that have worn out.

Any views on this?

[jfj707]

If it was never overheated, I guess it would be kind of strange for both banks to blow their HG's at the same time... so it might just be time for a new engine =(

Wish you were close, you could get my alusil block out of my garage.

[photonzu]

Originally Posted by jfj707

If it was never overheated, I guess it would be kind of strange for both banks to blow their HG's at the same time... so it might just be time for a new engine =(

Wish you were close, you could get my alusil block out of my garage.

Yeah i think its going to be the block that is worn.

I tryed ringing around many places in sydney where i live and nobody had just a block available. There were a few whole engines but no blocks available. So sad.

I wonder how much it would be to get your block shipped - probably to much.

[zubbie]

You want the whole engine anyhow. Much easier to replace as a unit than tearing one apart and rebuilding. A good alusil here runs around $800. personally I would do more investigation to determine the issue. If it is HG and not niki problems then you don't need a new engine.

Do you trust this mechanic? Seek a second opinion from a BMW expert in your area. It may save you a lot of money and heartache. No matter what we all say here it's just speculation.

[jfj707]

Originally Posted by photonzu

Yeah i think its going to be the block that is worn.

I tryed ringing around many places in sydney where i live and nobody had just a block available. There were a few whole engines but no blocks available. So sad.

I wonder how much it would be to get your block shipped - probably to much.

Hey, I PMed you back and I am willing to ship it, but I would def. recommend making sure that it makes sense for you to get from the US. If you do get the block, I want it to be because it really is your best option!

[photonzu]

Originally Posted by jfj707

Hey, I PMed you back and I am willing to ship it, but I would def. recommend making sure that it makes sense for you to get from the US. If you do get the block, I want it to be because it really is your best option!

Thanks again everyone for the advice.

Yeah i got your pm, thanks for that. It still might be a viable option as used engines over hear are anything from $1900 to $2500 and blocks alone are as rare as rocking horse sh#t!

The car was given to me so its cost me zero so far axcept for some new sparks plugs. As this is not my daily driver and my time wont cost anything an engine rebuild might be the cheapest wasy to go.

Anyways, will be tearing it down soon and we shall see what she reveals.

[jfj707]

Cool man, just let me know.

[530 i]

Good to see another M60 aussie! In reality, the Nikasil issue wasn't a problem in Australia due to lower sulphur content fuel. Also, BMW recommended the use of 95 RON petrol (90-91 AKI) in the M60 powered cars from new here but you could run the lower octane if availability was a problem in rural areas. I've never heard of a engine being changed out under warranty due to Nikasil lining failure, please correct me if I'm wrong.

I would investigate your problem more thoroughly as other members have suggested before assuming the Nikasil lining is bad or even rings for that matter, due to the low milage. Also, what mechanic doesn't record compression figures? I don't get that, you go to the trouble of conducting a test and fail to log the results.

If I was to take a guess, I reckon your PCV at the rear of the intake manifold is shot and that is causing your bad idle. This will also introduce excessive lube oil into the 7 and 8 cylinders and it may have created deposits on the faces of the valves causing poor compression or gummed up the rings. Leaking inner valve cover will allow oil to pool in the spark plug recess and it can cause the plug to short causing poor running. Check all intake ducting for splits as well.

When I done the head gaskets on my car earlier this year due to a head bolt failure, the Nikasil bores were like new and I find it hard to believe you have this problem. Good luck with it, if you need a hand let me know.

[photonzu]

Originally Posted by 530 i

Good to see another M60 aussie! In reality, the Nikasil issue wasn't a problem in Australia due to lower sulphur content fuel. Also, BMW recommended the use of 95 RON petrol (90-91 AKI) in the M60 powered cars from new here but you could run the lower octane if availability was a problem in rural areas. I've never heard of a engine being changed out under warranty due to Nikasil lining failure, please correct me if I'm wrong.

I would investigate your problem more thoroughly as other members have suggested before assuming the Nikasil lining is bad or even rings for that matter, due to the low milage. Also, what mechanic doesn't record compression figures? I don't get that, you go to the trouble of conducting a test and fail to log the results.

If I was to take a guess, I reckon your PCV at the rear of the intake manifold is shot and that is causing your bad idle. This will also introduce excessive lube oil into the 7 and 8 cylinders and it may have created deposits on the faces of the valves causing poor compression or gummed up the rings. Leaking inner valve cover will allow oil to pool in the spark plug recess and it can cause the plug to short causing poor running. Check all intake ducting for splits as well.

When I done the head gaskets on my car earlier this year due to a head bolt failure, the Nikasil bores were like new and I find it hard to believe you have this problem. Good luck with it, if you need a hand let me know.

Thanks for the advice mate. Much appreciated.
What you said sounds interesting. I would have thought that Australia had also suffered from poor quality fuel during the 90's. If this is the case then it may not be a nikasil problem. My only worry now is diagnosing the issues with my engine may cost more than putting in a replacement. I think i will have to re assess the whole situation. I was still up in the air about tearing down the current engine or just swapping it out. I may have to go back to the original plan of tearing it down as what you said about the PCV, valves and valve cover gasket could be the real problem.

I think i will be taking it to another mechanic to get a second opinion while its still drivable.

I did catch your write up of your head bolt replacement, very good stuff.

If anyone out there can help me tell for sure whether my block is nikasil or alusil the last 7 digits of my vin is GF21031 and the last 5 digits of my engine number is 30650.

Thanks again and will keep updating the progress.