DMTL and oil filter housing and pan gasket need fixing
Vehicle didn't pass inspection. 2004 BMW 325i. Recommendation is to replace the DMTL Pump ($700), Oil Filter Housing ($850) and Oil Pan Gasket ($1200). Are all of those really necessary to pass inspection (North Carolina)? Are those prices way out of line? If you could only afford one of those changes, which would you take a stab at to hopefully get it to pass inspection? Thanks for the help! Really hoping I don't have to find a way to pay for a $3K fix on a car that's only worth about that much…
My car has 98000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi and thanks for contacting YourMechanic. There are two inspections to pass, the safety inspection and emissions inspection.
For the safety inspection, the station is required to check but is not limited to: tire quality, brake lights, headlamps, turn signals, windshield wipers, window quality, the horn, and the emissions.
If the oil pan is leaking too much, the oil filter housing is damaged or leaking too much, and the DMLT pump leaking, then they can flag the vehicle until the items are fixed.
If you cleaned the oil pan and cleaned the oil filter housing (unless the housing is broken then it needs replaced), then those would be fine for inspection. However, the DMLT pump needs replaced due to emissions evaporative leak.
I recommend cleaning the oil pan, cleaning the oil filter housing, and replacing the DMLT pump, pass the inspection, then replace the oil pan gasket and replace the oil filter housing in that sequence. If needed, you may want to have a second mechanic pinpoint the existing fault(s) and confirm the needed repairs so that this can be corrected properly the first time.
To get an approximation of these costs, you can enter your vehicle’s information on our estimator page and then select the services that you’d like to receive a quote for.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Common signs include the Engine Oil Light coming on, oil dripping from the filter, and lower than normal oil pressure.
What is Oil Filter Housing? The oil filter housing is a housing used for oil filters inside the engine bay. It is something that connects the oil filter with the engine by securing it at one place. To put it simply, Oil filter housing provides a safe place for the oil filter to do its job.
How much will it cost to replace the oil filter housing gasket and VANOS line on a BMW E46? The BMW Engine Oil Filter Housing Gasket Kit linked below comes with all of the parts you need to complete this job for $82.
The average cost for a BMW 325i Oil Pan Gasket Replacement is between $564 and $700. Labor costs are estimated between $506 and $639 while parts are priced between $58 and $62.
A clogged oil filter can cause reduced performance, increased fuel consumption, and engine wear. Ultimately, it will cause an engine failure if the oil filter isn`t allowing oil to flow. How often should I replace my oil filter? Follow the manufacturer`s recommended schedule.
You should replace your oil filter every time you carry out an oil change. Typically, that means every 10,000km for a petrol car, or every 15,000km for a diesel. However, we recommend that you check your manufacturer`s handbook to confirm the specific service interval for your vehicle.
You shouldn`t drive a car with a leaking oil filter because you risk damaging the engine. If the leak causes extensive oil loss, the lack of lubrication inside the engine may cause irreparable damage. Also, the leaking oil may damage other engine parts, interfering with the normal functioning of the motor.
The national cost for an oil filter housing replacement in 2023 is between $279 and $830 with an average of $401.
The oil filter on your BMW will typically last over 3,000 miles or 3 months, however, many oil filters can survive average wear and tear for up to 7,500 miles. It`s recommended that you get your BMW oil filter replaced every time you get an oil change and have it inspected anytime you visit your national auto shop.
Spot Between Rubber Gasket and Housing: The area between the rubber gasket and oil filter housing is the area known to be poor at containing oil and is the most likely cause for your oil leak. Over time, this area can become misaligned and oil may begin to leak out of the gap.
Oil leaks are much more common in older BMWs that have higher mileage, but preventative care is essential from the start. Changing your oil regularly as well as fixing small leaks before they worsen will ensure that your BMW will continue to provide the high level of performance you desire for years to come.
Common signs include smoke coming from the engine, oil puddles under the car, and lower than normal oil levels.
The plastic filter holder gets brittle and cracks easily. Most shops keep them on hand in case this happens during an oil change. If the aluminum housing is cracked, It`s possible that could happen during a service operation.
You can, but don`t expect to drive too long or too far. Eventually the oil filter gets a buildup of gunk and sludge.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
DMTL and oil filter housing and pan gasket need fixing – what is essential to pass the inspection?
ANSWER : Hi and thanks for contacting YourMechanic. There are two inspections to pass, the safety inspection and emissions inspection.
For the safety inspection, the station is required to check but is not limited to: tire quality, brake lights, headlamps, turn signals, windshield wipers, window quality, the horn, and the emissions.
If the oil pan is leaking too much, the oil filter housing is damaged or leaking too much, and the DMLT pump leaking, then they can flag the vehicle until the items are fixed.
If you cleaned the oil pan and cleaned the oil filter housing (unless the housing is broken then it needs replaced), then those would be fine for inspection. However, the DMLT pump needs replaced due to emissions evaporative leak.
I recommend cleaning the oil pan, cleaning the oil filter housing, and replacing the DMLT pump, pass the inspection, then replace the oil pan gasket and replace the oil filter housing in that sequence. If needed, you may want to have a second mechanic pinpoint the existing fault(s) and confirm the needed repairs so that this can be corrected properly the first time.
To get an approximation of these costs, you can enter your vehicle’s information on our estimator page and then select the services that you’d like to receive a quote for.
lost all oil pressure, replaced the oil pump, low oil sensor, oil pressure sensor, oil pan gasket,
ANSWER : The fuel pump will not stay on if you loose oil pressure. This is why it is shutting off. The loss of oil pressure may be from bad crankshaft bearings or camshaft bearings. The engine oil pan should be removed and the oil pump needs to be checked to ensure that you put in the pick up tube seal to the pump and connected the pump to the block. Then remove at least one main bearing cap and inspect the bearings for excessive wear and crankshaft damage. If you need some help with this, consider YourMechanic, as a certified technician can help diagnose the issue with your oil pressure firsthand and help you fix it accordingly.
2006 BMW oil filter gasket keeps breaking and oil leaks from oil filter. Oil leaks only after starting car in morning. PCV valve?
ANSWER : Hi There,
It sounds like you may need to replace the oil cap o-ring. If you haven’t done this before there are two O-rings to replace; a small green one on the base of the filter cap stem and the large black one that seals the filter cap (which seems to be the one you are having issues with). The large O-ring sits in a small square-shaped groove that is at the base of the oil filter cap. It is very easy to not properly seat the large O-ring because the threads for the oil cap are quite large and will accept the O-ring if you are not careful. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at your vehicle.
2006 Ford Escape oil pan is sweating, is it the gasket or is it the pan?
ANSWER : Well I’m not sure about the mechanic’s use of terms. If the oil pan is "sweating" oil, then that would dictate that the oil pan is already porous. It’s not an everyday thing to happen but I have seen it a time or two. It generally happens in regions that have harsh winters and lots of road salts are used. The oil pan rusts through and begins to seep, or sweat, oil. Without seeing myself, I really can’t say whether it’s the pan itself or just the gasket. Either way, the oil pan has to be removed to replace the gasket. So if it actually turned out to be a leaking pan, it’s just the cost of the replacement oil pan.added to the repair. The labor is no different.
Differentials generally use gear oil of different weights depending on the application. Diff fluid is basically a very thick oil so it would generally appear as dirty oil on the ground if it’s leaking.
Can the oil pan gasket replacement be done at home? 2006 Lincoln Ls V8. Does it use just a liquid gasket or does it use an actual gasket?
ANSWER : Hi there. The oil pan gasket is either a gasket of cork or rubber (silicone molded) or a spread of RTV Silicone. The oil pan gasket can be removed at home, you will just have to jack up the vehicle and set it on jack stands. It is best to have the whole vehicle on jack stands, however, if you only have two jack stands, be sure to set the parking brake and put wheel chocks behind the rear wheels. If you need further assistance with replacing the oil pan gasket, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
If you have to add oil all the time and there is no oil puddle left on the ground but the dealer suggests an oil pan gasket leak h
ANSWER : Hi there:
On any engine that has issues with loose or damaged internal components, such as valve guides or piston rings, going through oil frequently is commonplace. If the oil pan gasket is leaking, it may be burning on exhaust before it hits the ground. The best way to diagnose this is to check the tail pipe. If there is visible smoke coming from the tail pipe during acceleration, the issue is with the piston rings. If it’s during deceleration, the issue is with valve guides. If it’s smoking all the time, it could be that fixing the oil pan gasket will solve the problem. If you’d like assistance in diagnosing this issue, a YourMechanic certified technician can be dispatched to your location to perform an Oil/Fluid Leak Inspection on your vehicle.
Oil still leaking after I changed oil filter
ANSWER : Unless there is an imperfection (e.g., serious pitting or irregularities) on the engine mounting base for the filter gasket, the leak is probably not at the filter. There are other adjacent potential leak spots such as the oil pan gasket, oil pressure sending unit and so forth. If the leak is significant at all, merely thoroughly cleaning the suspect area and running the engine while looking for the leak should be sufficient. If you still can’t find the leak origin, a UV visible dye can be added to the engine oil which will then make the leak point visible using a detection light. If you want these steps performed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request an oil leak diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Oil Filter Housing failure?
ANSWER : I personally have not worked on the oil filter housing for a XC60 so I can not confirm the oil filter housing has coolant running through it. I looked up the part though and indeed there looks to be a coolant reservoir that is part of the oil filter housing. If your unsure, simply ask the service writer to show you the part and explain the failure. If they refuse to do this, you should go to another shop. This is good customer service.
If this is accurate, and it appears to be, what happens when you get oil in the coolant is the oil attacks all the rubber hoses. Coolant hoses break down quickly from oil, which you have running through your entire cooling system. You are correct, head gasket failure can lead to this as well, but there are other possibilities as well. On your Volvo, this is one.
As for warranty, I can’t speak to that. I would certainly be upset as well to have this problem on such a new vehicle.
Good luck!
