My mechanic replaced my oil pan gasket / crank sensor gasket right after I bought the car a few months ago, but every time I'm under the car I have noticed a few oil drops / dampness around the bolts to the oil pan, and the gasket itself appears to be damp. It rarely leaks enough to leave drops on the garage floor, and I've only lost MAYBE 1/2 quart of oil in my 5000 mile oil change but I brought it up to him anyway. He did some research and talked to a few BMW/MINI tech friends and they suggested re tightening everything and covering the outside of the gasket/pan with silicon sealer, so thats what he did. It has been a few days and I haven't noticed any more leaks, but it seems like this isn't really the "right" way to fix it and will be a giant PITA when it comes to do any work with the oil pan in the future. Thoughts?
silicon sealer - like RTV Silicone Sealers? Other than silicone likes dirty/dust should be ok. I kind of wonder why the new oil pan gasket wasn't sealing or leaking. Did your mechanic follow the torque sequencing? Another place these things like to leak oil (r53) is from the crank sensor o-ring found on the front of the motor. The symptoms of this leaking oil is as you described - oil covering oil pan, not really dripping or leaking on the ground. If its not leaking now seems like all good.
He said they replaced the crank sensor o-ring. Truth be told, I've never seen an original oil pan gasket leaking on a R53.....a lot of people think that's where it's coming from, but everyone I've seen was leaking down from somewhere else - the oil follows the lip of the pan and makes it look like that's where it's coming from, but it's always something else. You need to check more carefully, there are lots of places where the engine could be leaking from - oil cooler, oil press sensor, valve cover gasket, crank seals etc. They make a kit that has an additive you pour in your oil, drive it for a few days then use a black light to see where the oil is coming from.
Covered with silicone sealer? If it keeps leaking, wouldn't that make a big "oil balloon" where the leak is?
Your guy screwed up when installing the new pan gasket. Adding a layer of RTV over the seam is kind of laughable. I agree with Dave it is more than likely leaking down from somewhere else. Funny think is every single time my MINI went to the dealer (after warranty) I was told of the terrible oil pan leak it had. Didn't leak oil on the floor & didn't use oil. Go figure. No I never gave in to their $650 sob story.
Thanks for the advice all, I'll keep an eye on the pan and check it in a few weeks to see if I notice the oil more. Both the oil pan gasket and the crank sensor gasket were leaking when I bought it, as confirmed by the MINI dealer I got it from (I got a big discount due to it), an independent euro shop that did a pre purchase inspection, myself and my own mechanic. I guess I should be satisfied if it doesn't leak.
I think if a "professional" mechanic tried to get me to smeer silicone on the outside of a NEW gasket to stop a leak...he was paid to fix it...and is trying to do a backyard diy fix to "fix" it till his labor warrenty is over....kinda sleezy IMO... I would be dropping off the car and saying fix it, or I want my $$ back.... The amount of the leak it weep is the kicker here... I sold my 2005 after 10 years.....had a weep....but not a leak...aka it got dirty, but never looked "wet"...had about 95,000, and I bet 90% of the oil was from the CPS, still original.... But never added more than half a quart between 7500 mile oil changes....so never was in a rush to fix it.. Some WERE good from the factory.....
Thats what I thought when he told me, but it doesn't look like it was badly done. I'm going to keep a close eye on it and come back the second there are any more drips. It is better than small drips coming from the bolts all around the pan... Yes, they were "wet" to the point I could soak it up on a paper towel. As a fun fact, someone broke in to the shop the night I picked it up! They took all of the keys and stole a bunch of cars, his words were "Be glad you picked your car up, because it might be gone now" when I talked to him recently. It isn't even in a bad area. They took a Lexus GS and Chrysler 300 but left the C5 Vette, 500whp RSX Type S turbo, R32 GTR and a few S14s.
Hmmmmm.... Kinda looks like the thieves might not know how to work "Le Manuel" transmission.... Bunch of shiftless crooks....