Follow-Ups to Answer from Expert Josh Fields

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H wrote at 2007-05-22 08:20:43
Right about a blockage.  It must be the pressure release valve.  Its just a spring and ball bearing somewhere on the engine, normally near the oil filter.  Remove the strip the assembly and clean it.  Should be ok after that!

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Jeff J wrote at 2007-06-24 18:51:43
I am not sure if this is the same design as my 97 540i but I had that sort of problem it was because the plastic center post for my filter in the remote oil filter canister was lose it had been lose maybe from the factory I changed my own oil and had spun it around to tighten it but it was so lose that it did not feel that it was threaded and the dealer didn't catch it when they did a 100,000 mile check up it was fine  [did not drip or leak from the filter canister for years but leaked at the pan and valve cover slightly] I don't know if tightening this post  will prevent leaks else where in the engine but that O-ring leak on the canister was fixed the moment I threaded it all the way in and started it up. And my oil pan that catches dips is dry for the first time in 10 years. I thought that leak was do to damage to the engine oil pan caused by the previous owner. I am now investigating a possible low oil pressure condition on this car and if it turns out to be a worn pump or journals I will suspect that years of free flowing oil past the filter caused another problem though it very well could just have been normal wear and tear or neglect.

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