Expert: Dan Roberts - 9/1/2006

Question
oil canister leaking  1996BMW 740il, oil cansiter is leaking and seaping out around the rim of the canister. Is this just a basci seal for the oil filter? there are no cracks in the housing and the oil seaps evenly around the rim...

Answer
remove the plastic cap with a 36mm socket or wrench. be careful when removing because the oil filter housing is mounted with 2 rubber bushings. these get old and dryrotten. hold the canister while unscrewing the oil filter cap so they don't break. once the cap is off (the oil filter should come out with the cap) replace the o-ring that is at the top of the threads just under the sealing flange. the only place i know to find this o-ring is in a oil filter purchased from the dealership or another factory parts supplier. good luck.