BMW E90 N54 Compression and Leak Down Tests DIY

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BMW E90 N54 Compression and Leak Down Tests DIY

Рет қаралды 23,824

Күн бұрын

If you're down on power or you suspect you have a blown head gasket, your next step to confirm that is to do a compression test followed by a leak down test. In this video I demonstrate how to do this on an N54 engine.
OTC 5605 Deluxe Compression Test Kit:
amzn.to/3xEaSIf
OTC 5609 Cylinder Leakage Tester Kit:
amzn.to/3wIU4Qd
You can see how to remove all the components necessary to begin this test by watching this video:
Replacing Coils & Plugs on an N54
• These will cause misfi...
This video is for entertainment purposes only. 50sKid assumes no liability for any repairs or modifications performed by the viewer as a result of the information contained in this video.

Пікірлер: 101

@abimmernut 3 жыл бұрын

Another great DIY video. Glad you're back. Keep them coming. You need to put a serpentine belt front bearing guard on this guy

@dantheman1337 3 жыл бұрын

In the UK if your BMW has a blown head gasket then easiest thing is to push it off a cliff

@jkline398 Жыл бұрын

Same here in the US! Who woulda thought BMW really is same worldwide!

@TomasLineros 3 жыл бұрын

At first, I was like, oh no this guy has a problem with the new engine. Thankfully it was just a DIY video! 😁👍🏻 Thanks, buddy for the video. I hope never to have to do a leak test in my car. 😅

@ppppugh7892 3 жыл бұрын

Lol! This guy is Scotty Kilmer level youtuber for E46 and E90. I'd appologise!

@50sKid 3 жыл бұрын

Well I kinda made the thumbnail slightly misleading 🤣

@jackdarcy6294 3 жыл бұрын

Dude your E46 videos helped me fix my car so many times, and this one gave me some great ideas for diagnosing my old honda's compression issues. Thanks so much for all you do.

@kar4tube 3 жыл бұрын

Really clear and concise DIY post. Great tip on the upgraded o-ring! I have the same exact compression tester and had no idea that my compression numbers might be reading low due to that. My last (cold engine) check, about a month ago read ~160+ across all 6-cylinders. Will find me a fatter o-ring and check again. Thanks!

@purplecty740 3 жыл бұрын

Always enjoy your videos! Glad you are back in action!

@paul17109 3 жыл бұрын

The PSI is ambient air pressure dependent. So, if you are at sea level, you will have higher readings than if you are at 10,000 feet. I've always been told that you look for differences between cylinders and as long as they are within 10% or so high to low, you should be good. Obviously, if the rings are ALL shot, there is a problem.

@Max-ox4nn 15 күн бұрын

thanks jason , clear and easy explanation

@MarioDallaRiva 3 жыл бұрын

Bravo, Jason! That’s quite the hickey on your left arm there…

@50sKid 3 жыл бұрын

It’s a scar from making sourdough bread 😂

@MarioDallaRiva 3 жыл бұрын

@@50sKid even better than a hickey! 😋 🍞

@readyplayer2 3 жыл бұрын

This is pretty obvious but the recommendation about pulling the fuel pump fuse and cranking the engine at around d the 3:30 mark must happen BEFORE you remove the spark plugs and coils and attach the compression tester. You won’t be able to purge / burn the fuel without spark. Again, pretty obvious but it’s not the order shown in the video.

@50sKid 3 жыл бұрын

Ah, yeah, I realize now I messed up on that order when editing

@raymondprendergast5839 3 жыл бұрын

Very good video , I have a blown head gasket on the N46 but what I did to confirm, was to use the same compression tester hose and put a fitting to it that could fit my radiator pressure tester , then TDC the suspected cylinder and pressure it , then I started seeing coolant spilling in the adjesent cylinder.

@50sKid 3 жыл бұрын

Doh, that sucks!

@dennisrobinson8008 2 жыл бұрын

In your circumstance you were losing coolant? No milkshake in the oil? The radiator pressure tester couldn't find the leak?

@raymondprendergast5839 2 жыл бұрын

That's right Dennis , the milkshake was there but not in the radiator , that was not just a brown head gasket but the thread was stripped in the engine block , I am now trying to find a sump pick up tube. Thanks for your comment.

@dennisrobinson8008 2 жыл бұрын

@@raymondprendergast5839 Stripped block threads are common. Actually I don't know who can advise to remove the head without helicoil or timesert the holes? And I wonder why they couldn't have done this from the factory.

@dennisrobinson8008 2 жыл бұрын

@@raymondprendergast5839 So somehow it was blowing out of the exhuast? Where was the coolant escaping in your situation?

@veetech6786 3 жыл бұрын

Had to do an n52 head gasket, man was it a pain in the ass. I should’ve pulled the engine out, would have been a million times better.

@AlecKristi 3 жыл бұрын

I've done a n52 headgasket (and head) for my brother in law last year... Wasn't too bad ;).. it was my first, and I ended up driving that car from Sacramento to Seattle immediately after assembling, without any issues.

@dennisrobinson8008 3 жыл бұрын

Did you end up having to timesert or helicoil the headbolt holes?

@chrisbarlow5515 3 жыл бұрын

I am so glad you are back, Jason. You were truly missed! My 21 year old totaled his '04 E46 Xi, that you helped us rebuild, a week ago. What is it with testosterone? Thanks for all your sage advise and I hope your arm is okay.

@50sKid 3 жыл бұрын

Aww. That’s gonna happen. Glad he is ok though.

@chrisbarlow5515 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you. We missed you like a front tooth!

@japfourme381 11 ай бұрын

I had this problem with a couple of compression test gauges, I think it’s due to a tapered seat for the spark plugs. What I did with my Compression tester adapter, was to gut a spark plug and attach this to the adapter, have no problems now, get consistent results.

@randykristina2 3 жыл бұрын

Great video and good knowledge! Keep them coming.

@a1a272 2 жыл бұрын

Fuel pump fuse is different for everyone mine wasn’t in that spot, refer to the fuse chart in your glove box to see which one to pull

@50sKid 2 жыл бұрын

Ah, didn’t realize that. Thanks

@jhncvngh 3 жыл бұрын

Where the heck are you finding a $1300 N54?? Mine was $2500 picked up... Great video and looking forward to the next one!

@burntnougat5341 3 жыл бұрын

50skid has them connections as a famous youtuber

@50sKid 3 жыл бұрын

I guess I pulled that number outta my ass 😂

@Quick2004 3 жыл бұрын

Learnt lot your e46 video recently purchased e92 keep videos coming

@michaelblacktree 3 жыл бұрын

Looks like Jason has been losing weight. 👍

@50sKid 3 жыл бұрын

Yessir, thanks for noticing!

@andrewglover9874 3 жыл бұрын

@@50sKid Have you been using leeches? Your arm is pretty beat! :-)

@bannasong98 3 жыл бұрын

i was going to say that lol his face looks skinnier

@mry82 3 жыл бұрын

I see you everywhere now, haha. :)

@fastboatster 3 жыл бұрын

With e46, the videos mostly felts like problems looking for solutions, but many of the latest e90 videos feel like solutions looking for a problem. A few years late to this platform.

@50sKid 3 жыл бұрын

The car I bought was just better maintained than my e46 lemon, but I took what I could find. But all the videos I’ve been doing (with the exception of this compression/leak down one) are all on common problems with this platform.

@DEEuroworks 3 жыл бұрын

Great video man

@lp2565 3 жыл бұрын

Great video, Jason. Thanks for sharing!

@8ThReEthunder 3 жыл бұрын

Good insight, Jason! Trying to figure out if my M54s misfire is coming from a head gasket problem or just vacuum leak. I replaced all the rubber and ccv once before but this may be a good test for me to do.

@chp9990 8 ай бұрын

Do you have to remove the fan ??

@gsmecanica 3 жыл бұрын

Great video, thanks! What method do you suggest to detect a gasket leak that is next to a coolant passage but does not touch the cylinder gasket section? I mean, in that case, the cylinder section of the gasket would be intact.

@dennisrobinson8008 2 жыл бұрын

Were you losing coolant in that circumstance?

@ianmulhern5538 3 жыл бұрын

love these videos man, good stuff!

@javierpnd3625 6 ай бұрын

Maestro cual sería la comprensión normal en un bmw x5 e53 2004. 6 cilindros y uno de 8 cilindros ?

@ppppugh7892 3 жыл бұрын

O-ring false positives! Nice diagnosis. Obviously no overheating issue like the M54 old-days. I'm returning to M54B30 territory next month, wish me luck.

@50sKid 3 жыл бұрын

They really do drive so nice, even if they’re slow. I haven’t driven a 2006 330i with the N52 yet. Kind of wondering how it is. That is the last of the straight six naturally aspirated engines.

@ppppugh7892 3 жыл бұрын

@@50sKid not quite.... we have the N53, 268bhp European replacement for the 255bhp N52! Last week I watched your leakdown test on the M54, which obviously led to your complete takedown, skim and rebuild series- loved it.

@50sKid 3 жыл бұрын

@@ppppugh7892 Aha, yes that engine couldn't be offered in the USA due to sulfur content in the exhaust or something like that

@alfrednavarro2391 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome video, great instructional. Put some aloe on that left arm.

@spunbearing Жыл бұрын

Jason, thanks for the insights, they have helped tremendously. Questions: I have an 08 N52/x3 I was having a no crank no start issue. I watched that vid of yours and it helped me diagnose a bad starter. I changed the starter, but now I have a crank/no start condition. My compression 1-5 is 160 and my #6 comes in at 170. It getting fuel, I can hear it trying to fire the gas but wont start. Any idea what the heck is going on here?

@estacademy 4 ай бұрын

Great video

@devanhixson7399 3 жыл бұрын

Very very rare for a head gasket to be blown on a N54 as then gasket is metal

@50sKid 3 жыл бұрын

That’s not why it’s rare, but yes it’s rare

@jdmtechllc6589 Жыл бұрын

I wonder on the N51/52 if the valvetronic system not being set at full open and the throttle not being full open can hamper your results or cause excessive cranking to achieve an accurate test.

@justinladd2716 Жыл бұрын

I wanted to reach out. I’m getting timing corrections on 1 specific cylinder on my S55 BMW M3. I have replaced spark plugs, injector, and coil pack still getting the same results. I believe my next steps are to compression test and leak down. Is there one I should do before the other? If my compression test pass, do I then test the leak down? Any info would be great, this is my first time performing these kind of tests. Thank you.

@AlecKristi 3 жыл бұрын

Do you still have the issue with the engine running warmer than it should? Or was it just doing that on your original drive home? Nice that the head gasket is good!

@50sKid 3 жыл бұрын

It never actually did run hotter than it should. That was the oil temperature gauge, not coolant, and it is supposed to go that high.

@AlecKristi 3 жыл бұрын

@@50sKid both n54's that I have stay well below the middle... But both have oil coolers. The n51 however gets a bit above the middle. I have retrofitted the oil to water heat exchanger, but it still goes above middle, albeit not as much.

@50sKid 3 жыл бұрын

@@AlecKristi I'm gonna retrofit the air oil cooler soon -- I'll see how much of a change it makes!

@javierfrancisconieves443 2 ай бұрын

BMW X5 , piston 1 y 2 .- 180 psi. 3, 4 y 6 .- 210 psi. Piston 5 .- 150 psi ???

@DaEverything1 2 жыл бұрын

what does the leakdown test show me that a compression test doesnt?

@scottb.6285 Жыл бұрын

I've replaced headgaskets on 2 Saabs without removing the engine. Can the N54 head gasket be replaced without pulling the engine out of the engine compartment completely?

@KeithJKeyz Жыл бұрын

What size oring did you use? I have the same issue with it leaking through the spark plug. Brought a few oring kits but cant find one that stops it from leaking.

@jeremycrozier5821 Жыл бұрын

Do you have a video on changing the head gasket?

@kaldyn55 3 ай бұрын

Is this cold or warm engine test ?

@Vgk36 Жыл бұрын

Ok bought a 2010 n52 328i. Cylinder 2 misfire. New plugs new coils did a compression test zero compression on cylinder 2 going to perform a cylinder leak down test depending on the results of that how can I determine if it's the rings or rod bearings? Super slight knock sound. Gonna drain the oil and look for flakes. I wonder if the piston may be hitting the valve . Also borrowing a bore scope to see inside the piston area. Pulled the plugs and it's black in there just flashing a light down the hole. I'll report back

@jkline398 Жыл бұрын

In the UK you could KZfaq pushing it off those white Dover cliffs and maybe make enough for a whole new bmw, well one with an n54 maybe..

@kingstonfood8535 Жыл бұрын

hey! thats an amazing video, would you be able to do it for me? how much would you charge for it?

@luisnoriega4428 2 жыл бұрын

Gracias 👍 👍

@dynamoeffekt 3 жыл бұрын

Jason, I believe you are not supposed to go counter-clockwise on the pulley... Any thoughts on that?

@stranotech1 2 жыл бұрын

i think its a bad idea to go counter clockwise as you could loosen the crank bolt.

@mystic6559 2 жыл бұрын

Hey man I was wondering if anybody could give me any insight I just did a compression test on my 07 bmw 335i pulled 1st coil and plug out and the fuse for the fuel pump and then tested it with cold engine has not been ran in 2 days and read 120 on all cylinders and the 4th one was 125 cranked till gauge stopped and was wondering why numbers are so low?

@mrt-ee1zn 2 жыл бұрын

Hi, My 2009 f02 740li same low values... Fuse was not taken out,maybe that cause it?

@phineparcon8909 3 жыл бұрын

Do you know if m3 rear half shaft fits on a 330ci e46 coupe 5speed? With the 6 bolt

@50sKid 3 жыл бұрын

Not sure

@Bussdownbandit 3 жыл бұрын

The tip of my spark plug broke off you think the tip melted off? Lol or it is stuck somewhere into my engine thanks

@50sKid 3 жыл бұрын

Could be either one

@dobbel0895 3 жыл бұрын

Followed your channel for years, love it. Not sure why i'm watching this when i still have my E39, But keep them coming. I Wanna Add, I am invested in Crypto and just wanna mention ULTRA #UOS, wich is set up to challenge STEAM. You will start to see marketing by AMD in GPU sales soon. if you care in a good investment. Wouldn't call it without risk but it have a huge potential! In a risk reward point of view its insane... A bit advertising or heads up on my beloved project ;p