5 replies to this topic

[mini1991]

Hi all

I brought my first mini in February this year and have had it on the road since may, after doing various jobs here and their on it to get it road worthy it wasn't in bad condition at all...

However their is an oil seal leak, the obvious thing to do is replace the seal which i have had done. Its still leaking , I heard there meant to leak a little to protect the chassis from rust? But was told by someone the only way to cure this leak is a complete engine and gearbox rebuild?

The car is a 1995 Rover mini cooper 1.3i

Any feedback will be great thanks

[Pooky]

I heard there meant to leak a little to protect the chassis from rust?

I want to shake the hand of the person that told you this! That's brilliant.

I suspect they were joking. The engine/gearbox is not supposed to leak, the fact that the front subframe gets covered in oil preventing rust is a silver lining really.

Where abouts is yours leaking from? What seal/gasket have you replaced?

There are a dozen or more places on an A series that may leak, some are more common than others. Some can be fixed in minutes with the engine in, others are more involved and need the engine out and block and gearbox split.

[mini1991]

I heard there meant to leak a little to protect the chassis from rust?

I want to shake the hand of the person that told you this! That's brilliant.

I suspect they were joking. The engine/gearbox is not supposed to leak, the fact that the front subframe gets covered in oil preventing rust is a silver lining really.

Where abouts is yours leaking from? What seal/gasket have you replaced?

There are a dozen or more places on an A series that may leak, some are more common than others. Some can be fixed in minutes with the engine in, others are more involved and need the engine out and block and gearbox split.

I think I read it in a Haynes restoration Manuel! .....Although iv waxoiled everything anyway lol...its appears to be near the driveshaft i think? the arm that goes into the gear box....looks like a rubber suspension cone. about 20 mm long approx..with a ball pin and spring in it..(when you change gear it moves in n out i think)..

I hope it dosn't need rebuilding its done about 66,000 miles, the rest of the car is sound just this one little annoying leak.

[Pooky]

That is the gear linkage oil seal gone then. A very common leak point on Minis but luckily a fairly easy one to fix. All major spares suppliers will stock a 'kit' that consists of new seals that will hopefully solve your problem. Minispares Kit

Apart from the kit you should also arm yourself with the correct tool for removing the roll pin that connects the gearstick linkage with the gearbox. It's called a Roll Pin Punch.

I can't remember if you need to drain the oil first with this so please research that, I think this process is described in Haynes. You'll need get under the car so you'll need to safely get it up as high as you can and support on axel stands. Move the gearstick to reverse and this will move the linkage to the ideal position. Use the punch and a hammer to knock through the forward most roll pin in the collar. This is the worst part of the job because it's hard to get enough swing on the hammer, you have to hit it quite hard, having the correct tool helps no end! Once you've knocked this through (don't lose it) move the gear stick forward so it pulls the linkage back and out the way. The rubber dust cover will fall off, then pear into the gearbox and you'll see the rubber seal. Prise this seal out then then you may (if your Mini is 1986 onward or has had a kit fitted in the past) see the alloy bush. This is harder to get out as it's hard to get any purchase on it. I've done it in the past by drilling two small holes in it with a dremel, screwing in two small screws then pulling the bush out with these. Once you've got everything out, throw the old bits in the bin and replace with the nice new bits.

Refitting is the reverse of removal getting the roll pin back in is fairly tricky too...

Good luck!

[mini1991]

That is the gear linkage oil seal gone then. A very common leak point on Minis but luckily a fairly easy one to fix. All major spares suppliers will stock a 'kit' that consists of new seals that will hopefully solve your problem. Minispares Kit

Apart from the kit you should also arm yourself with the correct tool for removing the roll pin that connects the gearstick linkage with the gearbox. It's called a Roll Pin Punch.

I can't remember if you need to drain the oil first with this so please research that, I think this process is described in Haynes. You'll need get under the car so you'll need to safely get it up as high as you can and support on axel stands. Move the gearstick to reverse and this will move the linkage to the ideal position. Use the punch and a hammer to knock through the forward most roll pin in the collar. This is the worst part of the job because it's hard to get enough swing on the hammer, you have to hit it quite hard, having the correct tool helps no end! Once you've knocked this through (don't lose it) move the gear stick forward so it pulls the linkage back and out the way. The rubber dust cover will fall off, then pear into the gearbox and you'll see the rubber seal. Prise this seal out then then you may (if your Mini is 1986 onward or has had a kit fitted in the past) see the alloy bush. This is harder to get out as it's hard to get any purchase on it. I've done it in the past by drilling two small holes in it with a dremel, screwing in two small screws then pulling the bush out with these. Once you've got everything out, throw the old bits in the bin and replace with the nice new bits.

Refitting is the reverse of removal getting the roll pin back in is fairly tricky too...

Good luck!

Ok cheers for your advice much appreciated (Y)

[bobs]

Also worth mentioning...

Clean the linkage rod end (the bit that make contact with the seals) up with a bit of wet and dry, if the rubber linkage boot has slipt/cracked then road grim may be in the join and this will only make the new seal wear quicker. A nice smooth rod will extend the life of your new seals opposed to a rusty or dirty one, and you might as well do it if you've gone to the trouble of getting under the car and punched the swine of a roll pin out. (the fun comes when trying to get it back in!)

A Metro owner also gave me a good tip, when not parked on a hill and safe to do so, leave the gear stick in second gear it helps to protect the boot and seal from grime as it full inserts it in to the gearbox housing...