15 replies to this topic

[Teapot]

Couple of questions on Mrs T's '97 Cooper Sportspack

1) The handbook recommends 10-30 oil; is there a reason for this? Is it a hard & fast rule? (It has always run on mineral oil by the way)
2) According to the handbook the airbag module should have been replaced in 2007. Important or ignore?

[Aria Aradhea]

err... oil questions will come up a lot of differing opinions...

some say the factory recommended 10w/40 oil should always be used, others will say 20w/50 oil is the best because the engine shares lubicration with the gearbox.

I now tend to follow your current temperature (as stated in the owners manual). Use 10w/40 during winter as it will help the engine, and use 20w/50 on summer as the thicker oil will handle heat better.

Personally, I always use 20w/50 because the temperature in my country never dips below 25degrees C.

For your number 2: i have no idea... somebody with more MPi-knowledge will help you there...

[Dan]

All airbags in all cars need to be replaced at 10 years. Explosives have a shelf life. This is something many people overlook when buying a car with a large number of airbags and which has caused lots of cars to be scrapped.

[Ethel]

Isn't the bag/wheel the same as the MGF? Might be an option to get it serviced if you want. I think the material of the actual bag deteriorating will be more of an issue, I suspect it's likely to be good for a lot longer & 10 years gives a good safety margin: like cam belt service intervals.

If it presented a serious risk I imagine it would be compulsory to get them serviced or disarmed.

[Juju]

Isn't the bag/wheel the same as the MGF? Might be an option to get it serviced if you want.

Yep it is.

I should have serviced or replaced Matilda's by now too, but I think whether the airbag is perished or the explosives have denatured will be the last thing on my mind if we're ever in a collision that causes us to find out.

As for the oil, she's had 10/30, 10/40 & 20/50 oil. I prefer the 20/50 in the gearbox, though. Doesn't really make any difference, to be honest.

[Teapot]

Cheers mates, all understood. The airbag will be updated.

EDIT Or possibly not yet. A quick Google reveals £468

Edited by Teapot, 18 February 2010 - 10:37 AM.

[Rented]

Cheers mates, all understood. The airbag will be updated.

EDIT Or possibly not yet. A quick Google reveals £468

remind me next time i see you , got a number somewhere for a firm that will sort you out for i believe less then £100 ?

[sirweste]

Just a point that considering the MPi gearbox is one of the worst - durability wise. You really shoudn't be using any other oil than 20/50. Mini's had used this oil for 35 years before Rover cut costs by stocking one kind of oil for their fleet. The handbook is wrong. 20/50 all the way

[Teapot]

Thank you. 20/50 has always been the one for me (well, my minis) but the handbook made me wonder.

Yet another question: Is it true that the Cooper Sportspack 13s are less prone to tramlining and bump-steer because they have a slightly greater inner offset than, say, the Ultralites that Huey had? If so, and if we find that Rocky isn't too stable, does it mean his suspension geometry can be set up better?

[minimadjonesy]

Teapot, Always worth taking the car to a laser wheel alignment place. Have mine done before any big trip and makes a massive difference to handling. For the sake of £50 or so it's definitely worth geting it checked.

[Ethel]

Since they need a spacer on the back, the offset must be biased inwards as much as possible.

[Teapot]

OK I'm writing all this down thanks

And another one: the sportspack (or maybe any mini on 13s?) needs a strengthened rear subframe, right? Corresponding to MiniSpares' KHB100590 or KHB10024, not sure which (both out of stock anyway). Might need one in a week or two.

[Guess-Works.com]

Just a point that considering the MPi gearbox is one of the worst - durability wise. You really shoudn't be using any other oil than 20/50. Mini's had used this oil for 35 years before Rover cut costs by stocking one kind of oil for their fleet. The handbook is wrong. 20/50 all the way

And how does the oil change the quality of the steel used or the strength of the diff pin ?

Actually thinking about it, the 20/50 will take more power to pump round the engine therefore there will be less power to break the pin...

and obviously the manual has been wrong for 50+ years...

[nicksuth]

Just a point that considering the MPi gearbox is one of the worst - durability wise. You really shoudn't be using any other oil than 20/50. Mini's had used this oil for 35 years before Rover cut costs by stocking one kind of oil for their fleet. The handbook is wrong. 20/50 all the way

And how does the oil change the quality of the steel used or the strength of the diff pin ?

Actually thinking about it, the 20/50 will take more power to pump round the engine therefore there will be less power to break the pin...

and obviously the manual has been wrong for 50+ years...

Now what you telling me ? I shouldn't be using Halfords 10W40 enhanced mineral oil but 20W/50 (Duckhams or similar) ???

Jus about to do an Oil and Filter change this weekend

[Teapot]

OK, if I might just repost my last question

And another one: the sportspack (or maybe any mini on 13s?) needs a strengthened rear subframe, right? Corresponding to MiniSpares' KHB100590 or KHB10024, not sure which (both out of stock anyway). Might need one in a week or two.

Also, is it true that the Rover front screen seal is a water trap because it's too wide, and should when possible be replaced by a thinner one? Or is it the other way round, as implied in this Minispares page?

Edited by Teapot, 03 March 2010 - 03:27 PM.