13 replies to this topic

[mattso118]

Hi

I have recently bought a 1987 mini mayfair through this forum, i am relatively inexperience and a mechanical virgin but i am determined to try and do as much as possible, however on starting up the old girl today a jet of engine oil fired out of the exhaust all over the floor. initially i thought this may just be dirty soot and water as the car had been sat for 5 years without running properly, but I have chatted to a few people about the problem and the opinions ranged from cracked cylinder head, to valve seals and pistons., just wondering what you mechanically savvy mini enthusiasts could come up with ???
thanks matt

[il-barba]

it usually is soot and water. oil would show up as blue smoke

[Pauly]

^^^^ What he said .

Paul.

[Big_Adam]

Well, if it IS oil & the car has sat for X number of years what I'd do is ...

ignore it.

For now anyway. That car has had a good load of time for fluids to sit and penetrate. Change the oil and give the car a short run. Then check the exhaust again. After a small run the exhaust will have heated and burnt off any crap that may have seeped in.

So yeah, thats what I'd do. If I had problems after a decent run then I'd go head investigating.

[mattso118]

ok will do tomorrow and let you guys know, just a bit worried as it had the same texture and viscosity of engine oil. and the oil has already been changed...
thanks matt

[Pauly]

Best thing to do is to smell the substance, it will either smell oily, petrol, or water (hardly any smell).

Paul.

[truezie.]

i get this aswell never realy thought much of it tho..!
but now someones poined it out you got me wondering what it is..!
can it be serious and dangerous for the engine etc etc..?

thanks

(sorry for thred hijack!)

[mattso118]

just been back out for a damn good sniff... and almost certain it is oil, the father and his mate are also agreeing??

[GTIAlex06]

When i got my Mini a few months back, i got worried about oil spitting out the back when sitting on the drive running. After a few trips on a run, not too much town driving, the problem went away.
Try just running it for a while or checking the colour of the spark plugs. They shouldnt be black with soot but more of a grey colour i believe.

[Ouster]

Good plugs are tan coloured. Grey/white is too lean, black is too rich.

[mattso118]

spot on guys ta for the help, will look come first light, she needs so much work already i am just dreading something big going... this will be the priority followed by fixing the glass in the speedo, god that rattle is annoying.

[alicetheauto]

Chances are some of the gaskets or even valve stem seals have dried out in the 5 years its been laid up. All being well, as the oil circulates around again with a bit of use, the seals will swell back up and stop the oil getting in? Thats what I'd try anyway. No *real* way that oil can get into the exhaust to be sent out the back UNBURNT anyway, once the motor is warmed up?

[m1tch]

Does it look like this?



If so, its just carbon from running rich mixed with the condensation that collects in the exhaust system.

I would recomend giving it a full service then its easier to find any faults

[96minimig]

give it a thrash lol