10 replies to this topic

[CharlieBrown]

Several days ago I noticed oil on the garage floor and thought the mini must be leaking a bit. (it did this a while ago but only a tiny bit, then stopped)

However I put a tray under it and looked at it yesterday and there was quite alot of oil in it, about the size of a ....banana (couldn’t think of anything else ) from just one night in the garage.

I had filled up the engine with oil the week before.


Prior to this there hadn’t been any oil leaking!

Is this a problem I could solve easily (I have very little technical knowledge) or is it off to the garage?

Cheers,

Charlie

[Pavel]

Well there are a few likely places where oil can leak from.

What you want to do is wipe the entire underside of the engine with a rag until its clean, also wipe the gear selector and diff ends/outdrives from underneath.

Then leave the car overnight and see where the oil appears. Then we can help you a bit more.

Likely places:

Gear linkage exit (middle left to right, where the gear linkage comes out of the gearbox)
Diff oil seals (on either side of the diff at the rear of the gearbox)
Timing cover oil seal (on fan side of engine)
Rocker cover gasket (top of head oil leak)

[CharlieBrown]

Cheers Pavel,

I will try to do that soon as possible and get back to you.

[I might take it to a garage this weekend (if I can) as even if I/we work out what the problem is I dont think I will be able to fix it. Ill let you know anyway]

[Bluemini]

Sounds like its the timing chain cover crank seal, if you topped the engine up with oil, its probly gone higher than the level of the seal and leaked from there, mine does it too, It stops the road going rusty...

[cowboy]

It stops the road going rusty...

rich you make me laugh :grin:

[redmini]

:wales: Where I live (out in the sticks) there's nothing but cow sh*@ on the road which also stops it going rusty

[roberts]

as above

but its all horse poo around my way!

[CharlieBrown]

Hi guys,

nice conversation your having there!

Its still leaking a fair bit (small bananna size now) so it was low on oil, just abouve the min on the dip stick. (Put more oil in)

Checked to see where it was coming from last night and I think its somewhere behind the sump?!?! but couldnt really see.

Will try and get it to the mini hospital tomorrow

:sad:

[CharlieBrown]

Hi Guys,

I went to the MiniHospital and had a look under the car.

Well I found the problem! Couldnt quite belive it but it was 2 missing bolts!!!! :gasp:

They were suppost to be at the back of the sump as the pictures below show (they hold the exhaust as well).

The lower bolt hole and the upper hole just in view:



and the leak:

[Dom]

crikey...

[CharlieBrown]

And the fix, I know its simple but I thought I'd show you the pics.

Lower Bolt fitted:



Then checked and thought that it might be too long (Bob confirmed this so i got a shorter one):



This length bolt was the right one:



Then the other bolt in, job done: