8 replies to this topic

[feeenix14]

Good evening everybody,

A few months ago I posted in here under a title "hello and goodbye" because I had bought a mini and then crashed it. Well thanks to a nice man at the bank I now have a new mini !!!

Everything is all good with it, I'll try and put some pics up . . . . . But.

It has a weird oil leak that is quite bad, it's on the right hand side near the radiator and I think it's spraying oil into the fan which in turn is spraying it everywhere !! I know the previous owner has removed the timing cover and re-fitted it and i have read that if this isnt re-fitted in a certain way by using the pulley to tighten first before the timing cover bolts otherwise the gasket may not seal properly or the oil seal wont seal correctly, also there are some dodgy looking silicone hoses with breathers which could possibly be leaking from somewhere.

My plan is to get all the pieces I need to change everything while I have it in bits and do it all in one go but I'm not sure exactly what I need. I'm going to get some new hoses and new breathers as they seem to have perished a bit, I will change the timing cover while I have it off as the previous owner said it had a hole that he got his mate to weld up !?! Then obviously the timing cover gasket and a new oil seal, but is there anything else I need ?

Is it worthwhile me getting an oil thrower ? I read somewhere about a washer that I need but I can't find that thread again !!

I read that I might need a spacer for the fan so it doesn't catch on the timing cover ? Maybe there isn't one on there and that's why the previous owner had to get the timing cover welded ?

Is there anything else I need ? I have a bit of money to throw at it but would like to have a go at doing the work myself.

Also does anyone know of any mini specialists in the midlands ? I'm in Nuneaton and Jonspeed is just down the road but I haven't heard good things about those guys. I read on here about a guy who has just taken over a garage called surf blue in Nottingham but where else can i go for parts/help/info ??

Thanks for any help guys

Il put some pictures of my nestled as soon as I can

[feeenix14]

nestled ?? I wrote that on my iPad and it's auto corrected !! It's meant to say "new ride"

[feeenix14]

Anybody ?

[bmcecosse]

I don't like the sound of the 'breathers'...... All the breather tubes must be led into the carb so the engine sucks away and burns it's own oil fumes. Quick test - hot engine, remove the oil filler cap and rev up. Is there a plume of smoke/fume? If so - it suggests a worn engine - and the pressure may be pushing the oil out past the timing cover seal (and the transfer case seal.......) . And yes - if the oil thrower is not present inside the timing cover - that would put a strain on the rubber lip seal and could cause the leakage.

[feeenix14]

Thanks for your reply, i will give that test a go and see if there is any smoke.

i have seen the argument for breathers on a few forums, some people say the more the better, some people agree with you and say that the oil should be vented to the carb, i dont mind doing either, at the minute there are a few nipples on my carb that look like there should be something attached so i'll have a look into that, im assuming mini sport will be able to provide me with a length of hosing that i can just cut up to suit my needs on that front ?

i havent looked yet but im assuming that my haynes manual will tell me which oil pipes should got to where on my carb ?

wont the car run really rich and smoky if i attach a load of oil pipes to the carb tho ?

[mk=john]

I would personally fit an oil thrower, it just keeps excess oil off the crankshaft seal so if it were to leak it will be minimal.
But remember that oil will sit at the bottom of the timing cover, even when the engine is not running. To avoid this leaking out the bottom through the gasket, what i do is cover the bottom of the gasket, both sides (bottom quater only) with RTV sealant, and this prevents oil leaks as much as possible.

If using this method, dont cover the whole gasket, just the bottom part on both sides, because removing it later might be very difficult.

John

Edited by mk=john, 03 October 2011 - 08:59 PM.

[Surfbluegarage]

*waves* someone say surfblue? lol

[tiger99]

There is no need whatsoever to use RTV on the timing cover gasket. They very rarely leak, if the correct bolts and washers are used, and torqued up carefully, and the cover is not damaged. In any case, RTV is the incorrect material, it is more appropriate where there is no gasket. You only need a non-setting gasket compound (Red Hermetite, if it still exists, for example), but you actually do not need even that. I understand that plastic timing covers are available. Never, ever use anything but the recommended sealant on one of these, as the wrong material will ruin the plastic. In any case there is nothing wrong with teh standard sheet metal timing cover.

There must be an oil flinger, and without it the pulley will be slightly out of line with the alternator and water pump.

The cover must be centralised. Fit a new seal, and put the gasket in place. If doing it without sealant, a couple of blobs of LM grease will help it to stay in place. Put the cover on, and fit all bolts very loosely. Oil the seal, or again use LM grease, carefully push the pulley in, fit the special washer and bolt, and nip up loosely. Then, and only then, evenly torque up the timing cover bolts. Torque up the main pulley bolt. Done!

[Spitz]

....what tiger said.

by the way "it's on the right hand side near the radiator" That would be the left side