4 replies to this topic

[mohammed]

Hi everyone,

I am hoping someone can advice me (like TMF does always)...

I have a small (i think its small) oil leak, but i dont know or i cant see from where.. i bought gunk cleaner the other day and cleaned the bottom to see if i can see the leak but i cant.. i can see that the oil is coming down from the water pump side. But where can the leak be?? and how can i stio the leak..

I need to top up the oil nearly every week!!

plz help/ advice me

thank you

mohammed

[dklawson]

From the water pump end of the engine the most obvious big source for an oil leak would be the front main seal. Repair/replacement is a bit involved but can be done at home with the engine in the car.

Your approach to clean the engine to find the leak is a good start. However, you will benefit from cleaning from the top down to determine the path for a leak that may be higher up.

In the U.S. I have purchased a U.V. fluorescent dye that can be added to the oil. The method of use is to thoroughly clean the engine with degreaser, then at dusk in a dimly lit place you add the dye to the oil and run the engine up to operating temperature. Using a black light (U.V. light source) you illuminate the engine looking for the "glowing" oil. I have used this successfully to find a couple of leaks (on non-Minis) where I could not otherwise determine where the leak was coming from.

[Sam Walters]

Front main seal. Possibly the timing case?

[mohammed]

Front main seal. Possibly the timing case?

how do i go about replacing the front main seal.. what do i need to do. and what will i need in terms of parts?

thanks

[freshairmini]

check around the gear change rod on the back of the diff/gearbox. might need to jack your mini up to see. I've been slowly loosing oil for a while now. was very oily around that area.

So it could be the gear change rod seal that leaking (don't know the proper name ).

I changed mine today, (just the seal not the ally guide) so i'll have to see if that was the problem.