7 replies to this topic

[UBSTANKN]

So I had my car in the air today working on replace the discs and there are way more issues than I had hoped. It appears to be leaking from everywhere. Hopefully I can have a little light shed on some of my problems.



In order from left to right. 1) It doesn't appear to be dripping from the gear linkage (I think that's what it is) but it's very oily and dirty. 2) I don't think this is actually leaking, but most of the bottom of the engine has a thin coating of oil on it. I think there is a small leak from the head and maybe even the top of the block. 3) I know the sump plug is tight but it's still oily.

The only other area that is concerning to me is here: First is all the oil near the other end of the gear linkage. The other is that pipe that is surrounded by "wet". I'm not sure what this line is. I can't get enough under the car to see where it goes, but I can only assume it's a brake line or a fuel line. I felt it and it didn't feel like gas so I'm guessing it's a brake line:


I appreciate the help. I hate always asking for help, but I don't have knowledge yet to begin to help others. Hopefully I will gain enough soon

-Mike

[Yoda]

Why not get the whole underside and the engine pressure washed, then you can see where any oil is leaking from. It is likely that the leaks are at the pot joints and from higher up on the engine. If it is a 998, its also possible that it is coming from the tappet covers. most leaky mini's seem to put oil all over the underside of the car making it difficult to find the leak. With a clean car, its much easier to find the actual leak. The Pipe you cant identify should be your fuel line.

[nick.evans93]

I would agree that giving the engine a good clean would really help finding your leaks, oil really does get everywhere. If the sump plug is actually leaking I would suggest changing the sump plug washer for another copper one, but I wouldn't have thought it is. The 'wet' fuel line I personally wouldn't worry about unless it is actually dripping and you can smell fuel. Hope this helps you.

[UBSTANKN]

Fuel line certainly doesn't sound good! I would agree that I probably need to spray down the entire engine bay. Not only will that help remove years of grime from the bay, but it will help me diagnose a lot of these issues. I've just been concerned about putting high pressure water in the engine bay and potentially getting water in places that it shouldn't and increasing the potential for rust.


-Mike

[nick.evans93]

Completely agree that a high pressure wash could cause some problems but nothing wrong with a bit of elbow grease and a cloth . If you are concerned about the fuel line then replace it. Its a little fiddly in places and will probably take you a few hours but as its carbed its only one fuel line instead of 3.

[irish.yobbo]

The gear select rod is a common place for leaks, and you can buy anti-leak kits to help with this: http://www.minisport...nfo_MSK017.html

The 2nd place you have pointed out is the pivot for the fork selector, which would be unlikely to leak unless it has been rebuilt wrong. I'd suggest it's something further up the engine, since that's the lowest point. Have a look at your cam follower covers (under the carby and behind the exhaust.

You could try using a fibre washer on the sump plug, but other than that, I don't know how to solve the leaking plug. I've never had much issue.

[UBSTANKN]

Thanks all for the advice guys! I don't believe that the pivot is actually leaking. I think it's just a handy place for oil to collect so it runs down the engine and drips from there. I've also never noticed any puddles under the car where that fuel line is so I'd never even never even thought that there may be a problem. How difficult is it to replace a fuel line?

Everytime I think about embarking on a project with the Mini, I always end up in the same place: rebuild the entire car. I start off with something simple like replace the radio and so the procress goes like this: If I add a new radio, I'm going to need new speakers, which will require running wires, and the wiring is pretty bad so I may need to rewire which would require pulling the interior and maybe the engine and if I pull the engine I will want to clean the engine bay and repair any rust and replace the suspension and if I'm repairing rust and painting the car, I might as well strip it and start from scratch.

The same thing happens when I start at replacing the headliner which would require pulling the windows and if I remove the windows and I find rust that will require repair which will require paint which means I might as well strip and rebuild.

I've done this every time I think about cleaning the engine bay. I want to clean out the engine bay, but theres lots of surface rust so I might need to remove the engine, and If I'm removing the engine then I should rewire and paint. I think I have a disease!

-Mike

[nick.evans93]

If you can't see fuel under the car and you can't smell fuel then I wouldn't fixed something that isn't broken. If you do want to replace it then you would need to drain all the fuel off from the tank, remove the tank I believe to attach the new fuel line as the old one was, lace it on the underside of the car the same way as the old one and attach it back to the carb. Its can be fiddly as there is not much space in the boot but if you know what your doing it will take you about 2-3 hours. Probably not worth doing unless your fuel line is perished, damaged, etc.