12 replies to this topic

[whistler]

Driving along this morning near my home I suddenly lost all oil pressure on the gauge. No leaks, plenty of oil on dipstick. No knocking. Managed to crawl home quietly. Overbored 1098 with about 2000 miles on it.

this is what I've done so far.

Changed oil pressure gauge. Turned over engine with no gauge fitted; no quirting. No visible blockage.

Removed oil pressure relief spring and cap. Turned over engine. No oil. No visible blockage.

Removed oil filter. No dripping whilst unscrewing. Oil filter only half full.

Removed banjo bolt and filter head. No blockage. Ball valve in head working. Turned over engine. No oil movement.

Checked back of gearbox cover bolts for pickup pipe. Still tight and locktabs intact.

Engine still runs with none of the above connected, no knocking. Bloody good oil this 20w/50 from Minispares.

Going to pull the engine unless someone has any thoughts on something I haven't checked.

My thoughts are that the centre oil pickup has failed somewhere and the oil pump is sucking air. Alternatively the oil pump has failed dramatically.

Help.

 

[imack]

It does sound like a it can only be a pickup pipe, gearbox to block o ring or pump/gasket failure. I wonder whether a con rod could have rubbed though the pick up pipe? I had to modify the bracket on my old special tuning type pick up pipe to clear a standard 1275 rod. Can't remember the stroke of a 1098, but I seem to remember it being longer than a 1275.

[imack]

Circled is the part of the bracket I filed away donkeys years ago to clear the counterweight on a 1300gt conrod.
The currently available pickup pipes are different, so this may not be an issue.

Attached Files

•  Screenshot_20250525_170140_Gallery.jpg   33K   2 downloads

Edited by imack, 25 May 2025 - 04:16 PM.

[Spider]

What a bumma.

Given the checks you've done in-car, as you are doing, it is engine out from here. It does sound likely that there's been a failure on the suction side of the pump - the trainer maybe blocked (seen that a few times), pump gasket failure and even a sheared off pump drive.

[whistler]

Interesting suggestion. Thanks Imack.

Edited by whistler, 26 May 2025 - 08:56 AM.

[whistler]

What a bumma.

Given the checks you've done in-car, as you are doing, it is engine out from here. It does sound likely that there's been a failure on the suction side of the pump - the trainer maybe blocked (seen that a few times), pump gasket failure and even a sheared off pump drive.

Thanks Chris, going to start pulling engine out today. Hate pulling mk1 engines out!

[whistler]

Pulled the engine yesterday afternoon and removed the transfer case. Oil pump bolts still tight. Removed oil pump which still had oil in it. Peg drive OK. Opened pump and it was perfect. No noticeable wear marks or scouring. Just working up the energy to go out and split the gearbox off the engine now. Will come back later.

[Cooperman]

It sounds like a failure with the pick-up pipe. Make sure you check/inspect/replace the big-end and main bearing shells if you have run with suspect oil pressure. It’s surprising how quickly the bearings are damaged by zero pressure.
I once had an oil pick-up pipe fracture in a Cortina 2000 engine. I had to fit new bearings plus the pick-up pipe despite stopping as soon as I noticed the lack of oil pressure. Of course, with a Mk3 Cortina it was not necessary to take the engine out- just take off the sump.

[whistler]

Cracked oil pickup pipe.

Found a reference to this problem on an old Mini Forum post from 2012. https://www.theminif...peim-not-happy/

That was a 1098 engine as well.

My pipe came out in 2 bits.

Fortunately crank bearings are OK. Phew!

 

Attached Files

•  pickup.jpg   27.3K   2 downloads

[imack]

Looks like these pipes have a potential clearance issue with the longer stroke of 1098's.
The underside of my old style central oil pipe fouled the laygear of the Swiftune gearset. I had to carefully heat it with a welding torch to re-shape it to give clearance.

[Spider]

Glad you found it and it was obvious.

 

Easy enough fix from here.

 

Thanks for letting us all know.

[cal844]

Glad To hear that it wasn't an expensive repair (machine work)

I do hope that you don't find further damage 😊

[Kevybmini]

OMG what a nightmare,