17 replies to this topic

[MiNi2iNFiNiTi]

Really need your help again please guys. I've had an oil leak for a while now but its got progressively worse the more I used it, so I kept it on the driveway and have been using my mothers car to drive to work.

The oil cap on the rocker cover was pretty shagged, we took it down a junction on the motorway and when we got back to the house the inside of the bonnet had been redecorated and much of the top of the engine too! And it doesn't look like the gasket was up to much cop either (or the lip of the rocker cover was out of shape) So I just bought a new one off good ol' ebay for £20 so I could rule that out as the oil leak. It's all chrome and shiny

Fitted the new gasket and made sure it was sitting right all round before tightening up. Took it for a run around the block, looked underneath when I got it back on the driveway, bah! still leaking. But not from the rocker this time so it was worth the purchase.

Lifted the bonnet and rather than seeing oil everywhere it was only in one place....

[attachment=60006:dippy.jpg]

The dipstick is really really really loose in the hole, could it be splurting out from there? As I whiped the engine down best I could before taking it for a once around the block. And the only part that was covered in oil was I lifted the bonnet was around the dipstick.

[attachment=60007:rockercover.jpg]

It has also splashed on the rocker cover and hose, so the oil has obviously shot upwards rather than fallen with gravity. Making me more convinced its the dippy to fault.

[attachment=60008:sump1.jpg] [attachment=60009:sump2.jpg]

Its running down the ridges of the sump and then dripping at the lowest point. I got straight out when I got it back on the driveway and could see the exhaust joint was still smoking, which I would have to guess would have been caused by the oil splattering over it as I was driving along. So this could be the source of my 'oily smell and smoke in the cabin and out the back' issue.


Please help guys, I think I've almost sorted out all his problems!

[liirge]

Sounds like the Dip stick to me. specially if its loose, and spurting oil upwards.

[miniEgg]

have you changed the oil pressure sensor, bottom left of the block? looks like a mini spark plug. run your finger round it, this is where ours leaked but the whole engine bay got sprayed as it was presurised so was like a high pressure sprinkler lol..

hope this helps?

[MiNi2iNFiNiTi]

Gonna buy a new one off ebay now, hopefully it will be here by the weekend as I'm off to the Barry Transport Fest

I'll check for the sensor tomorrow morning, as I have to go to work in 10 minutes Thanks for the help guys

[miniEgg]

only reason i say that as well as aggreeing with dip stick is that if it was the dip stick you wouldnt get the leak when stood still...

[Ethel]

I imagine you'd need a fair bit of crankcase pressure to blow oil through the dipstick. Might be worth a compression test?

Clean it up thoroughly 'n have a close look at any oil line connections - filter feed pipe, pressure switch/gauge, relief valve. wrap some cloth round any likely culprits to catch the spurts 'n so aide identifying the source of the spurtification

If it is the dipstick have a look at your breathers, blow down them to check they are clear.

[JamesRance]

I found a dipstick here i bought one and its great

you have a choice of blue http://www.ocoop.com...d=DIP-BL&cat=41


or red http://www.ocoop.com...d=DIP-RD&cat=41

its up to you

thanks james

Edited by JamesRance, 05 June 2008 - 06:11 PM.

[998dave]

seal the dip-stick, increase pressure and fire it out, good move? no... it'll make more mess!

There shouldn't be pressure in the crank case, due to PCV it should have a slight vacuum if anything, as suggested, check your crankcase filters are clear and working, and consider a compression test, one of these is likely to be causing increaased crankcase pressure, solve this, and you shouldn't spurt oil any longer.

You may also buy a new dip-stick, but I suggest solving the cause, rather then a temp fix on the sympton.

And as it says in the little box at the top, don't give out incorrect advice, or as I think it should say, don't say for certain, and advise things that could cause damage.

[notthatrusty]

i had a similar problem with the last engine that was in my mini. turned out the rings were on there way out and therefore pressure leaking past the pistons and pressurising the crankcase hence forcing the oil out and the easiest place for it to go was out the dipstick. i suspect that if you seal the dipstick it will just find the next easiest route to take.

this is only a suggestion as this is the problem i had but urs sounds similar. i would agree with the compression test route and also checking your breather system.

hope this helps
mark

[MiNi2iNFiNiTi]

seal the dip-stick, increase pressure and fire it out, good move? no... it'll make more mess!

There shouldn't be pressure in the crank case, due to PCV it should have a slight vacuum if anything, as suggested, check your crankcase filters are clear and working, and consider a compression test, one of these is likely to be causing increaased crankcase pressure, solve this, and you shouldn't spurt oil any longer.

You may also buy a new dip-stick, but I suggest solving the cause, rather then a temp fix on the sympton.

And as it says in the little box at the top, don't give out incorrect advice, or as I think it should say, don't say for certain, and advise things that could cause damage.

Nobody suggested sealing the dipstick, and buying a new dipstick that was designed for a mini isnt a temporary fix its just a way of ruling out that part as the source.


Thanks all for yoir advice, ill be sure to check all those things. The rings could also be the reason I'm down on power too, how big a job is it to change those?

[1340 gt]

i agree the rings could be passing a little, i do challenge the people that say the dip stick will not leak on a healthy engine to remove theirs and go for a good thrash, im fairly confident it would make a fine mess!! some modern cars have the dipstick tube routed to the top of the engine to prevent any problem others seal the dipsticks with 'O' rings (renault)

personally i'd change the dipstick and see how you go, if the rings are bad its a full re-build anyway so what have you got to loose.

if your new to minis you do realise its going to be hard to get rid of all oil leaks completely on a car in use everyday?
sadly it seems part of british classics motoring!

[998dave]

Nobody suggested sealing the dipstick, and buying a new dipstick that was designed for a mini isnt a temporary fix its just a way of ruling out that part as the source.

Yes they did, but they've been good enough to modify their post.

Suggest cleaning the breather filters and seeing if this helps, also make sure the rubber hoses aren't blocked.

D

[998dave]

i agree the rings could be passing a little, i do challenge the people that say the dip stick will not leak on a healthy engine to remove theirs and go for a good thrash, im fairly confident it would make a fine mess!! some modern cars have the dipstick tube routed to the top of the engine to prevent any problem others seal the dipsticks with 'O' rings (renault)

personally i'd change the dipstick and see how you go, if the rings are bad its a full re-build anyway so what have you got to loose.

if your new to minis you do realise its going to be hard to get rid of all oil leaks completely on a car in use everyday?
sadly it seems part of british classics motoring!

Money and time? If he cleans the crankcase breather collecters and ensures tubes aren't blocked this will not cost anything, and is likely to help.

[1340 gt]

Money and time? If he cleans the crankcase breather collecters and ensures tubes aren't blocked this will not cost anything, and is likely to help.
[/quote]


yes do try what dave says, should help relieve some of the pressure, should have said that last night i just tired lol!!

i would also try a better fitting dipstick, you would also see some other symptoms if the rings were going,

out of interest what is the oil pressure like (if you have a gauge)


by the way i am speaking from an experience my mate had, he ran an 1100 clubman with a loose dipstick and had oil leak from it, fitted a chrome one with o rings and problem gone, the engine was well "broke in" but otherwise completely healthy and ran at up to 6krpm with his lead foot untill failing to use lead replacement took its toll in a big way and the valve broke up in the end trashing the block 8 months later.

(i no the above is hiding the symtom rather than fixing the cause as the dip stick shouldn't be under pressure but you may find its just due to wear)

once again, deffo try the breather system too as dave says.

[MiNi2iNFiNiTi]

Working again this afternoon but will be sure to check the breather system when I get up tomorrow morning.

Thanks all for the detailed replies and help, much appreciated