I'll be dropping the oil pan today to replace a leaking gasket and the oil temp sender. I am thinking about having some baffles like the mini madness oil pan welded in while it is out. Would this be worth it? I do not think that I can pull enough sustained Gs to cause oil starvation, but this would only cost about $50 in material and labor for a local shop to weld. It is a pain to drop the pan, so I wouldn't want to do it again later just to have the baffles put in.



Opinions please.

 

I think that Gnatster had a baffled setup with hinges to allow oil to flow in but to close under cornering forces. I think he sells 'em, but I can't remember who makes 'em. Maybe send him a PM?

 

I'd look at Jan's gated oil pickup. $175.00, but if you wanted it done guicker I guess the pan weld you can get done is better than nothing.

 

you mean like this?

 

That's the one I was thinking of...Nice little piece there Jan

 

Yep... that's the one I saw before as well.

 

--^

That's going to do a lot more than a baffled pan. You're isolating the entire stock of oil to the pickup area (And closing off that area from other sources of oil, the other parts of the baffle) with the madness design.

Having the baffles around the actual pickup allows oil to still freely flow around the pan, but keeps it inside the pickup area.

 

That looks awesome. You don't have any detailed plans for that, do you?

 

Detailed plans? It's available, if you want one give Jan a call .

 

I should add that it's pretty cheap for a custom piece.

 

Are the RMW pickup and the Madness oil pan the only two options out there for the R53? Web searches aren't yielding anything else for me.

Also, does anyone make a windage tray that fits in the oil pan?

I must replace my oil pan (some a-hole at Midas stripped the drain hole threads), so the RMW pickup means that I still have to buy a new oil pan. Thus, I'm leaning toward the Madness pan, but I want to make sure I don't overlook any other options.

 

Putting baffles in the pan isn't rocket science. If you know someone that's capable of welding aluminum it would be an easy job.

Why not just make your own windage tray? You are gonna have the pan off, make a template and take it up the the metal shop and have one cut out.

 

Can't afford the downtime on my daily-driver/work car. I also have no local resources or contacts. Ready-made, bolt-in products are my only option right now.

 

I've run the RMW version and it seemed to work well... just make sure the welds are all good before putting it in as mine had come apart when I took it out

 

While it's down have a oil sender location tapped in it for a oil temp. gauge.

 

any chance that on a loooong rt hand sweeper the volume around the pick-up will be depleted? i understand the gates will close; holding in oil around pick -up . but at what point would that oil be used up ? why not two pick-ups in parallel , one at either end of pan ? pump not strong enough to pull them both?

 

You might be able to retap the threads on the old pan, and use some sealant to enable you to put in one of the drain valves like the fumoto from outmotoring....would not add baffeles, but much cheaper than removind the pan...a pretty big job on a MINI.
I might be weary of welding in baffles...with the waffle shape of the exterior from the casting procdure, it might be very hard to get a good weld without causing some thermal stress that may lead to premature failure....hense the reason maddness sells one premade. Just my.02$.
Good luck....keep us updated!

 

I put the RMW baffle in mine when I took it out, I consider it cheap insurane. I too would like a windage tray, but IMO pulling the oil pan really isn't that hard.

 

I had my pan off, took me less than a half hour to cut the pieces out,
I had a oil leak so i thought While i am here, photos in my gallery

 

there will soon be another option. windage tray and crank scraper. a reputable manufacturer moving into the MINI marketplace.

 

IMO, the RMW is the best option on the market. It's the one I chose to install in my MINI. The Madness welded-in baffles will increase time to failure but won't help sustained g loading [i.e. crazy 270 degree off-camber on-ramps]





Cheers,
Ryan

 

Nice pics Ryan

 

http://www.circletrack.com/nls/76818/index.html

http://www.circletrack.com/techartic...ech/index.html

http://www.lindseyracing.com/mm5/mer...Code=OILPANBKI

got some ideas and photos post later

 

Thanks for some good info.