Hi guys,

As you know in my other thread I have just completed the installation of my OCC from M7 yesterday.

I installed it according to one of the diagrams on the "How to ...." thread.

Now my 3 questions are:

1) I drove the car for a short while and noticed this area "A" of the pipes were quite hot already and I didn't even go more than half a mile. From past experience the original pipe that used to lead into "B" where the superchargers gray line goes. Collapsed and was an MINI recall due to heat, they put in a rubber that was more heat resistant and I never had that problem since. Now with the pipes supplied by M7, are they are heat resistant? Will the same not happen when exposed to too much heat?



2) I also read in another thread somebody's pipe leading to the OCC was crimped without them noticing and some pressure build up caused one of the tubes to pop out and leak oil onto the header causing a fire? From my current pics does it look like my pipes are bent at too much of an angle?



3) Lastly, (this forum is too interesting ) on another thread. Some have put steel wool/chain links/special foam strips into their OCC to give the oil something to cling on to. On the M7 OCC, do I just undo those screws at the top and the lid will come off? Or is it also glued to the cylinder of the can with that blue stuff I see?

Sorry for my endless questions, but I'm a perfectionist

 

Where you have it mounted is going to make it difficult to change the oil, i would suggest mounting it on the other side of where you have it mounted. When you unscrew the top you can drain the oil that way, the blue thing that you see inbetween the canister and the top is a gasket.

 

I don't know if European spec cars are different from the US versions. But there is no space on the oppisite side. I tried before I fitted it where you see it now.

 

Just looked at a few engine bay pics on the "How to... OCC" thread. I was right - because we are right hand drive. I suspect the power steering oil reservoir is in that same space. See below pic with comparison with mine.

 

I think what he meant by "the other side" is the area that is next to the DSC control unit just behind the plastic heat shield.
Some people have drilled thru the plastic for the hoses and others have routed them over the top after removing a small part of the rubber seal.

Hope this helps...

 

After taking a better look at your photos I'm wrong, it isn't going to fit. Most likely it won't fit in the same area on the curb side either.

Sorry for the confusion...

 

The amount of blow-by probably varies by a factor of ten from one engine to the next, but if your engine is anything like the one in my `05 S, you may not have to empty the can for a year or two anyway.

My OCC is an oil-vapor separator with a filter, so it catches anything that comes at it, and I get maybe a quarter-ounce every 6-10K miles of hard road and highway use. The M7 tank looks like it should hold 6-8 ounces of gunk...

 

Thanks for the feedback?

What is your opinion about the heat and angle of the tubes leading/coming from the OCC?

 

Personally I did not connect the driver's side hose. If I were to do so, I'd get a second OCC, as the two hoses should probably not be connected (opinions vary). Here's the most generally-approved hookup, contrary to instructions from Alta and others:
(Courtesy of DrPhilGandini)

Here's my installation, starting in post #28 - https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=49645

Re. the description, I replaced the filter, and now use the MINI catch-can exactly as it was designed: as an air-oil separator.

 

I also installed mine exactly like with the diagram above. I left the green line on the right near the TB as it was OEM.

I just had another thought. I just put in steel wool in my OCC and I was thinking because of the position mine is mounted in. Do you think it could be possible for the wool to be heated so much by the headers that it will set the oil a light in the OCC? Probably not, but I'm just covering my bases here :D