Drivetrain (Cooper S) MINI Cooper S (R53) intakes, exhausts, pulleys, headers, throttle bodies, and any other modifications to the Cooper S drivetrain.

Drivetrain Boost Leak

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 6, 2009 | 09:15 AM
  #1  
Driv3r's Avatar
Driv3r
Thread Starter
|
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
Boost Leak

Hi there, Im still a NEWBIE, so excuse my ignorance.

I looked under my bonnet and there seems to be a blob of oil just under where the intercooler mounts on, and the ends of the cooler is very oily. what is this?
 
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2009 | 10:53 AM
  #2  
ZippyNH's Avatar
ZippyNH
6th Gear
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 12,605
Likes: 41
From: Southern NH
Your intercooler gaskets may be drying out and leaking. Remove, clean, put new boots/gaskets on, and reinstall. I have seen oem gaskets/boots as cheap as 25$.
 
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2009 | 11:33 AM
  #3  
Driv3r's Avatar
Driv3r
Thread Starter
|
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
I have a brand new gtt cooler
 
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2009 | 12:20 PM
  #4  
ZippyNH's Avatar
ZippyNH
6th Gear
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 12,605
Likes: 41
From: Southern NH
Doesn't mean the gasket is installed right. The intercoolers are usually preasure tested to ensure that they are leak-free.....I'm betting on a pintched gasket/intercooler boot. Since it is safe to say new ones were used at install, just remove it, clean the fittings, and reinstall. Very easy and fast to do.
 
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2009 | 01:02 PM
  #5  
Driv3r's Avatar
Driv3r
Thread Starter
|
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
does this 'leak' make the car pull weaker?
 
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2009 | 01:09 PM
  #6  
ZippyNH's Avatar
ZippyNH
6th Gear
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 12,605
Likes: 41
From: Southern NH
Yup.....if it is very bad. That is why you fix it. Could also cause you engine to smoke, or if enough oil leaks out, start a fire, or cause some other damage under the hood.
 
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2009 | 01:09 PM
  #7  
ZippyNH's Avatar
ZippyNH
6th Gear
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 12,605
Likes: 41
From: Southern NH
It is like a 15 minute job to fix.
 
Reply
Old Nov 7, 2009 | 12:22 PM
  #8  
Driv3r's Avatar
Driv3r
Thread Starter
|
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
this is what it looks like? am i referring to the right thing? Boost leak? Loss of power because of this? will have it fixed soon
 
Attached Thumbnails Boost Leak-dsc08552.jpg  
Reply
Old Nov 8, 2009 | 07:42 AM
  #9  
ZippyNH's Avatar
ZippyNH
6th Gear
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 12,605
Likes: 41
From: Southern NH
It is tough to tell from the picture....it seems to be in the right location...if the oil is slick...then it is fresh. If it is sticky and tackey....it might be from an older scource.....if it is very thick and sticky, look carefully around your upper motor mount....they are filled with a thick viscous oil that tends to leak as the mount fails.
Like I said, if it is a leak caused by a pintched or leaky intercooler boot, it is so easy to fix it would be a shame to not DIY it. 4 torix srews to remove an intercooler cover, then 4 torix screws on each pair of boots....and you my have to remove the lower mounting clips/bolts that holds it in place...2 bolts, very obvious and easy. A torx bolt/screw is just a special head on a screwdriver, commonly avalable, and pretty cheap.
I would fix it soon, mostly cause it is easy to do, cheap and a good way to have some quality time with your car.
 
Reply
Old Nov 8, 2009 | 03:36 PM
  #10  
ElPolloDiablo's Avatar
ElPolloDiablo
1st Gear
iTrader: (1)
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Denver CO
If you look closely up around the intake on the intercooler, it looks like there's some oil residue there. . .probably where it's coming from.

I had this issue on my car. . .One of the clamps had stripped out and it was losing boost over 8psi. But your clamp looks tight. . .I would definitely take a look at the boot.

Good luck!
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Mb460
R50/R53 :: Hatch Talk (2002-2006)
35
Sep 18, 2015 06:46 AM
gzaos
R56 :: Hatch Talk (2007+)
5
Sep 14, 2015 04:21 AM
mbatech
F55/F56 :: Hatch Talk (2014+)
2
Sep 10, 2015 03:40 PM
Mini Mania
Drivetrain Products
0
Sep 2, 2015 11:15 AM
Mini Mania
Drivetrain Products
0
Sep 2, 2015 09:05 AM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:56 AM.