After +2 months of research and fiddling, I finally have a OCC system that should cure the turbo, IC and intake valve fouling caused by the PCV/DFI on the MCS (R56). Used the 42 Draft Design "Stealth" OCC as it seems to have the best baffling. It's a "universal" so had to fabricate a bracket and hose assembly. This ain't for the faint hearted. The key to whole thing is the BSH dual boost tap with the plug installed. Pretty slick design on that one. Took ~5min to install! Got a 1400mi trip starting Wed, almost all of which will be at sustained high speed. Hope that flushes the turbo and IC as well as burning off 20K's worth of intake valve carbon. Muchas Gracias BSH!!

 

A catch can and the boost tap, isn't going to "flush" or burn anything out. They are preventative solutions...to prevent build up in the future.

To fix the build up that you may have, you still need to do something like a SeaFoam treatment.

 

Guess I'll find out, but have you ever wondered why your mpg goes up after the first tankful on a long sustained-speed trip? BTW, I don't think you can use Seafoam on the IC.

 

nope use carb cleaner or solvent then wash with soap and hot water

 

 

I don't suppose there's a way to do that w/o pulling the IC? Don't relish the thought of taking the front of the car off!

 

what are the pro's and con's between plugging up and having an OCC on the right side port (port that goes into the throttle body). an obvious difference is cost. anyone knows of a technical advantage of one vs. the other? would plugging up cause a long term reliability issue such as engine seal leakage?

thanks so much in advance for the info.

I currently have a BSH OCC on the left side, and will have no need for monitoring boost. I just look for a total preventive solution of the nightmare carbon buildup.

 

So I take it the 2 PCV valves cannot be changed in the r56 S? I dont see them for sale, only the tubing.

 

Only an Audi dealer sells them, that's where I bought mine. You don't really want to plug those up do to uneven pressure between intake manifold and crankcase pressure!

 

AUDI? Did you say Audi? If Audi sells them then some aftermarket must sell them.

You mean the PCV valves separate from the entire cover? Was it hard to swap them out?

 

The PCV valve is part of the valve cover, it can't be removed, have to replace entire valve cover. I thought you were asking for the plugs that block off both PCV ports when installing an OCC. OCC will not prevent oil from coating your entire turbo side intake tract and eventually making its way to the valves, all you're doing is re-routing the oil from entering the intake manifold at the passenger side PCV port. Instead of taking the short cut you're talking the long way around, the result will be the same.

I'm waiting for the internal conflict to stop for the company that's going to be selling the RX dual catch can system, it's $500+ and there's a thread on it here on NAM.

 

Do guys ever clean out the PCV valve and plumbing rather than buying a new valve cover just to replace the PCV valve?

 

The pcv system is molded into the valve cover and sealed. It is not serviceable.

 

Cleaning out the PCV valve doesn't fix a broken PCV valve, I think 05r50 said it best, It is not serviceable. Don't buy it at the dealer unless you want to spend hundreds more for the same part you can get at ECS Tuning for $315 and easily install yourself.

 

There are no pro's to blocking off the passenger side PCV port, the oil will coat the inside of all your intake tract on the turbo side. You also create uneven pressure between the intake manifold and the crankcase. The BSH OCC doesn't catch all of the oil, only some, a band-aid solution.

 

Thanks for the info guys. At 145k miles I thought I might like to change the PCV valve but since its so expensive Ill pass.

 

They arent always "broken", just clogged. Depends on the car and the plumbing.

 

You think $315 is expensive and you purchased a MCS? Don't be surprised by the possible consequences of excessive crankcase pressure! Never has a valve cover on an Cooper S R56 lasted 145,000 miles, it's just possible since there made out of plastic. My 2007 MCS valve cover didn't even make it past 50,000 miles, typical lifespan is 45,000-75,000 miles, the latter is probably cold climates.

I thought we were talking about Mini's here and not other cars, you can't compare the PCV system of a Mini to other cars. Most have a metal or stainless steel PCV valves like my older 200SX, that car had a massive beefy timing chain. Mini's have timing chains smaller than my 80 size Yamaha off road motorcycle back when I was 14 years old.

Hay it's your Mini do as you see fit.

 

Yes, yes I do. Luckily I do all my own maintenance.

I bought it from a friend who had that car at the dealer constantly. They changed the valve cover at ~100100 miles. 45k miles ago .

What were the symptoms when your PCV failed? Rough idle?

 

No rough idle but I heard many times a crack can develop in the valve cover that the naked eye can't see. My passenger side PCV port wasn't passing any oil vapors like it's supposed to even after I tried unclogging it, the cyclone separate was not working. That means all of my oil vapors were going through my turbo side PCV port coating my turbo wheel and associated piping and intake tract through the intercooler.

So the previous owner had it in the dealer constantly (a known lemon) and you still bought it from your friend not expecting trouble? Now you don't want to pay for a new valve cover, why did you buy a Mini known to be in the dealer constantly if you don't want to spend money to fix it?

 

Relax hommie. I'm not having trouble. I'm asking questions. Doing preventive maintenance. Cover was already changed once.

Its as much of a lemon as all the Minis are. I have the full service history. Its oil leaks, VVT repair and such. Same as everyone else.

 

Wow I sure hope you're speaking for yourself on all Mini's being lemons, the simple reason is nothing is created equal, 1st Gen Mini's had a solid engine. I haven't ever had an oil leak or a Vanos issue (VVT) in 60,000+ miles, then there's the N18 engine that is much more solid than an N14 engine.

I would refrain from making uninformed statements like that because you'll open yourself up for ridicule, it's just a suggestion. So you have no rough idling or PCV valve issues?

Performing preventive maintenance on a lemon as you call it is absurd especially at 145,000 miles, there are so many other things than can go wrong with your Mini. I would suggest you keep an eye out for oil leaks and things that can cause trouble instead of replacing things that aren't broke. Again it's just a suggestion.

 

Im doing this set up. Guy builds them to order. Hes going to do An fittings to make it cleaner. Dual cans.

Very reasonably priced. I like supporting artisanal guys.

Ive read to the end of the internet and back, and for our cars based with me being intelligent but hardly the final word Id say dual can is not needed but holds bunch of merit. This car is gonna get mod'd quite a bit. My car does eat oil. A measured cup of oil every 30 days. However the car is mechanically sound, had it gone over and work on it myself.