Hopefully someone can help me on my way here. My Clubman 08s is leaking oil from the right side (passenger) of the engine. It's down below and dripping out of the bottom. It seems that it only leaks when the motor is running. Once parked only the residual oil drips on the garage floor. Usually just a drip or two. Underneath the car the obvious signs of an oil leak are there. I have looked and can't seem to locate anything visually but it's real tight in that area. What is prone to leaking on that side of the engine? What could it be leaking and how easy will it be to repair and how costly? Thanks

 

oil pan gasket? that or turbo oil line.

 

Are those fairly easy to fix? How or I guess where do I look to determine if it's one of those?

 

Not really but, if you have the time and the capability of turning a wrench you can do it on a weekend.

 

I'd think it is the timing chain tensioner leaking. It is on the passenger side.

 

Isn't the timing chain tensioner located inside a housing? The timing chain cover?

 

I do not believe so. The tensioner may be backing out causing your leak.

 

This was my first guess. It's located on the back of the head on the passenger side of the car.

 

No. As noted above, it is on the back passenger side of the engine. It just screws in back there.

It can back out. MINI has redesigned the washer to help prevent that.

 

So if it is the tensioner backing out what is the best fix for this? Back to the dealer? Any guess on repair costs?

 

Remove. Replace crush washer. Reinstall. If the car is an S model you might be covered under the timing chain recall thing.

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You could try to tighten it back down, but not sure that would work.

I'm not sure whether they sell the appropriate crush washer separately. That said, the tensioner itself is cheap (less than $50) and easy to install. The biggest trouble is getting all the piping out of the way. That really isn't difficult either, but some of the parts may not want to come loose without a lot of pulling (and maybe some cursing!).

 

They fixed mine under the timing chain campaign out of warranty. Bring something nice for your service advisor and treat him like an old friend. Good luck.

 

Can I drive the car without any major worries until I can get it to the dealer? The dealer is a couple hours away and I need to plan that out with a day off from work.

 

Given that your only symptom is an oil leak, I'd say you should be fine to drive to your dealer. Just be extra diligent in checking your oil level and topping off. I'm sure you probably have been already.

 

I am watching diligently but it is only loosing a very small amount. It may be a month or so before I can get to the dealer though. What's the thought on driving it normally before I can get there. Will anything get messed up by driving like I normally do? I can leave it sitting as I have other vehicles to drive just not as fun to drive and uses a heck of a lot more gas. Plus I hate looking at it in the garage and not driving it.

 

If its leaking because the tensioner loosened up then its possible the tensioner could completely back out and then you'd be in trouble. You have to decide if the risk is worth it.

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2010 MCS Timing Chain Tensioner Seal Oil Leak
We returned from dining out, and I saw an oil spot in the driveway. The next day, there was another oil spot. I'd noticed when I rotated the wheels that the front right was dirtier than the others, but just hoped that it was something I had run through. Nope, now it's hemorrhaging out like a severed artery. I dropped the MINI off Thursday morning. I stopped by Friday afternoon to see if they had made any progress. They had found oil blowing by the timing chain tensioner. My mechanic said he unscrewed the tensioner bolt with his fingers. They had found the technical bulletin describing this problem, with beginning and ending production dates, and the new part number for the timing chain tensioner seal ring (P/N 11 31 7 631 972) and the Repair Instruction 11 31 090. When I had asked MINI of Birmingham about the service bulletin on the tensioner, they said my VIN came with the new tensioner, with no mention of the seal. I had already verified that the new tensioner bolt had the tell-tale "dimple" in the bolt head.
They changed the oil & filter as well, looking for any metal or plastic in the sump - none found.
So, if you have a MINI Cooper S, produced between 4/2010 to 9/2010 or start of production through 4/2010 or 9/2010 - 11/2011 (depending on whether you need the tensioner AND seal or just the seal I think), you may need the new seal. I was lucky to have found the leaks on my driveway. If I'd been on a long trip when the tensioner decided to back out, I could have run completely out of oil.

 

I hope they measured the timing chain and replace the whole assembly. Just replacing the tensioner bolt will last about 20k miles before your timing chain gives out

 

I hope not. Note that my MINI came with the re-designed tensioner bolt -- just not the crushable seal. I've never had the "death rattle" and the oil leak was caught quickly. I'm more concerned with the thermostat and water pump right now.