Two unrelated problems occurred today. Backed out the '04 Mini S with 93,700, out of my garage. Couldn't put the car into first. Turned off the car and tried to put the car into gear and then start it. Apparently it didn't totally engage and so I turned it off again and try to put it into gear. Noticed that the clutch pedal didn't return all the way, so I pulled it up with my foot and tried again, and this time it went into gear. Too off without too much problem this time with the car going into all gears without any problem. Went down the road for about 2 miles and then all of a sudden the car seem to be down two cylinders and it sounded as if i just lost my muffler. Looked for a good parking lot so a flat bed would be able to pick it up. Lifted the hood and noticed a small jet of oil over the box where the spark plug wires go into.
So i am wondering if the valve cover gasket blew. My immediate thought that I blew a head gasket, but the head gasket would be not be so close to the top of the engine.
So bottom line is I don't know just what happened.

 

Spark plug came out maybe?
Just a guess.
Did you have it towed to a shop?

The clutch issue sounds like your slave cylinder isn't working right, or got air in the line somehow

 

You are correct. When I looked at the engine I just saw the oil stain but didn't see the plug out. It probably was sitting in the hole but not totally out. Anyway the guys at the garage said that the plug had come out.
I guess 50K ago when I changed the plugs I didn't crank the one plug down to the correct torque. I took 50k to unwind the plug. I was a little gun shy in the 80s when I cross threaded one of the plugs on a Honda Prelude with AL heads.
The guys at the shop said to just drive the car until the clutch problem crops up again. Air in the system would be a mystery for me as well.
Thanks

 

Sounds like it didn't take the threads out, that's good

 

Oh that is good to hear about the plug.

Sounds like a slave cylinder as well. Once that goes, the pedal goes to the floor and does not return. It will happen again is the cylinder is failing.

 

Don't beat yourself up about the spark plug. MINI's are known to have them back out. Don't know why, but it is very common.