I just went out for coffee and saw an MCS driving down the street (braking a RIDICULOUS amount for a few small potholes, by the way) with the windshield nicely brushed off, but the supercharger intake completely blocked up with snow! That can't be good. The front grille was also just about covered. With all the frightening stories of water getting sucked into the MINI's engine and completely killing it, I just thought I'd try to remind people to clean out those areas when it snows.

Meanwhile my MINI sits warm and dry in an underground garage, not needed for commuting until February...

 

The MCS supercharger intake is where air enters to flow over the intercooler (not as some seem to think where the air comes in for the engine to breath). I wouldn't worry about snow in the SC intake, if it's that cold, I really don't think the intercooler is doing any cooling, thus doesn't need any air-flow.

 

Aha. I see. Not being the driver of an S, I wasn't sure as to where exactly the bonnet scoop led to. It makes sense that if it's 30 degrees out, the scoop isn't crucial.

I would think the front grille should be cleaned off, though, seeing as that's where the engine's air intake does reside. Seems like a few inches of melting snow on there could provide quite a bit of H2O.

Or am I just overthinking this?

 

>>Aha. I see. Not being the driver of an S, I wasn't sure as to where exactly the bonnet scoop led to. It makes sense that if it's 30 degrees out, the scoop isn't crucial.
>>
>>I would think the front grille should be cleaned off, though, seeing as that's where the engine's air intake does reside. Seems like a few inches of melting snow on there could provide quite a bit of H2O.
>>
>>Or am I just overthinking this?

My opinion is, Yes and no. Depending on conditions, a "plugged" intake may cause driveability issues, but not likely in just a snow covered grill. You'd really have to send a considerable amount of water up the intake to cause issues, melting snow, or rain for that matter shouldnt be a problem.

As far as the heat exchanger scoop on the hood being blocked goes: I would clean it out. If the road is dry and you get into boost, the lack of airflow will allow the Charge Air temps to elevate, depending on length of time you are into the throttle. The output temps of superchargers can be in the 200+ degree range, regardless of ambiant air temps. Hotter air is less dense than cold, and affects performance. That being said, if the charge air temps did in fact elevate due to lack of airflow, your intake air temp sensor will register the change, thus sending the ECM to different variables for fueling and Timing, compounding the performance loss. So in the end, it would only be a performance issue for the lazy....

 

chrisneal,

I agree. Just make sure the grill/hood scoop is clear of debris and/or snow and you should be fine. I've driven in almost torrential rain and the most that happened was I noticed some steam coming up out of the scoop (or the grill - it was a downpour so I didn't get out to look closely). That was it. I had no problems at all. Your baby should be just fine in the rain or snow.