Hey guys, unfortunately after leaving a parking spot I found a very small oil leak. Lifted the mini and took a look underneath and just everything is drenched in oil. I couldnt even tell where it was coming from. Sometimes when I start the mini, the power steering doesnt kick in sometimes I need to wait a couple of seconds in order to turn the steering wheel without breaking a sweat lol. I do not know if the oil is coming from the power steering or from something else. It is shown below on what I believe to be the rack and pinion? Not that good with car parts forgive me. Also found some sticky residue built up around the middle of the coolant tank. I do not know if that means I need a new tank since recently I have been needing to top off my coolant often. I heard from a lot of r53 owners saying that that tank is one thing that goes and I should get a nice metal one. Let me know thanks!

 

Power steering lines LOVE to leak... mine were actually leaking rite under my reservoir as the hoses got SO hard they weren't staying clamped all the way when they'd get cold and dribble down them , onto my rack and blow on everything under the car fluid filming it for me , lol..
I'd suggest start looking at ps lines and trace the down to the rack and check to see if they're damp or wet , valve covers can leak all the way down also as well as oil pan seal..

 

I see. I'll check my hoses and see if they are cracked or just covered with ps fluid.
But what do you think about the staining of my coolant tank? Should I get a stainless steel expansion tank?

 

The ps line clamps are terrible, if you replace the lines go for jubilee replacements, mine was drenched in oil. Also some copper washers for where they bolt to the rack (×4 I think, unsure of size as I have a multipack)

The green around your tank suggests that's where it has split, mine went in exactly the same place, common if I recall. Either replace like for like or if you want a bit of shine go for a metal tank.

 

Aren't those lines in your second picture for the oil cooler? The power steering lines that connect to the reservoir are on the other side. It looks to me like you may have a leak up above those coolant lines.

 

Here's what I would do, instead of tossing parts at it.

1. Buy 6 or 7 cans of brake cleaner
2. Buy a drip pan. Larger metal ones are preferred.
3. go to costco, buy a pack of yellow microfiber towels
4. Raise your car up, secure on jack stands, toss the drip pan under the car.
5. put on some goggles and start spraying the brake cleaner on everything. Use the costco towels to help clean away the oil. Spray from above, spray from below. Clean it all.
6. Put the car back on the ground, start the engine with the hood open. This will allow the brake cleaner to burn off and not make you panic, thinking you started a fire.
7. Drive the car a few days.
8. Put the car back on jack stands, look for oil leaks. You'll have a better idea of what's causing the issue. Replace as necessary.

It would suck if you replaced PS lines only to find out it's a leaking valve cover gasket.


Some notable leak spots:
a. plastic power steering reservoir
b. the return and feed line on the reservoir
c. the oil filter housing gasket
d. valve cover gasket

Good luck.

 

Some notable leak spots:
a. plastic power steering reservoir
b. the return and feed line on the reservoir
c. the oil filter housing gasket
d. valve cover gasket

Exactly this. I had to replace my rocker cover gasket again after less than 2 years and I had a lot of oil on the back of the engine. I also had trouble identifying the leak, as it looked like it originated from somewhere else.

Make sure you replace the gaskets and follow the torque settings. For the rocker cover gasket, also follow the bolt sequence when torqueing it down. I was searching for the correct sequence, but I cant find the picture anymore.

 

+1 deepgrey's observation.
From my experience; The oil leak on the right (passenger) side, is Indicative of a failing valve cover gasket and/or oil filter housing gasket leak .
Maybe a stupid question, but....As far as the mess under the PS reservoir and the steering wheel issues you describe; How often have you checked the PS fluid level?
I'm also betting - It's time to change your PS hoses like MiniMan initially mentioned.
Your coolant reservoir tank is eventually going to split or explode. Again = Also from my unfortunate experience.
However; all these (suspected) repairs are affordable and relatively easy if you don't mind doing the work yourself and getting a bit messy.

 

Upgrade it while you are at it, something like this (DaveFab on eBay) or the Airtec one.

 

get a small steam cleaner and use that rather than several cans of brake cleaner and the environment will thank you.
https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=steam%20cleaner

You'll be surprised how many more uses you find for it ....


IME you can replace the coolant tank with plastic at least 3 times for the cost of a metal one .... and you need to perform an extra step to see the level in a metal one.

 

Checked out those lines yesterday around the ends of the clamps and its just covered in oil. Is that a hard job to replace?

 

I tried checking around both my oil filter housing gasket and my valve cover gasket, they both had oil around it but it was not dripping oil. It was more of a gunky mushy feeling. I do not think that that is where the oil is coming from or it is but its just coming out very slowly but what does not make sense is that when I went under the car the oil I saw was very "recent" if that makes sense. It was drippy and clear to the eye that it is oil leaking from the engine. All lines connected to the ps reservior looks clean and not cracking of any kind. Ps reservoir also looks good.

 

I checked both valve cover and oil filter housing and its just dirty around it. I dont know how to describe it but it is not dripping constantly. It could be either that oil just splashed onto the valve cover and oil filter housing and it grabbed dirt and just got covered up. And no I checked my ps level and it looks good. I don't have all the money in the world so do you know which type of coolant expansion tank I should get for a reasonable price? Also what would you suggest I should replace right now?

 

How much is the airtec one?

 

You're gonna want to clean up everything so you can find where the oil is actually leaking from.

Until you do that, you'll just be replacing things and hoping it fixes the leak.

 

The short version:
Oil Cooler/Filter Housing and Valve cover gaskets
leaking.....+ crankshaft positioning seal leak. Are common above those 2wo hoses (right side/passenger side).
I had the exact same dirty oil deposit as you describe and shown in your second image. I believe those 2wo hoses shown; **are water coolant hoses connected/passing through your **oil cooler/oil filter housing. {**need citation).
The leak(s) source may/will not be obvious. Oil gets blown around and dirt sticks to everything. As previously recommended - try and clean off the area and wait to you see a fresh drip and try to trace from top to bottom, (to paraphrase Angry Scotsman), "before you start throwing money at this thing").

The long version:
Each time I parked after a drive; a few hours later or over night, I would find a 3-4" wet spot of oil - directly underneath that area and the 2wo hoses were oily, dirty and grimey. I suspected the Oil Filter Housing seal leaking.
Since I found it difficult (bolts can be difficult to see/remove) to do the seal(s) replacement in a parking lot; I had an independent Mini garage confirm the leak and replace the oil cooler and filter housing 0-rings/seal ($400). Afterwards - The leak slowed and minimized to a 2" spot = The valve cover gasket was also leaking. I preformed the replacement myself. The gasket is inexpensive ($20) and the work is a simple procedure. Just be be sure to follow the torque pattern and torque specs exactly .
Afterwards - the two hoses were dry and not collecting grime. However the oil spot was intermittent and reduced to a 1-2" = another leak somewhere else. Cleaned the engine surface again and traced the drip/leak to the Crankshaft Positioning seal. A mere 3/4" diam O-ring ($6)...but kind of a PIA to access/replace. Although, I have yet to replace mine; it can be done without going into front end service mode...Unfortunately my oil pan gasket just started leaking this past winter as well... *sigh*.

Glad to hear you check your PS reservoir and it's retaining proper level. I'm not sure if I can offer any advice with respect to the PS. If it's not hydraulic fluid. I'm still leaning toward valve cover gasket leak possibly being the source of the oil in that area.
As far as the Water coolant expansion tank? I would have loved the $bling$ and piece of mind with an aluminum upgrade but I wound up replacing mine 6yrs ago, with the same plastic OEM (Amazon/$36?). Still holding strong.
Since the easiest and cost effective gasket to replace is the Valve cover gasket. You may want to start there. @Mod-Mini and youtube have some great comprehensive tutorials.

EDIT: Below is the proper Valve Cover tightening sequence. Tighten progressively in sequence then to 9ft # torque spec

 

Thank you very much for your detailed description of the leak I really appreciate it! I dropped of my mini at a local shop and the guy said its the oil filter housing gasket. He also stated that it is a 5 hour job. I wanted to know is that correct? I watched the video from MOD MINI and it does not seem like it takes 5 hours long. My mechanic said that he needs to take out the axle to access the housing. Mod Mini's video just shows him attacking the housing from on top of the engine and doing it successfully! So is there something that I am missing? Let me know thanks!

 

Firstly - You're welcome
Secondly - 5hrs??? - I dunno....Well, maybe if you spend the time pulling the axle.
I admit - Those oil filter/cooler nuts are in there deep and can be frustrating to get to. But even any moderately mechanically inclined person laying on their back in a parking lot can probably do it in 2-3hrs. With a whole lot of swearing and WITHOUT pulling the axle.
However; (IMO), A skilled mechanic WITH A LIFT should be able to do it in far less time. I can't imagine having to go through the trouble of pulling the axle. I suppose it might make access easier....but that seems like alot of unnecessary work (to me).
I am no seasoned mechanic. I have RA which can be debilitating.... I still do my own repairs laying on my back in a parking lot...When I can.
Repairing the housing leak was a no go for me at the time.

 

Exactly what I was thinkin! Sounds good. I think I will take back my mini and do it myself. Thanks again!

 

that's some interesting routing of the coolant lines. That thing looks made all awkward. Mines an ebayer and this is it's orientation. That's odd...even puts the viewport off to this side.
heres correct install...

 

I'm selling an oem coolant tank if you need one btw too

 

What's odd to me is the extra hose nipple on these aftermarket expansion tanks. All of them seem to have. Is it fine as is? Did you plug it up?

 

I assume it's a pressure relief since it's right below the cap. You could probably run an overflow tank from it if you wanted.