so i bought a mini with 167k on it. decent condition. needs rear struts and the normal maintenance and problems wit the coolant temp sign poppin up blowing cold air so i figured stuck thermostat. put coolant in it. same thing happend. found out the bleeder screw was loose. but i let my car warm up today and it started showing a engine over heating sign. then i gave it some gas and a cloud of smoke came out the exhaust smelling of oil. shut it off and let it cool. drove and had a light come back on. pulled over and bled the coolant. and it started working again. im lost as to wht the core problem is. and im guessing the thermostat is just gettin stuck now and then. SIDE NOTE: i came from a 92 Mitsubishi mighty max to this so im not used to the bells and whistles of these cars. i do love em tho. i def need the help and will need def need more help in the future. i hope this car lasts as long as possible. i see why ppl love them so much :) i appreciate the help too

 

Sounds more like a blown head gasket to me with the smoke coming out the tail pipe.....

Easiest way to test is to fill the cooling system, run engine for a little bit, shut down engine, remove spark plugs, get a cooling system pressure tester and pressurize the cooling system, if the pressure keeps falling, after a few times of pumping up the system, then while the spark plugs are out, have someone crank over the engine and see if any water comes out of any spark plug hole...if it does, you found your problem......either blown head gasket or possibly a cracked cylinder head

Bryan