Hello all,

I am new to Mini's, I have had my 2009 MCS with 53,350 miles, for about 3 months now, I have already had the timing belt tensioners, and everything else associated in that area replaced with the exception of the belt it-self, because the dealer told me that it had not streached out enough, by mini standards to replace it. Any way today I got a solid check engine light, I went to Pep Boys, they checked it, and I got code P2187 (System too lean at idle bank 1) the code was stored in there 2 times.

I have noticed that there is a lack of pick up, i thought that my turbo might have gone out, but at lower RPM's I did notice it kick in. Also I can see the RPM's fluctuating a little bit a idle. I did fill up a few days ago, at the same station I use most of the time (Exxon), my tank was a little less than a half when the check engine light came on, I did notice the RPM issue a bit before that though.

I have been reading all I can find about this code, it is either bad gas, clogged injector, or a bad high pressure fuel pump.

Has anyone else here had this problem? If so what did you have to do to fix it, or did it go away with a fresh tank of gas, and injector cleaner?

I am having a great time driving my Mini, I find myself wanting to drive more than before.

I have been lurking in here, reading quite a few threads, and have noticed this is a great place, with a lot of helpful members, so thanks in advance for any, and all replys,

Skernie

 

lucas deep clean fuel system cleaner or seafoam. lucas to me, is a better product unless ur cleaning intake valves, and valvoline water remover. if that doesn't fix it, good luck!

 

Carbon build up most likely.

 

Thanks miniCOOPERs, I will try the Lucas cleaner tomorrow, I hope that is what it needs, I will let you know how things turn out.

Porthos, I have read quite a few posts of yours, I hope you are wrong on this one, I don't have $400.00 for the walnut cleaning right now, and I am not quite sure if I want to attempt doing it myself at this time.


Thanks again for your replys,
Skernie

 

It is going to suck if it is but, it is not a death sentence for your MINI. If you have any mechanical ability you can clean it yourself. Also I would suggest getting a Bentley Manual that will help you out immensely.

 

Happened to my wife's car. Dealer did the walnut shell cleaning thing under warranty. Runs fine now. I now put in fuel cleaner every 3000 miles. I fill the tank and put a full container in. I then run 180 miles and fill the tank again. I then go another 180 miles and fill the tank again. And then after 3000 miles I do it all again. No problems thus far.

 

Yes it sure would suck. I do have some mechanical ability, I just was not ready to put it to the test on my Mini just yet. Thanks for the tip on the Bentley Manual, I will have to look into getting one.

 

PatM,
Thanks for letting me know about what you had to do to fix your car, being that my car is just out of warranty I would hope that the dealer would help me out with a deal to do that if that is my problem. Just very bad timing for this to happen.

 

Some dealers do the walnut thing at a reasonable cost. Others want your first born children. If you have multiple dealers check around for best price if you don't want to tackle it yourself. I'm too lazy to do it myself.

First verify that that is in fact the issue. Chances are it is.

 

PatM,

I guess I am fortunate that I have 3 Mini dealers fairly close to where I live, so I can see who will give the best price, if I have to go that route.

 

Also check some local shops. There are plenty in the LA area. Also Oceanside Motorsport does this aerosol spray for like a $100 that works very good.

 

Oceanside is a little far, but to save a good chunk of change, and a day away that might not be a bad way to go. Thanks for the tip.

 

Oceanside is like an 1hr and a half. I go to LA all the time granted i am closer to San Clemente than Oceanside.
http://oceansidemotorsports.com/

 

I have bookmarked them, will call them to discuss my issue, and see what they have to say.

 

Cool meng.

 

Walnut blasting should be considered normal maintenance on these direct injection engines, and we're stuck with it due to their design. Save the money you're spending on fuel system cleaners and put it in a jar, because you're still going to need the walnut blasting. The fuel system cleaners do not wash the intake valves, because they never touch them in our engines. Hopefully as dealers pay for the machines and get better at it they charge less and less for the walnut cleaning.

 

Hello RobertJ, so from the way I have described how my car is acting, does it sound like it is carbon build up on the valves? Have you had any of these symptoms with your car?

Thanks for your reply,
Skernie

 

While the fuel system cleaner may not be a total solution I think it helps greatly. I know several Mini owners that use the fuel cleaner like clock work and have had zero trouble with their cars. The trick is to start with a clean system. The cleaner is not expensive and if it helps I'm all for that. It's better than putting seafoam and all these other types of crap through you car. This forum is full if threads where seafoam was used and then the car has all sorts of problems. I'll stick with what works for me.

 

It's really hard to say and easy to speculate without pulling the intake manifold and taking a look. Honestly, the way you describe it does sound like fouled intake valves, but you need to visually inspect to know for certain.


All gasoline sold in the United States is mandated to have fuel system cleaners, so congratulations for buying something twice. There are also threads on here that relate to people that have used Sea Foam through the PCV (it actually touches the intake valves) that still have build up after a certain amount of miles.

Since you say nothing of your car's miles or how you're using these fuel system cleaners I'm left to assume lots of things, so I can't speculate on your situation. I will say this about my car: 45k miles; never used a fuel system cleaner; have yet to need a walnut blasting; driven mostly highway miles at tempature; changed the oil every 5k miles. Does that mean due to my limited experience I can announce on this forum that people shouldn't or don't need to use fuel systsem cleaners? Nope, I say that because of what I know about modern day fuel and direct injected engines.

Please feel free to tell us about your car's specifics and make us a true believer in your claims. What I know for a fact is that if you're only dumping these products in your gas tank they are doing absolutely nothing to clean your intake valves unless you've somehow figured out how to breach the laws of physics in a direct injected engine.

 

Ditto.... I was getting check engine lights regularly - fuel system related.... until I started using Techron fuel system/injector cleaner. After two cycles of the cleaner I have never seen a light again. I use it about every 5K. Some say this does not cure the problem, however, I think of it as taking Lipitor to delay the inevitable as long as possible!

 

Hello fellow Simi-ite!

The best MINI Indy is Motoring Magic in TO. I did the walnut blast there about 2 months ago at $400. Afterwards its like day and night!

Currently I'm getting about 4 mpg more than before...so it kinda pays for itself.

Sea foam doesn't do it....it's a waste of $$..... I did three treatments with zero difference.

I'm willing to compare notes if you like.

 

Hello SoCal MCS, I am happy to report that after filling my tank with Shell gas, and a little hard driving my car is back to normal, also I noticed on the drive home today that the check engine light has gone out verry happy about that!! One thing I would like to correct from my original post is it was Chevron gas not Exxon.

I know that down the line I will have to do the walnut blasting, I think I dodged the bullet for now.

I will keep the shop in T O in mind when the time comes, but right now money is tight, and I am running great again.

I would like to compare some notes with you on a few things when you have some free time.

Skernie

 

Dymer,

Thanks for the tip I will keep that in mind also. I think I just got a tank of bad gas this time.

Skernie

 

Anytime....just PM me...Simi is not a big town!