Hey all, I'm new to the forum but have read just about everything I can about burning oil in R56 turbo's. I noticed a little puff of blue smoke upon start up a few months ago but nothing really abnormal outside of start up. I've noticed lately however, since there is a ton of road work going on during my morning commute, that when I sit in traffic or creeping along I look in the rear view and notice blue smoke rising up from the back. When I get on the car from a start at this point I'm going to assume there is oil pooling somewhere before the combustion chamber, it goes through the motor and that's when I see a lot of blue smoke pour out of the back. At normal driving I don't notice anything, under hard acceleration I notice more of a black smoke, almost like the car is running rich which is what I would want, but the large puff of smoke when I am in traffic is making me a little nervous. Specs on my 2009; Cooper S hard top, Auto, 136,000 miles, I bought with just a shade over 100,000 and put new spark plugs and ail filter, outside of that I've changed the oil every 5,000 miles with Mobile 1 5w-30. Just curious if there is anything I can do easily, I've been reading about catch cans and O2 sensors and the like but each problem is unique so I am hoping somewhere out there someone is having the same problem at me! Thanks everyone! Love the car though as my DD

 

Do you hear a knocking or rattling sound upon acceleration?

 

no, nothing out of the norm of what a direct injection motor sounds like, at low RPM getting on it there is a buzz/slight rattle but nothing out of the norm on a boosted car.

I've seen multiple threads on timing chains and I don't have any symptoms of a noise like that, I am going to get it done eventually, but I just want any input on where to start with an issue such as this

 

I currently have the same issue, except I only have 47k miles.

I've used a catch can but it doesn't make a difference. I recently changed the turbo oil line but it still occurs.

I'm thinking the car either needs a new valve cover (PCV starting to clog), the turbo is starting to give out (oil leaking through the turbine seals), or the piston rings are starting to leak.

 

I did replace the valve cover, was a vacuum issue not an oil issue, had a leak somewhere in the valve cover, fixed that problem but that was about a year ago. I'm thinking it's the turbo seals, I doubt the piston rings would start to have blow by, but if it's the turbo that would be great only because it's right there in the front, stock turbo's are easy to find and cheap! Going to take the inter cooler out tuesday and wednesday of next week to clean it out and see what I find and start there

 

Yea it's a good thing the turbos aren't expensive for these cars. I'm currently monitoring it to see if it gets worse. A quick rev while in traffic seems to solve the oil smoke for now.

 

agreed, just don't want it to get any worse, car has plenty of power, runs fine, just want to clean it up a little I think

 

If your turbo is leaking oil it will clog the cat and become a snowball effect getting bad fast.

 

I agree, I want to start with the inter cooler, clean it out, drive it, let it idle, and go from there, if it needs a new turbo I'm prepared for that, at 136K would expect turbo to start to show wear

 

For me I switched to a catless downpipe when I first noticed the smoke, since I was getting a tune anyway. I'm keeping the stock one for smog inspections.

 

Had a similar issue on my mom's 09 Clubman S where putting around a parking lot would cause puffs of smoke to come out the back. Couple months later after hearing a "whirring" noise develop also, the turbo was replaced because the bearings failed.

 

Good to know, been looking on ebay for a good used one, one's from China are $350 (not even thinking about those), used Mini - $590's to $900, and a Turbo Cartridge is about $175, don't know if I just want to put a reman'd unit in or pull the turbo apart and redo in the guts...

 

Talk to Arric at JM Turbo Coopers. He's kinda the go to guy on turbos on the forums and he might be able to steer you in the right direction.

 

thanks Agbullet!

 

No problem

 

Well called JM today, got some news, he seems to think it's a bad turbo which would mean new turbo, new Cat and new downpipe, looks like this could be a $1,500-$2,000 repair and that's if I do it myself, soooo anyone in the market for a nice Cooper S?

 

What a load of crap. There is no reason to replace the down pipe or the cat. I replaced the cartridge on a Saab a while back and its pretty easy. Definitely the best way to go. You will always find oil in the intercooler. The PCV system feeds it when under boost. You just shouldn't find a lot.

 

YEAH kinda taking it with a grain of salt, I plan on replacing the turbo, I think it would just be easier with a complete unit, but I agree I don't think I need a new cat or down pipe, going to take the system apart and clean it out next week, downpipe, inter cooler and the like and start there most likely get a reman'd turbo and call it a day. I put all my money into my Shelby so trying to keep this cheap

 

I feel your pain brother, I just paid my local dealer $1600 to replace my turbo (got some assistance from Mini USA), while they were at it. I had them do the "walnut cleaning". I had 2 issues- 1- was under boost there was this terrible tire squealing sound (wish it was my tires breaking loose), but it was a bearing heading south in the turbo. 2 - was smoke out the exhaust after extended idling, around 45 minutes (sitting in my car during lunch). It would puke out a cloud of white smoke. They said the turbo was the cause of both issues. So I had them do it. Ouch. $1600 later and got the car back, the first day back had lunch in it and what happens - friggin white smoke out the exhaust. Exactly the same as before. Took it back and now they tell me, that I may have a ring issue or valve stem seals are bad. Either way its going to cost me more money.
I bought this used and should have down my research on what to look for in buying a Mini S, hey that's on me. But I have been in the automotive service industry for a long time and never have I seen so many problems as I am having with this thing. I wanna LOVE it, but its killing me to sink this kind of money in it. There are 48k miles on it. It's a 2008.
I have had to replace thermostat housing, valve cover gasket, turbo and now an engine rebuild or valve job.
I am going to look into trading it in. But damn I LOVE driving this thing...

 

So they fix it and its doing the same thing? Just as a reference point, a leaky turbo will put oil in the exhaust. It hits the hot cat and turns to smoke. Now if its leaking on the cold side of the turbo as well, it will put oil in the intercooler and it will take a while to suck that out and burn it off. Not saying that's what happened, but it's something to think about.

I think these shops are seeing dollar signs.

 

White smoke? Isn't that a head gasket problem?

 

No, thick white smoke, smells like oil. Not steam.

 

good call, yeah that sucks, it's def. blue smoke out the back, white smoke is usually coolant burning and black is a rich mixture, I think I'm just going to replace the turbo, clean out all the supporting hardware and call it a day for now, I'll post pictures with what I get out of cleaning the intercooler and downpipe

 

Either way, I'm not a happy camper. We'll see what happens. Didn't mean to hijack your thread. But I just call the call from the dealer this afternoon, and I'm still reaching for the Preparation H.....

 

That oil has been going straight into cat , it has 130k miles , the back pressure will kill a new turbo and probably what started the demise in the first place. But do as you please.