Friends:

I'm new here and am disappointed that my 80k mile 2008 Cooper non-S has recently gone through tons of oil, is making clicking sounds, and is throwing an abundance of codes...P0011, P0012, P0015, P0016, and P1156.

Now, I've done enough reading here and in other places to know that the codes can involve cam timing issues from timing chain and tensioner. I also know that people burn through oil very fast (my oil doesn't leak on the driveway), so my problems are certainly nothing unique.

However, I am having a hard time getting the big picture of what's happening. Do the cam timing codes relate some how to the oil loss? How does the P1156 code (O2 sensor heater low voltage) relate? Or does it? VANOS solenoid?

Any pig-picture perspective of what could be happening would be appreciated. I am handy and can do the work myself, but something has to be done since I can't pass my state inspection in its current state!

TIA,

jay

 

Oil passes through the intake Vanos and exhaust Vanos solenoids which varies the variable valve timing, some engines also have a variable valve lift if your engine is equipped with it. It could be a bad failing Vanos solenoid, but you shouldn't be burning to much oil on a Base MC! You need to find out where the oil is going and fast.

 

Vacuum Pump seal may be leaking and filling up the reservoir with oil.

 

Thank you, Systemlord, for the advice. That sounds logical to me. And I guess the O2 sensor might be throwing the P1156 code if it's saturated in oil and can't do its job?

I'm now trying to understand why the VANOS solenoid would fail? Does it fail because the tensioner fails (or the guides breaks)? Or does the solenoid fail first causing the issues with the whole assembly/cartridge?

Regardless, am I correct to assume if I buy the whole VANOS kit I can solve my problem, or can I get away with just a solenoid replacement? I realize that once I'm in there, I should probably do it all at the same time, but perhaps I should drop my oil pan to see if there is plastic?

Thanks again!

jay