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R60/R61 Stock Problems/IssuesDiscussions related to warranty related issues and repairs, or other problems with the OEM parts and software for R60 AND R61 MINI Cooper and Cooper S MINIs.
I was replacing my brakes and rotors this weekend and just going over the engine bay area to make sure everything looks good. I noticed a little bit of oil residue on the top left corner. I looked a little closer and it appears the PCV cap is broken if that makes sense (I can take a photo if needed). I bout this car a few months ago, but this is the first I noticed the oil. I don't think it's a major leak, but I'd like to get it fixed, but I have a question or two here.
1. Do they make just the replacement caps or do I have to get a new valve cover? Doesn't seem like an overly complicated job, but if I don't have to drop 300+ at the moment, I'd rather not. I read about a Russian company that sells replacements on ebay but I only found the membrane, not the cap itself.
2. Could this cause any driving/performance/oil burn off issues?
I'll see if I can get a photo a little bit later on today when the sun is up.
Post a photo. I want to see it.
Im one of the ones who has done the diaphragm replacement you can see my thread “PCV repair question”
post or PM me a couple photos and I’ll tell you whether or not you can use it still. The diaphragm will probably need replacing too if it’s been leaking there. It does work.
Photos here. First one is where the cap is broke. Second one is the hose from the air intake near the turbo to the valve cover. It's getting oil on that too somehow. Hopefully it comes through on the picture.
I have the same oil residue on my turbo intake tube as well BUT at the top side.... not any at my diaphragm cover. I was going to ask the same question - if a new diaphragm might help the issue. Not sure how the diaphragm correlates to the intake crossover though...maybe pressure?.
One of what? Oil leak? I doubt all of them are just leaking independently. Probably some single issue causing the pressure problem...probably that PCV thing. It really doesnt look like that cap is broken in any way...I'd try a new diaphragm, clean up the engine, and see if it stops. Hopefully damage isnt too bad to the seals ect and no more oil vapor will escape.
I don’t see where the cap is broken, I think it’s ok, but you probably need a new PCV diaphragm. The oil coming from the tube to the intake is because of the PCV. Can you hear any air hissing or whistling at the valve cover near that cap? A vacuum leak is common there when it fails. Last, try to remove the oil cap while the engine is running. If it’s difficult from vacuum on the cap, you probably have a torn diaphragm.
yeah sorry. Should have posted a better shot. I'll paste one below where I believe it's busted. I agree the other leaks are due to pcv, but there are other spots along the valve cover it looks like it's seeping so I'm just going to bite the bullet and replace the cover. I'm nearing 100k so it's probably good maintenance anyway.
Yeah it was hard to see in that photo. I did the valve cover change this weekend, the cap was cracked, but it was hard to see. There was quite a bit of carbon build up on the membrane as well. The car seems to idle better and while there isn't really any performance gain, it just seems to be driving better. Especially from take off. Maybe I could have just done the membrane but I feel like doing the whole cover was needed. Especially with some oil seeping. Got the job done in about an hour.
I think that is just the normal gap where the cover is a separate piece from the valve cover
It is, mine is like that too. There is a little semi-circular cutout on the front edge, that I at first thought was a missing piece until I looked at a couple others and saw they were the same way
Good to know. Mine wasn't just a semi circle though. It looks like someone tried to pry it off from the front. It was just a terrible photo that I posted. Once the cover was removed I was able to see it better and it was busted in the front.
