My first oil leak! It seems to be coming from inside the air duct that runs near the passenger side of the air filter housing. There is a hose clamp there that I disconnected (see photos) and I noticed some oil inside that duct. It was leaking down and pooling inside that bolt head that is recessed into the topside engine support (?). It then found its way down to the ground by dripping off what I think is the motor mount just behind the oil pan. Drips about 1-3 drops per hour.

Can anyone help on where this is coming from? Why would it be inside that duct? Help!!

2013 Mini Cooper S Countryman ALL4
66,000 miles
No past issues of any kind

I separated the hose and noticed small amount of oil inside.

See oil pooling on top of bolt head. Dripping from above into bolt area. Not leaking at bolt.

Bottom of car, leaking off motor mount bolt right behind oil pan. Path of least resistance.

Bottom of car, leaking off motor mount bolt right behind oil pan. Path of least resistance.

 

That is your throttle inlet pipe. If you have oil coming out there, you have bigger problems than just the oil running down the back of the engine. The only way it can get there is by travelling down from the turbo, through the intercooler, and up into that pipe. You would have to have some serious oil blow-by to have it reaching up there.

 

Need to check your intercooler, it’s got oil in it too. I would pull the pipe rest of the way down to the throttle body and you might want to check that as well.

 

What could cause that degree of blow-by?

 

Does the exhaust puff blue when first starting or when idling a long time?
That would indicate valve stems seals, a known issue. I used Forte and it fixed mine,

Also pull the hose off off your valve cover that goes to the intake, see what kind of oil is in there. A PCV failure might be letting excessive oil into the intake.

That's the cheap stuff, then you are into things like the turbo bearing leaking, which is expensive.

 

Hello! I hope you fixed the issue.

Can you please tell me if you could fix it? I have the same issue, i have Countryman 2016 S all4 with 40k miles

 

I'm having exact same issue. did you fix this problem? Mine was not leaking before the stupid mechanic fixed turbo oil lines. He took the turbo off and worked on topside..

 

The seal at this point is poor. it's plastic to plastic. the oil is from the PCV system in super small drops that collect in there and finds a why out. clean the pipes really well with brake clean and put a skim coat of RTV on it. put it back together and let it sit over night. it will seal up the oil leak and the vacuum leak and really is the best option.