From one thing to the next with this car

So, I posted some time ago about oil getting into cylinder one somehow. I checked the gasket on the crankcase and it looked a bit old, so I replaced it. Changed the spark plug after that, and the car ran fine for a while.

So a couple weeks back the bushing on my belt tensioner mysteriously disappeared, but the insanely loud rattle sound it created prompted me to do a check of everything (in search of what was rattling). This is when I discovered that the car had burned ALL of its oil!

So now I am beginning to think that I may have a serious problem developing here... here are the symptoms...

1) Burns oil
2) Burns through a fill-up of coolant in about 2-3 weeks.
3) Oil seems to get into cylinder 1
4) Misfire at cold start (have to start 2 or 3 times before all is well)
5) After not driving for 12+ hours, white smoke pours out of exhaust for about 1 mile. (this one just started happening recently)

Anyone care to venture a guess as to what is causing all of this? A busted seal somewhere? A bad gasket? I am guessing that whatever it is, it isn't good and its gonna cost me $$$$$ to get it fixed.

 

Looks like a Head Gasket to me

 

Seconded. If you decide to do the job I suggest that you insist on having new exhaust valves installed and all new valve seals along with machining the head and having it tested for cracks (just to be safe and keep all of this from happening again, and exhaust valves have had a tendency to crack causing misfires).

I would also have it compression tested and leak-down tested to see if the rings are worn from lack of oil.

 

do not drive this till head swapped . there are heads available in marketplace usually . i'd just swap the head . they can be found for the same money you gonna spend doing all the fore mentioned work . if you continue to drive it like this you likely will ruin a bearing . do get the leak down to be certain the block isnt cracked, though it would be tough to determine . prolly have to wait till head pulled to see if it's ok . but most likely a head gasket . dont panick . if the head is straight and valves are good and keepers and followers are good, you can just swap the seals and gasket and go .

 

Sounds like it's time for a new car.
This is going to cost a fortune to fix, you should be able to find some idiot to buy it. Just make sure you go for short test drives.

 

Ok... I have been out of touch with the MINI aftermarket for quite some time... If I have to pull the head, I am going to get a performance head and camshaft. Lets say I...

1) Buy a performance head & cam
2) Buy a new head gasket
3) Buy new valve seals
4) Buy everything else needed to complete this job (not including tools)

... about how much would I be looking at for just parts? Can anyone recommend a good head/cam combo? Are there any valve seals that hold up better than the stock ones?

Thanks!

 

The new head will come new seals.

Call RMW or Mynes for the kit.

 

JC..........where have you been? Get rid of the S4? Maybe if you didnt mess with you car so much it would be working

 

Yea man... got rid of alot of stuff... long story tho :\

MINI is still running strong, except for startup :(

 

Do you have links to websites?

 

RMW - Revolution Mini Works

Mynes Performance