I was driving to work when i noticed a whining from inside my engine bay that rose when RPM was past 1500 and decreased when the accelerator was let go, (and it isn't the supercharger, and it isn't the pwer steering) it sounds almost like metal to metal contact, like a bearing lost its ***** or bearing seals and the ***** ground down or something..so curious I stopped the car and with the engine still running popped the hood. and found one of the hoses pinched,

the one directly below the engine badge.
(pics to follow later)

but there was no observable external reason why it should be pinched. when I turned the engine off, it returned to its normal shape. and the whine disappeard.

my question is... What is the hose feeding? is it supposed to function under such an immeanse vacum (I tried to pinch it on my own but wasn't able to)? I guess it means I have a stoppage somewhere, but where?

any one have any ideas?

 

i am sure it should not be pinched. i would have to see the hose to tell you what it feeds, but i would call up road side and have them take your car to the dealer. a check valve could be stuck or something like that. but not at any time should any hose under the hood be pinched shut under vacuum. good luck

 

Check the PCV valve hose. It's easily visible at the top left corner of the intercooler, just to the left of the first spark plug wire. The area in question forms an L shape. It does fall underneath the 'MINI' logo on the engine, so it may be the one you're talking about.

There have been a few cases where this hose becomes so soaked in oil vapour, that it becomes weak enough that the vacuum pressure from the valve causes it to pinch closed. It's easily replaceable, and hopefully won't continue to happen.

 

I had my PCV hose changed this past weekend. I to noticed a difference with the mid-range drop in power and while looking for the problem I noticed the hose would pinch itself while reving the motor. Seems to be a problem that MINI is aware of but they will not change it unless you point it out to them.

 

It was the PCV valve hose. The guy at MINI told me he has had a few come in with the same problems. they'll change them out no problem. but being a tuner himself, says he'd probably switch them out for reinforced silicone hoses. Might as well get the hoses to colormatch with the upgraded plug wires.

 

same thing just happened to me...only they can't get me in for two weeks! so a zip tie holds the shape...

 

Had mine replaced about month and half ago,, seems to be holding up.

Ed

 

had a bit of howling noise at idle -dealer replaced hose only, not pcv valve- wonder what's making hose deteriorate. did your pvc valve get replaced or just the hose?

 

I just had mine replaced this morning. The service guy said that the valve is okay, but the hoses that MINI used originally were too thin. According to my tech, there isn't a recall, but MINI has released a stronger hose that's as a replacement.

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My MINI makes me want to do the happy dance!