It makes total sense. The timing chain tensioner works on oil pressure. If there isn't enough oil, it will start to make noise. We should all be in the habit of checking the oil at least once a month.

 

Because of my long commute, I check it every fill up, which equates to once a week. I too am not a hundred percent sure what a healthy Mini sounds like and I would rather not take the chance.

 

You were probably hearing lifter noise, not chain tensioner noise.

One more time folks.....the tensioner noise is not a ticking noise. When the tensioner is not presurized fully, it allows the chain to drag along the inside of the case, which makes a chain dragging sound, not a tick! It sounds exactly like you would imagine a chain rubbing the inside of an aluminum case, and it follows engine RPM, so the sound is both louder and higher pitched as the RPMs go up. It's heard mostly on cold engine start up, when the tensioer oil pressure has bled off and the chain is therefore looser than normal. Also, it will most probably stop suddenly as soon as the revs go up and the oil pressure increases.....

By all means run by your dealer and let them listen to your engine if you have concerns, but be aware that this engine does make a ticking noise, most easily heard at idle, and with the hood up - that's normal injector noise for this car, assuming your oil level is good of course. Low oil will make all sorts of ticking and clattering and even knocking noises if it's low enough. Check your oil frequently till you establish a usage pattern.

And just FYI, my 30K Clubman S uses no oil between my twice yearly/7,500 miles changes.

 

Eh, disregard this post... I didn't page over to see that about half-a-dozen other folks had already said the same thing... My bad...

 

ah very good then. maybe i missed something but i didn't see that as a cause anywhere when reading this stuff.