This is my first time posting on NAM but have been a member of other forums in the past. I bought a 04 MCS with 131k on it before I left for a deployment and now that I'm back I have started working on it. Last week I put a new O ring in my crank position sensor because I definitely had a leak there. I used the ratchet strap method to rock the engine back and noticed a significant leak on the back and passenger side of the engine.

I figured I would wait a week or two to gather items needed and it turned out I didn't have a week. My power steering pump went out because my fan was all gunked up. I ordered those parts and in the mean time want to fix this leak.

Attached are some pictures I took today after I pulled the wheel liners out. I figure it is either crank shaft seal, timing cover gasket, or oil pan gasket. I have also replaced the valve cover gasket and spark plug seals. I dont want to replace all of them if I dont have to, especially the oil pan gasket since it just had an oil change right before I bought it. So what are your all's opinions. Thanks for the help.

 

Had my car in many times over the past 3 years for an elusive oil drip. Sometimes dripping from the center and then to the passenger side. Many gaskets-parts replaced but after a week or two it would return and back we'd go. Six months ago it had a transmission install.
while in service mode, I asked them to replace the crank position sensor, because I had read about it here.
"Knock on wood", it's not dripped again.

 

That had to be a great feeling getting that leak to stop.

While it's down waiting for my p/s pump I am changing the oil in the supercharger and saw all that oil on the front of the block. I am changing out that o-ring but I don't think that is the source of my passenger side leak. My leak is actually on the timing cover and am wondering if you all think it's the timing cover gasket/crankshaft gasket or oil pan gasket.

 

I was able to get under the car today and check into this more. I checked out my cv boot and it looks like I have some cracking on the inner boot near the smaller diameter clamp. I have posted a picture of this. I also traced the oil up on the back side of the engine and I saw a bunch of oil on the oil cooler and it actually looked like it was ready to drip again. Does the oil cooler gasket fail on these cars or could this be the oil filter o-ring going bad?

 

Suasponte - there is a gasket between the oil filter housing and the engine block prone to leak as well as the gasket between the heat exchanger and oil filter housing. I would replace both since you are there. Other then that its the il pan gasket and valve cover gasket. That's the main ones that leak all over the engine.

Also the CV boots, there is a kit for that depending on the manual or auto transmission.

Need your month/ year production for your 2004 MCS, also if its a manual or auto.

 

That's what it is looking like. When I put my new P/S pump in this weekend there was a drip of oil on the bottom corner of the heat exchanger. My build date is 09/03. I've already replaced the valve cover gasket. I was going to put oil dye in to pinpoint the leak unless that dye is not good for our engines. I also need a new oil and p/s cap o rings.

 

When you replace the PS pump its good practice to get new CHF and replace the whole PS reservoir as there is a little built in filter.

Caps and Reservoir & O-rings

http://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2004-Cooper-R53-S-Coupe-L4_1.6L_W11B16A/Steering/Reservoir/

http://c1552172.r72.cf0.rackcdn.com/361447_x600.jpg


Did you check your P/S fan to make sure it spins freely?


Are you talking about CHF Oil for the P/S Pump:



Or Oil for an Oil change:



Thanks

 

Here is the parts for the Oil filter housing:

You will need two of these small O-Rings for Manual tranmissions:

OEM MINI part Number : 11427509261

&


For the gasket between the housing and the engine.

OEM MINI part Number : 11427509211

Thanks and that should help you out.
Let me know if you need anything else.

 

Great, thanks for the info on the o-rings. I did the oil change and used the correct power steering fluid. I also changed out the power steering fan while I was down there. My fan does not normally come on but I read that it really only comes on when its hot out or when the a/c is running. So far everything is running well, which is a relief after tearing apart the whole front end to oil the supercharger. I see that it is recommended to do an oil change when replacing the gaskets, is this necessary? I just did a change when coolant went down my dipstick port and dont want to do another one. Does the level of oil in the engine sit above or below the level of the filter housing.