I've had my 08 MCS for about 3 years and 45k miles. It has always used oil, after fixing leaks and new valve cover it has settled into about 1/2 quart every 2 weeks (usually 500/600 miles). I change oil every 5 k miles, using MINI oil or Mobil 1 euro formula.

Occasionally I would get a stumble when at moderate throttle at low rpm (say 1500 rpm at 40 mph when not using enough throttle to downshift). I would get a significant puff of black smoke out of the car, but that would only happen every few months or so.

This week I noticed that when I sit at a stop light (in gear) for at least 20-30 seconds, I get a decent puff of white smoke when pulling away. If I'm only stationary for 5 or 10 seconds, then there is no smoke.

The car has always had sooty exhaust tips since I've been running the accessport.

The car idles fine, I have not made any changes to the tune or any mods this year (sorry to admit that). I changed the oil about two weeks ago, and did not see anything different on the car at that time.

Oil remained the same on the dipstick as it was a week ago (which is typical for this car after an oil change, it seems like it doesn't use oil as much until the oil gets older).

Any ideas? The car had the turbo and HPFP replaced at 50k, carbon cleaning about 15k ago.

Thanks,
Mike

 

White smoke like a puffy white cloud? or blueish white?

If bright white like cloud - I'd be checking your coolant ASAP as that would probably be a head gasket leaking coolant into the combustion chamber. It leave cloud like white smoke out the tailpipe.

 

When changing the oil did it have a milky appearance at all? Have you checked your coolant level? If its a fair amount of smoke then it might be something head gasket wise... or a crack in the head or block.

The black puff of smoke your getting may be you running rich. Check your plugs to see if you are in fact running rich. Could also check your map sensor as well.

 

Coolant level is stable, nothing unusual with the oil change.

I just don't know what the warning signs are when the vacuum pump seal starts leaking (haven't changed that yet), or if the MAF or MAP sensors go bad (I didn't realize there was a MAP sensor). I've had an oiled air filter for 3 years, and don't know if that would slowly be degrading the MAF (I remember horror stories about that, and I dry it as much as possible after cleaning), or what the warning signs are.

I'm not really nervous, but it is just different. When I saw the smoke it was a sunny afternoon with no wind, so it was very visible. Wanted to see opinions on what would cause oil smoke at extended idle (which I would think is at vacuum conditions).

Thanks for the ideas.

Mike

 

Maybe a very small vacuum leak? Have you checked the hose clamps on the intercooler pipes and inlet pipe lately?