Okay. I hate to be a doofus, but what is this thing?



The dealer diagnosed a valve cover gasket oil leak but it's dry below the V/C gasket and saturated up here. So, what is this thing and how do I remove the upper V/C shroud to get to it?

 

I think that is part of the valve cover. The part has the red item sticking out of it below. It is not uncommon for the valve cover itself to leak on the R56 MINI. Lots of DIY info HERE. MINI has released an updated valve cover, which you can purchase HERE if needed. The cover comes with everything needed to install. I would first clean off the area and keep an eye on it to confirm where the oil may be originating from, as it could be the gasket as previously diagnosed by the dealer. If so, you can still use that DIY to help you with the gasket removal and replacement. Gasket here if needed.

 

What's weird is that the little (for lack of a better word) canister that appears to be the origin of the leak has a removable top............that can't be removed because of the upper part of the valve cover.......which itself seems to be unremovable. And, BTW, thanks for the info. I think I'll pull it off, clean it up, change the gasket and see what happens.

 

With it leaking right there you need to replace the valve cover to fix it. There is no gasket there to fix it. We see these leaking all the time as they get old and can cause check engine lights and rough idle.
We keep the valve covers in stock for you.
http://www.waymotorworks.com/valve-c...-cooper-s.html

 

+1 its will need replaced, Talked about it here many times. Replaced them also. We have the link to the badge , stickers , as the valve cover does not come with them. On the new valve cover you will pull the red tab and insert the little plug with gasket. We were the first to notice and describe this when they had a part update.

11127646555

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...lve-cover.html