Good day to all NAM adepts,

I am a new mini owner and still getting familiar with its engine.
This is also my first post, so please bear with me
I have a 2011 MCS hatch with a stage 1 tune.
Yesterday, I tried to do a 0-100 run a couple times and when I came home, I was scared that something happened to the engine , so I opened the engine bay and I found that something leaked from the hose as shown in the picture (hose in the circle, don't mind the arrows) and it splashed all over the airbox and the areas next to it (it's little drops, not a consistent amount, and there is a little under the seal). from what I can see, it splashed starting from the seal on the engine. the hose itself is fine.
I drove it later in the evening, it seemed fine.
this afternoon, I drove it for 1 hour on the highway (was fine) and when I started it to go back home it hesitated on all gears for about 10 minutes and it was fine after. I don't know if it has anything to do with the problem.
I don't know what that hose is and if after being driven hard for a bit, that's what caused the problem.

thank you for your help !!

 

That's one of the two PCV hoses --- the one that connects directly to the intake manifold, so it sees all the vacuum and boost. If not connected properly, it will cause manifold leaks and ultimately poor / intermittent performance. It's an "unusual" connector and is designed to rotate a little bit. It can be disconnected by squeezing the outer edges to release the two latches --- sort of like a child-proof container lid. If this latching mechanism or the hose itself is damaged, you could have intermittent problems as you described.

Also note that this hose is usually quite wet with oil residue. It's common for enthusiasts to add an Oil Catch Can (OCC) to this line, to minimize residue build-up on intake valve stems.

 

Thank you for your answer, it explains a lot.

 

2011 is an N18 engine unless you have a jcw 2011 which is an N14 engine matching the picture you attached.
N18 has only on PCV inlet and it's located on the right towards the pumps.

 

From the research that I did, It looks to me like a n14 but I attached pictures of mine so you can enlighten me. I hope it is a n18, as I have read horrible things on the n14. it is indeed a 2011 Mini Cooper s non jcw. at least that's what It says on the papers of the car. I know it is a 2011 as the exhaust has burbles which the previous versions don't have. (I might be wrong)
I also posted a pic of my diy fix on the pcv hose (It is very hard to find parts here in Morocco, so I did what I could)

Thank you for your help guys, this forum is awesome !

 

humm, it is an N14 indeed. I dont see emission controls like we have then here in the US. at any rate, you want to know why it is leaking before you start siliconing it. is the O ring, or the spans on the plug are gone?
you might be able to buy parts from ebay and let the seller know your location>?
also, check realoem.com for diagrams, references, and part number.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=11_3915

 

Welcome to the forum Noobster

 

thats an N14!

*Dont let the forums/net get you down on N14's.. they are a fab little engine, with a few quirks. Start getting to know it now!

Very important: oil and oil vapor control

1. Timing chain related failures from N14 engines are caused by improper oil pressure/level. Make it a religious habit to check your oil EVERY TIME you fill up full tank of fuel. It will likely be low. Top it off. Carry on.

2. PCV as mentioned are the 2 breather systems within the engine to relieve/equalize pressure. Unfortunately, they allow funky oil vapor buildup in the worst parts of your engine. **Easy fix- purchase and install 2 Oil catch cans (save yourself $$ and buy them from ebay). Dont be fooled by ~200$ catch cans with "patented baffle tech". Its a can... its empty, its job is to fill up with *****. It doesnt need to be designed by NASA to do the job functionally. You can get all the hardware you need and 2 cans for the install for ~100$.

3. Spark plugs will tell you more about the condition of whats inside the motor. Pull and inspect the plugs. If you have caked oil sludge on them.. change them, and monitor how long it takes for the build-up to come back. Carbon on the valves will cause small amount of oil to leak through the valves; your spark plugs are next in the path and will start to collect any slop blowing through.

N14 in a nutshell = Love it with oil, fix the PCV's & check your spark plugs regularly.

 

Thank you all for your messages, means a lot ! will make sure to get to know my engine and get back to you with a lot of questions