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Stock Problems/IssuesDiscussions related to warranty related issues and repairs, or other problems with the OEM parts and software for MINI Clubman (R55), Cooper and Cooper S(R56), and Cabrio (R57).
I'm trying to diagnose a sudden rapid drain in coolant. I've attached a photo showing the location of the drip.
I'm not very mechanically inclined so I apologize if the issue is obvious.
Add'l info- I was driving home on the first hot day of the year and the temp light came on yellow. Within seconds it was red so I pulled over and turned off the car. Checked the coolant reservoir and it was completely empty. Didn't see a leak initially so I waited about 30 min for the engine to cool down. When I got out, prepared to add coolant, I noticed a large puddle on the passenger side.
Another vote for possibly the water pipe. It's plastic and could have fractured. The water pump is prone to weep slowly at first before getting worse. It usually gives you a chance to notice before it gets bad enough to drain your exp. tank (in my experience). I only see one picture and I can't make much out there. Looks like a yellow drip on the oil pan? (That's not MINI coolant!) Not much else on that side except for one hose going to the radiator if I recall correctly.
Most likely culprits are thermostat housing and water pipe. Replace BOTH ASAP. Water pipe could fail and dump your coolant. If the water pump is a plastic one, I'd replace that as well, I can't recall when Min stopped using the plastic pump.
My water pipe failed @ 90k, I was lucky I did not loose all of the coolant...
When I replaced my thermo housing I unknowingly broke my water pump pipe and coolant dripped right at water pump, between engine and pass firewall.
Replace both, I would use genuine Mini parts as it seems people have had lots of issues with low cost thermo housings.
My water pump is metal on a 2009.
i would be extremely cautious with a car that has a coolant leak, I learned this lesson very early in my life when I destroyed an engine. It can happen in minutes. If you absolutely have to drive it fill with water every day and keep a jug in the car.
