My brothers 09 R56 is slowly leaking coolant and he has been topping off the reservoir with this coolant he bought from 7 eleven. (don't agree but that's what he wants to do) He says it has no leaks, but i haven't looked at it. my next best solution is that it has a bad cylinder and losing coolant from the head gasket. mainly because about 6 to 8 months ago he had blown the head gasket due to overheating. and now it is starting to happen again. Any thoughts from the pros?

 

Not sure about the leak, could be any number of things. But, you should try harder to convince him not to use 7 eleven coolant... If he wants to save money that's not the way to do it. As his brother I would just go pick him up some proper coolant from the Mini dealer or online

 

^ what he said, be the good brother and get him some of the correct coolant.

Then, try to convince him that he has leak, and it may be internal to the engine. If he DIDN’T have a leak, there would be no need to add coolant.

Of course, if he really doesn’t want to take care of the car, it won’t matter what you say or do...

 

Does he have any idea what color the engine oil is. If it looks like a fine latte he's got worse problems that what kind of coolant to buy.

 

I recently had a hose connecting to the thermostat swell up and leak coolant because oil seaping down from a leaky oil pressure sensor. Was about 1/2 cup coolant each day until it was replaced. Obvious signs of coolant leaking on top of the tranny and on to the ground on the tranny side.

 

 

^