please watch this and let me know if this is safe to drive. the oil is over the full line (I have a small leak so that's the smoke) and I'm just not sure what's going on. https://youtu.be/VLB9T99jrz4

 

Well the first thing is to determine where the smoke is coming from. Regardless, it's not a good idea to drive a car when it has smoke pouring out of it.

 

it's just oil burning off, it was honestly not a lot. the video was more about the sound than anything else

 

Quite noisy. Anything over 50K miles on the Prince engine and start to suspect your timing chain. If it is louder at the left side/pulley side then more than likely chain slap. The tapetty noise is normal but that sounds more than that. The trouble is you'll never know when the chain is going to jump or break until it happens and MINI do not consider the chain to be a service item so set no replacement time on it which is madness considering it is similar in design to a bicycle chain! The slapping eventually causes the plastic guides to break sending plastic into the sump/oil pump filter. If the chain goes then your valves hit the pistons and bingo! DIY or shop head off... you may think this is scaremongering but google R56 timing chain! have a stiff drink first.

 

thanks for the advice I appreciate it. The noise seems to be coming from right under the valve cover near the right side I believe. the timing chain on this car was said to be replaced once before by the previous owner.

 

That doesn't sound too bad in my opinion, I have heard worse. Google r56 death rattle and you will hear some on youtube that are scary. The oil burn off would be more of my concern. You have an oil leak somewhere hitting something that I would want to chase down. How quickly are you losing oil?

-listened to it a few more times and sounds vacuum related to me, check your vac lines.

 

Engines produce heat.
Engine oil is a volatile combustible.
Smoke is an indication of pre combustion.
That's a mathematical progression that, left in a garage after even a short drive, could burn the house down.

 

how do I check my vac lines? thanks so much for the reassurance. I also didn't think it was timing related since it's so rhythmic and doesn't sound like a death rattle to me.

 

https://www.pelicanparts.com/techart...mp_Testing.htm

These lines can get oily and very soft, bloated and swell at the connections, so check the easy ones first by hand.

 

thanks again. is there a way to do this without the special gauge?

 

Try this first:

https://workshop-manuals.com/mini/co...ises_(normal)/


Also, what year is your car? I just noticed yours is a non turbo, so you don't have the turbo vac lines that swell that I was referencing before. Is there any oil leaking out of/under the vac pump?

 

+1 When i leaks under the vacuum pump you will get oil right below it down the side. 11667570813 is the pump for your engine. Which is in this link

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...2009-mini.html



This is the S/JCW version of the N14 engine but the DIY is pretty much the same: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ement-diy.html