So I dropped the oil pan on my wife's 2009 Clubman S and found this broken plastic bit in the bottom of the pan.

Any idea what this is from, and how paranoid I should be about finding the cause?

I did replace the timing chain tensioner in 2016. Could this be broken tensioner from the original repair, or could the tensioner have broken again? I'm not quite sure how to test other than removing the tensioner, which is not high on my fun to-do list right now.

 

Looks like part of the timing chain guides. Would require doing a timing chain service.

 

That's what I'm thinking. Is there any way to test if the guides have failed, without having to perform major surgery?

 

Was it just the tensioner that you replaced in 2016, or did you replace the chain assembly with guides? That piece is definitely from the guides so a new timing chain kit would be needed. If you did do the full kit, then it could be from the original guides but there is no way to tell without removing everything.

 

I looked through my records and I did install the Detroit Tuned Timing Chain kit back in 2016. But I don't have a record of replacing the oilpan gasket, so hopefully the plastic bit is leftover from the original failure. I should probably do a more thorough inspection, and I was debating replacing the hub for the timing chain sprocket.. This started out as replacing the front main seal and the oilpan gasket to stop a leak that flung so much oil out onto the face of the engine that it killed the alternator. I had the alternator rebuilt and am proceeding.

Besides the timing chain and guides, anything else I should look at while I have the engine exposed? This car has about 130,000 miles. The friction wheel is soaked with oil so I'll probably replace that.

How can I test if the timing chain has stretched?

 

It is normal for an otherwise healthy engine to shed bits of plastic. These come from the cam chain drive guides. There is some wearing in of the new guides that occurs. However, those are rather big bits... But you say this engine experienced a broken tensioner (with possibly damage to the guides) some time prior? These bits then could be from that.

From the engine of another (not a MINI brand) car to give you an idea of what I'm talking about. Pic of a camshaft actuator with a new chain guide.




Pic of the same assembly with a guide with some run time on it...



Obviously some guide material has been worn away. This occurs until the chain makes enough contact with the guide the chain rides on a film of oil.

If the bits are small enough they get caught in the spin on oil filter or with a cartridge style filter the oil in the filter housing and the smaller bits in the oil filter element.

Absent any noise or other signs of any issues you can get the engine hot, drain the oil, replace the filter, and with fresh oil run the engine some time/miles. 'course, at all times you want to be on the alert for any signs of engine troubles just in case.

After some run time you can remove the filter and carefully examine the oil it contains -- pour the oil into a *clean* small oil pan -- and if a spin on filter even cut open the filter or if a cartridge filter just remove the filter element and check for any plastic debris. If you find more than a trace that could be a sign the guides are coming apart. But I think you'd hear something too.

If the amount of plastic debris doesn't warrant further action fit a new oil filter and top up the oil and drive on.

 

Yep looks like part of the chain guides. I would get the whole chain/kit done. Friction wheel, water pump pulley. Drive serpentine belt. Pump if its not been done or if its the original plastic housing pump.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...8-no-heat.html

 

Hi @ECSTuning , i am doing the timing chain on my 2013 N18 soon. Do you suggest i also replace the friction wheel, water pump/pulley, and serpentine belt?

 

I would do that since you are doing the friction wheel. Check out the pulley and make sure they don't look cracked or worn.

 

By "doing the friction wheel" do you mean since i have to remove it for the timing chain i should just replace it? Do you recommend OEM Genuine Mini friction wheel or would Dayco be okay? Price is about double for a genuine mini wheel.

 

Dayco Italy is OEM, Yes i would do it, one less thing to do while you are there.