Holy crap my Mini is making cappuccino. :impatient

I have found milky oil in the coolant system, but no water in the oil sump. Will this be the blown gasket or warp cylinder head?

What are the protocols in checking for any leakage?

 

You need to do a leakdown test, check compression. Could be the head. Normally the compression test would be done first but it already looks like you have problems.

 

I would not assume the worst so early.

The motor is probably not being allowed to warm up fully and let the water boil off, and thats why you are seeing the milky substance.

 

do the leakdown and compression tests, also pressure test the cooling system. How much cappuccino is in the bottle?
--Dan

 

Had the same symptoms in my wife's 1999 Grand Cherokee. I sent an oil sample to Blackstone labs which confirmed that it was bacause the engine had consistently not been allowed to warm up enough (wife only has a 1 mile commute).

Blackstone are great for $20 you get a full analysis of the oil and they have always been spot on in their diagnosis in my experience. And don't let the USPS give you and cr*p about send used motor oil through the mail (Blackstone will supply special mailers) it is not on the hazardous substance list.

 

I had a similar experience with my '03 about 6 months ago. The anti-freeze in the Mini seems to breakdown and turn to a brownish slush, search the forum. Having a good bit of experience with cars I could tell it wasn't actually oil in the anti-freeze from looking at it take it and have it checked out at the dealer or trust worthy garage.

I just flushed mine out and refilled, 6 months later it's still good

 

I'm pretty sure some thing is leaking because the milky stuff is infact oil+coolant. The engine oil level is also low.

I did a compression test today, result were positive. I got cylinder 1&2 at 27 bar and 3&4 at 28 bar (is it normally this high?). I'm waiting to have the leak down test and the cooling system test on Monday.

Thanks all for the comment. Please share me more info if you have.

BTW, the local dealer here is kind enough to lend me the new Cooper for a few days.

Cheers

 

that sounds like a good result on the test. hopefully it turns out to be something stupid like the heat exchanger leaking oil into the coolant part of the piece.

 

coolant level is good ? and no billowy white smoke?

 

Yeah coolant was good and no smoke.

 

Oil in the cooling system with good leakdown testing results and no water in the pan usually indicate an oil passage leak at the head gasket, with the oil seeping across the gasket and into the coolant passages (common, but not nearly as common as a typical 'blown' gasket where combustion chamber and water passages 'meet'. Far less common are cracks in heads and blocks.

However, since the MINI has an oil-to-water intercooler, it very well might be the intercooler having an internal leak. The water pressure is not as high as the oil pressure when the engine is operating normally, so this causes the oil to get into the water rather than the other way around. The test for this would be to disconnect the water lines from the intercooler, connect them together and run the engine for a short time and look for oil in the intercooler water passages. This part is much cheaper and easier to replace than a head gasket.

 

After the leakage test today, there was no leakage in the engine. So they are isolating the problem to the oil cooler (heat exchanger). However, they have not done the test on the heat exchanger. I will test it after they have done the oil clean up of the cooling system.

I have to wait two weeks for the new heat exchanger to arrive. Does anyone know where I might be able to get it quicker?

Cheers

 

Classic MINI parts in Ohio can usually get an in-stock part to most areas of the US in a few days with standard shipping, faster with two day or overnight at additional cost. If you are outside the US, it would probably take a bit longer. Not knowing where you reside, I cant make other recommendations.

 

if they don't have it p.m. me with your info and i'll send you my old one . one tube needs straightening (out of round a bit ) but easy enough.

 

I'm in Thailand, though.

 

cool i've never sent anything there. it's your money. you should have my p.m. now .

 

Any updates on this issue? I am seeing the milky stuff in my coolant as well.

 

send a pm to pyugala . he never got back to me as far as how he made out .

 

There is a chemical that my mechanic use which can measure the exhaust level in your coolant, this can tell if you have wrap gasket or head.

 

Sorry guys for not updating my status. After replacing the oil cooler (heat exchanger) and clean out the coolant system, I do not get any more oil in the coolant system. The problem I had was the heat exchanger leak, with oil leaked into the coolant side but not the other way around. The mechanic did mention that he did the info search on the BMW/MINI info pool, there were a few cases of the heat exchanger leak reported.

Anyway, after fitting the new heat exchanger unit I went to several trackdays and have been driven my car hard I still not see anymore leakage. So I would say problem solved.

Big thanks to herbie hind for your kindness in giving me your extra heat exchanger unit.

Cheers

 

dude !!! you were able to straighten the crimp okay !! i knew you would . nice to hear . that's one towards my karma . good journey to you .