MINI2

drb5 · Apr 25th, 2008, 03:58 PM

As i did today after noticing the coolant level was just under the minimum mark and what did i find.....emulsified water/oil!

The car has only done circa 3k and i decided to see what the creamy stuff smelled of......fuel!?

I'll be popping into a local dealer to get their opinion on the matter.

MarkW · Apr 25th, 2008, 04:05 PM

sound like you head gasket is knobbled

drb5 · Apr 25th, 2008, 04:07 PM

Yep, i'd agree.

Car has so far been a complete pile of ...

jordangpboy · Apr 25th, 2008, 09:29 PM

Don't PANIC! I had it on mine, Dealer checked it out and I was told it was normal. Its condensation build up in the engine. I have also been told its very common trait on the PSA engines. Anyway mine cleared up after a good blast to Wales and back. Hope this helps....it scarred the crap out of me when I saw it! :-)

Is it a bit like this???

Flickr Photo Download: IMAGE_00026

drb5 · Apr 26th, 2008, 04:11 AM

Yer, that's the stuff, although maybe not quite as much of it as yours.

What's PSA engine?

Tigger, Eeyore & Roo · Apr 26th, 2008, 07:02 AM

PSA is the holding company for Peugeot / Citroen. Your engine was designed in conjuction with PSA and appears in MINIs, Peugeots and Citroens. The PSA engines are built in France, whilst the MINI unit is assembled at Hams Hall near Birmingham. Other than the location of the assembly plant, they are pretty much identical.

The "mayonaise" you describe can be caused by condensation [it used to happen all the time in my old Montego (

), but that car had masses of external oil plumbing that was a magnet for condensation]

However, if it is combining with coolant loss then that's still a pointer to a blown head gasket. Make sure that BMW realise that you have taken it to a dealer (and that they have said that it's not important) as any warranty claim for this in future is going to be huge and BMW might say that you should have taken it in earlier if you had suspected a problem!!

Tigger.

drb5 · Apr 27th, 2008, 07:56 AM

Thanks for that Tigger.

Took it to the dealer after a 130 mile run. I decided to check the cap before making an idiot of myself and the mayonnaise had pretty much disappeared, so i'm going to leave it for a while and see what happens.

ALD0 · Apr 27th, 2008, 09:53 AM

Wouldn't worry about it too much, you will have the warranty for the next 3 years

caesar · Apr 27th, 2008, 06:48 PM

Check the level of the coolant, if it's low then the cylinder gasket could be leaking

The more likely cause is condensation, especially with damp weather, if it disappears after a fast run then it's nothing to worry about

Apr 25th, 2008, 03:58 PM	#1
drb5 Cooper S owner!! My Classifieds Join Date: Oct 2007 Local Time: 04:29 AM Posts: 141 Offline	Check under your oil cap!!!! As i did today after noticing the coolant level was just under the minimum mark and what did i find.....emulsified water/oil! The car has only done circa 3k and i decided to see what the creamy stuff smelled of......fuel!? I'll be popping into a local dealer to get their opinion on the matter. New Cooper S is here!

Apr 25th, 2008, 04:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
drb5 Cooper S owner!! My Classifieds Join Date: Oct 2007 Local Time: 04:29 AM Posts: 141 Offline	Yep, i'd agree. Car has so far been a complete pile of ... New Cooper S is here!

Apr 25th, 2008, 09:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
jordangpboy MINI2 Regular Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Birmingham Local Time: 04:29 AM Posts: 250 Offline	Don't PANIC! I had it on mine, Dealer checked it out and I was told it was normal. Its condensation build up in the engine. I have also been told its very common trait on the PSA engines. Anyway mine cleared up after a good blast to Wales and back. Hope this helps....it scarred the crap out of me when I saw it! :-) Is it a bit like this??? Flickr Photo Download: IMAGE_00026 http://www.supermega.co.uk MINI Cooper R50 CR/W - Sept 06 - Oct 07 MINI Cooper R56 PW/B - Oct 07 - ....

Apr 26th, 2008, 04:11 AM	#5 (permalink)
drb5 Cooper S owner!! My Classifieds Join Date: Oct 2007 Local Time: 04:29 AM Posts: 141 Offline	Yer, that's the stuff, although maybe not quite as much of it as yours. What's PSA engine? New Cooper S is here!

Apr 26th, 2008, 07:02 AM	#6 (permalink)
Tigger, Eeyore & Roo I'm Back! My Classifieds Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kernow, near England Local Time: 04:29 AM Posts: 4,636 Offline	PSA is the holding company for Peugeot / Citroen. Your engine was designed in conjuction with PSA and appears in MINIs, Peugeots and Citroens. The PSA engines are built in France, whilst the MINI unit is assembled at Hams Hall near Birmingham. Other than the location of the assembly plant, they are pretty much identical. The "mayonaise" you describe can be caused by condensation [it used to happen all the time in my old Montego (), but that car had masses of external oil plumbing that was a magnet for condensation] However, if it is combining with coolant loss then that's still a pointer to a blown head gasket. Make sure that BMW realise that you have taken it to a dealer (and that they have said that it's not important) as any warranty claim for this in future is going to be huge and BMW might say that you should have taken it in earlier if you had suspected a problem!! Tigger. Unintimated and I'm back!! For sunshine, fun and Cornish Pasties: New MINI Kernow Cornish Oggy Run 2009!

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Apr 25th, 2008, 04:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
MarkW XR3i / JCW MCS Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Full Throttle Local Time: 04:29 AM Posts: 422 Offline	sound like you head gasket is knobbled

Apr 27th, 2008, 07:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
drb5 Cooper S owner!! My Classifieds Join Date: Oct 2007 Local Time: 04:29 AM Posts: 141 Offline	Thanks for that Tigger. Took it to the dealer after a 130 mile run. I decided to check the cap before making an idiot of myself and the mayonnaise had pretty much disappeared, so i'm going to leave it for a while and see what happens. New Cooper S is here!

Apr 27th, 2008, 09:53 AM	#8 (permalink)
ALD0 Hacking the IBUS Join Date: Jun 2003 Local Time: 04:29 AM Posts: 9,528 Offline	Wouldn't worry about it too much, you will have the warranty for the next 3 years

Apr 27th, 2008, 06:48 PM	#9 (permalink)
caesar MINI2 Master Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Wales Local Time: 04:29 AM Posts: 815 Offline	Check the level of the coolant, if it's low then the cylinder gasket could be leaking The more likely cause is condensation, especially with damp weather, if it disappears after a fast run then it's nothing to worry about

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