MINI2

Ginger · Sep 3rd, 2002, 04:07 AM

Checked over my MINI ONE, just over 2,000 miles on the clock. The coolant level is just above minimum - is this normal? If so what make of coolant should I top it up with?

Neil Curtis · Sep 3rd, 2002, 04:56 AM

Just top it up with water until it's at a sensible level and keep an eye on it to make sure you're not losing it quickly. If you are losing it quickly, get your dealer to do a pressure test on the system.

(ha ha ha you've got an old reg number now

)

nc

Ginger · Sep 3rd, 2002, 05:24 AM

(ha ha ha you've got an old reg number now

)

nc [/b][/quote]
Cheers for that Neil, but your number will always older than mine!

Looking forward to next weekend.

Neil Curtis · Sep 3rd, 2002, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ginger
[BCheers for that Neil, but your number will always older than mine!
[/b]

Mines verging on being a classic now. One year old on the 14th September. Just bought road tax for it!, couldn't believe it!.

ps. It's the weekend after isn't it?

nc

Ginger · Sep 3rd, 2002, 11:08 AM

Yup, you're right.

Ady · Sep 3rd, 2002, 01:03 PM

I would ask MINI what Coolant they would use, then see if you can get it cheaper somewhere else

Ady (R50)

Sammy_Salmon · Sep 3rd, 2002, 02:51 PM

I'm at just over 4 weeks and ~850 miles. My Cooper's coolant level has been s-l-o-w-l-y dropping. I had the dealer top it off Friday, since my appointment with them to check the system wasn't until today (Tuesday). They told me this morning that they can not see any leaks. The service manager said I'd have to add coolant 3-4 times a year to account for evaporation. What? Isn't it a closed system? I never add to my VW's coolant level, and it's 17 years old! (And no, it's not an air-cooled VW.)

Anyone else seeing SLOW coolant leaks?

Ginger · Sep 4th, 2002, 09:59 AM

So does anyone know what make of coolant MINI use?

HarryHBMCC · Sep 4th, 2002, 10:16 AM

At almost 7000km on my car, the coolant level seems a little lower than before but that could be the ambient temperature drop too. With a cold engine it is still above MIN in the resevoir so I'm not adding to mine just yet. If I do need to add anything I think I'll just add a bit of water -- I don't think that will dilute the coolant too much.

Oil has gone down too. Now 3/4 of the way down to MIN on the dipstick. I have a litre of Castrol Syntec 5W-30 in the boot waiting for the day it hits MIN.

Harry

Ginger · Sep 4th, 2002, 10:34 AM

Hi guys,
Nice to get some views from across the pond. I've just got off the phone from the supplying dealer, in the meantime I'm going to top it up with half a litre of water (as Neil suggested).
I couldn't get a make of coolant, it's a BMW one so I'll pick some up next time I'm at the dealer. If anyone does know, it would save me the hassle of going to the dealer.
Thanks

andrews100 · Oct 28th, 2002, 11:26 AM

I've driven my Mini about 2000 miles thus far. About one week ago I noticed the fan started to come on after shutting the car off. I checked the fluids and discovered the coolant was dry!! I had noticed my Mini was leaving little "stains" on my driveway, but assumed it was the AC.
I feared a leak in the coolant system. I have since topped off the coolant with full strength stuff and the problem has stopped. My guess is that the factory coolant was perhaps too "weak" and boiling over the past few months. Any ideas?

HarryHBMCC · Oct 28th, 2002, 11:55 AM

You should have your cooling system checked by your dealer.

My Cooper was a bit low (right on MIN with a cold engine) a little less than 4 weeks ago. Took it in, they added a little (put it up to between MIN and MAX with a warm engine), looked for obvious signs of leaks and found none so they sent me on my way after adding that little bit. Now less than 4 weeks later it is back down to right at MIN again so they're going to do a full check of it next week.

Harry

MINIVAN · Oct 28th, 2002, 05:16 PM

My coolant leak was traced to an O ring seal between the water pump and engine.
See this thread as a few others have had similar problem
http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...t=WATER+P UMP

HarryHBMCC · Oct 28th, 2002, 09:19 PM

Thanks for the info on the problem you had with your MCS.

Some MCS's have had the pump seal go like on yours but the water pump is placed in a completely different manner in the MC so I doubt it is the same trouble. That plus at least in my case I'm just losing a tiny bit -- most that lose the water pump seal lose all their water, not just a bit.

Harry

Hapo · Oct 29th, 2002, 12:09 PM

...so it's prolly not the cap, eh...???...

...then again, that's where it looked to be leaking and the service tech said that he found no other leaks...

(...mine was down @ 500 miles and I could smell it...)

techiedoc · Sep 11th, 2004, 07:53 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Neil Curtis

Just top it up with water until it's at a sensible level and keep an eye on it to make sure you're not losing it quickly. If you are losing it quickly, get your dealer to do a pressure test on the system.

(ha ha ha you've got an old reg number now

)

nc

Do I need to use only distilled water?

kapps · Sep 11th, 2004, 08:29 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by techiedoc

Do I need to use only distilled water?

YES. Never add regular water to a radiator - only distilled.

Ginger · Sep 13th, 2004, 08:04 PM

Wow, what an old thread.

MINI One long gone now

, still Cooper great!

G

Sep 3rd, 2002, 04:07 AM	#1
Ginger Lovin my iPod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Back darn sarf Local Time: 01:51 AM Posts: 1,957 Offline	Coolant? Checked over my MINI ONE, just over 2,000 miles on the clock. The coolant level is just above minimum - is this normal? If so what make of coolant should I top it up with?

Sep 3rd, 2002, 04:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
Neil Curtis Enjoying Married Life! Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: 14 degrees east Local Time: 02:51 AM Posts: 501 Offline	Just top it up with water until it's at a sensible level and keep an eye on it to make sure you're not losing it quickly. If you are losing it quickly, get your dealer to do a pressure test on the system. (ha ha ha you've got an old reg number now ) nc Sold MINI, Bought Volvo V40 TD. I Feel Dirty!

Sep 3rd, 2002, 10:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
Neil Curtis Enjoying Married Life! Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: 14 degrees east Local Time: 02:51 AM Posts: 501 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by Ginger [BCheers for that Neil, but your number will always older than mine! [/b] Mines verging on being a classic now. One year old on the 14th September. Just bought road tax for it!, couldn't believe it!. ps. It's the weekend after isn't it? nc Sold MINI, Bought Volvo V40 TD. I Feel Dirty!

Sep 3rd, 2002, 02:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
Sammy_Salmon MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Jul 2002 Local Time: 08:51 PM Posts: 4 Offline	My coolant is leaking s-l-o-w-l-y! I'm at just over 4 weeks and ~850 miles. My Cooper's coolant level has been s-l-o-w-l-y dropping. I had the dealer top it off Friday, since my appointment with them to check the system wasn't until today (Tuesday). They told me this morning that they can not see any leaks. The service manager said I'd have to add coolant 3-4 times a year to account for evaporation. What? Isn't it a closed system? I never add to my VW's coolant level, and it's 17 years old! (And no, it's not an air-cooled VW.) Anyone else seeing SLOW coolant leaks?

Sep 4th, 2002, 10:16 AM	#9 (permalink)
HarryHBMCC MINI2 Master Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Guelph, Ontario, Can Local Time: 08:51 PM Posts: 2,655 Offline	At almost 7000km on my car, the coolant level seems a little lower than before but that could be the ambient temperature drop too. With a cold engine it is still above MIN in the resevoir so I'm not adding to mine just yet. If I do need to add anything I think I'll just add a bit of water -- I don't think that will dilute the coolant too much. Oil has gone down too. Now 3/4 of the way down to MIN on the dipstick. I have a litre of Castrol Syntec 5W-30 in the boot waiting for the day it hits MIN. Harry MINI Cooper Cabrio: now the car with go cart handling really feels like an open go cart! "... the only man that can come home at 3 am in the morning without getting into trouble with his spouse is the owner of a British sports car!" -- Phil Bailey

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Sep 3rd, 2002, 05:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
Ginger Lovin my iPod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Back darn sarf Local Time: 01:51 AM Posts: 1,957 Offline	(ha ha ha you've got an old reg number now ) nc [/b][/quote] Cheers for that Neil, but your number will always older than mine! Looking forward to next weekend.

Sep 3rd, 2002, 11:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
Ginger Lovin my iPod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Back darn sarf Local Time: 01:51 AM Posts: 1,957 Offline	Yup, you're right.

Sep 3rd, 2002, 01:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ady Tinkering In The Garage Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Midlands, Uk Local Time: 02:51 AM Posts: 2,173 Offline	I would ask MINI what Coolant they would use, then see if you can get it cheaper somewhere else Ady (R50)

Sep 4th, 2002, 09:59 AM	#8 (permalink)
Ginger Lovin my iPod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Back darn sarf Local Time: 01:51 AM Posts: 1,957 Offline	So does anyone know what make of coolant MINI use?

Sep 4th, 2002, 10:34 AM	#10 (permalink)
Ginger Lovin my iPod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Back darn sarf Local Time: 01:51 AM Posts: 1,957 Offline	Hi guys, Nice to get some views from across the pond. I've just got off the phone from the supplying dealer, in the meantime I'm going to top it up with half a litre of water (as Neil suggested). I couldn't get a make of coolant, it's a BMW one so I'll pick some up next time I'm at the dealer. If anyone does know, it would save me the hassle of going to the dealer. Thanks

Oct 28th, 2002, 11:26 AM	#11 (permalink)
andrews100 MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2002 Local Time: 08:51 PM Posts: 2 Offline	My coolant ran dry! I've driven my Mini about 2000 miles thus far. About one week ago I noticed the fan started to come on after shutting the car off. I checked the fluids and discovered the coolant was dry!! I had noticed my Mini was leaving little "stains" on my driveway, but assumed it was the AC. I feared a leak in the coolant system. I have since topped off the coolant with full strength stuff and the problem has stopped. My guess is that the factory coolant was perhaps too "weak" and boiling over the past few months. Any ideas?

Oct 28th, 2002, 11:55 AM	#12 (permalink)
HarryHBMCC MINI2 Master Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Guelph, Ontario, Can Local Time: 08:51 PM Posts: 2,655 Offline	You should have your cooling system checked by your dealer. My Cooper was a bit low (right on MIN with a cold engine) a little less than 4 weeks ago. Took it in, they added a little (put it up to between MIN and MAX with a warm engine), looked for obvious signs of leaks and found none so they sent me on my way after adding that little bit. Now less than 4 weeks later it is back down to right at MIN again so they're going to do a full check of it next week. Harry MINI Cooper Cabrio: now the car with go cart handling really feels like an open go cart! "... the only man that can come home at 3 am in the morning without getting into trouble with his spouse is the owner of a British sports car!" -- Phil Bailey

Oct 28th, 2002, 05:16 PM	#13 (permalink)
MINIVAN MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: lancashire Local Time: 02:51 AM Posts: 23 Offline	My coolant leak was traced to an O ring seal between the water pump and engine. See this thread as a few others have had similar problem http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...t=WATER+P UMP mini2.com ---- therapy for those on cooper s waiting list 2005 cooper s hyper blue

Oct 28th, 2002, 09:19 PM	#14 (permalink)
HarryHBMCC MINI2 Master Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Guelph, Ontario, Can Local Time: 08:51 PM Posts: 2,655 Offline	Thanks for the info on the problem you had with your MCS. Some MCS's have had the pump seal go like on yours but the water pump is placed in a completely different manner in the MC so I doubt it is the same trouble. That plus at least in my case I'm just losing a tiny bit -- most that lose the water pump seal lose all their water, not just a bit. Harry MINI Cooper Cabrio: now the car with go cart handling really feels like an open go cart! "... the only man that can come home at 3 am in the morning without getting into trouble with his spouse is the owner of a British sports car!" -- Phil Bailey

Oct 29th, 2002, 12:09 PM	#15 (permalink)
Hapo MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Earth Local Time: 08:51 PM Posts: 139 Offline	...so it's prolly not the cap, eh...???... ...then again, that's where it looked to be leaking and the service tech said that he found no other leaks... (...mine was down @ 500 miles and I could smell it...) ...Know Fear...

Sep 11th, 2004, 07:53 PM	#16 (permalink)
techiedoc MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jun 2004 Local Time: 01:51 AM Posts: 171 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by Neil Curtis Just top it up with water until it's at a sensible level and keep an eye on it to make sure you're not losing it quickly. If you are losing it quickly, get your dealer to do a pressure test on the system. (ha ha ha you've got an old reg number now ) nc Do I need to use only distilled water?

Sep 11th, 2004, 08:29 PM	#17 (permalink)
kapps MINI2 Senior Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Jacksonville, FL Local Time: 09:51 PM Posts: 429 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by techiedoc Do I need to use only distilled water? YES. Never add regular water to a radiator - only distilled.

Sep 13th, 2004, 08:04 PM	#18 (permalink)
Ginger Lovin my iPod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Back darn sarf Local Time: 01:51 AM Posts: 1,957 Offline	Wow, what an old thread. MINI One long gone now , still Cooper great! G

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