MINI2

Mess · Sep 9th, 2007, 03:09 PM

Since my last service at 10K miles checked under the bonnet every so often to make sure everything was ok. Noticed my coolant level was dropping ever so slightly and thought this was normal through every day usage and the odd run in the car over the B roads.

Checked coolant yesterday and the bottle was completly empty

The last time i checked was about 2k miles ago, now i do about 350miles a week and never had time until now.

1 of the reasons for me to check was that i could smell the heat and feel the heat from the car when getting out of it.

Luckily i was only around the corner from fawdingtons in newcastle so took it straight there. They topped up the coolant and booked it in for a pressure test. The car is 16months old.

Any ideas on what could cause this and also will all the work and any replacement parts be covered under the warrenty?

Tad · Sep 10th, 2007, 11:23 AM

Well my coolant leak led to a screwed radiator. Good idea to get it into the garage. Just keep coolant checked, its probably something minor at this early stage. The bottles are also prone to splitting so it could be that.

Richard Crofts · Sep 10th, 2007, 12:50 PM

Expansion tanks on the R53s do have a tendency to leak. Mine was and I hadn't noticed, but a friend who works for BMW spotted it when it was in for something else and did the work there and then under warrantee just before it ran out!

oldmots · Sep 10th, 2007, 12:54 PM

This merits close scrutiny. If the level started dropping after service, especially if the coolant was changed, the system may have not been bled properly. Be sure there are no air locks in it as an air lock can cause overheating and a blown headgasket. If you don't know how, take it to a good Mini shop and tell them it needs to be bled. I used the Haynes manual that tells how to change coolant correctly. It involves opening the heater valve electrically and opening three bleed screws.

The Gidfather · Sep 27th, 2007, 10:03 PM

I had the coolant leak in my 02 MINI one - oddest thing was that it seemingly wouldn't leak when the engine was running, only after. would go down about 2cm on a short journey after a while, which was quite worrying

Took it to the stealer who after a few hours testing said it was the thermostat and case housing (I think). Fixed it, and no problems since (touch wood)

oldnell · Sep 28th, 2007, 08:22 AM

My coolant dropping was caused by a leaking radiator. Had the dealer replace the radiator and all has been well.

Interestingly, the level dropped by over an expansion tank's worth after fitting the new radiator. Topped up and it was fine, but the dealer said that was normal. Oldmot's post makes me think they could have eliminated all the air by bleeding it properly.

Oli

JAMIE1131 · Sep 28th, 2007, 05:52 PM

Mine was recovered for lost coolant last weekend, Headgasket failure!!!

oldmots · Sep 29th, 2007, 02:44 AM

You are wise to be suspicious. Not only does the system need to be bled, the engine should be started with the pressure cap off and watched until bubbles stop coming up in the filler neck or upper reservoir if you have an "S". It will take ten minutes or so, the thermostat has to open first. This cooling system has more pockets than a trench coat! You can be sure there are a few Minis out there that got blown head gaskets due to this very thing, but they got blamed on something else!.

JAMIE1131 · Sep 30th, 2007, 08:49 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by oldmots (original)

You are wise to be suspicious. Not only does the system need to be bled, the engine should be started with the pressure cap off and watched until bubbles stop coming up in the filler neck or upper reservoir if you have an "S". It will take ten minutes or so, the thermostat has to open first. This cooling system has more pockets than a trench coat! You can be sure there are a few Minis out there that got blown head gaskets due to this very thing, but they got blamed on something else!.

I'd be willing to bet thats how my headgasket blew, it had the coolant changed less than 300 hundred miles before it happened!!

Mess · Oct 1st, 2007, 01:18 PM

well, got it checked over last week and they replaced the thermostat and case housing.

A few hundred miles later and im out of coolant.
No leaks anywhere, took it back and theres a hole in the gasket thats causing the coolant to leak through and is then being burnt off in the engine. - i think thats what the guy in the garage said.
So its back there tomorrow to get fixed. Apparently its an all day job.

BlackEyedPea · Dec 9th, 2007, 05:28 PM

garage?....would this be covered under warranty (TLC)? car is 55 plate....im using the coolant bought from BMW MINI dealer (w/anti-freeze)...dont know if that makes a difference, but was told could just top up the existing coolant......
..filled it to max last week saturday. its now at min and only driven around 100 miles...

Mess · Dec 9th, 2007, 05:33 PM

My repairs where all covered under the warrenty.

havent had any problems since it came out of the garage.

BlackEyedPea · Dec 9th, 2007, 05:39 PM

...another thing...am i not doing it right??.cos was told by a guy at the dealers that there was no need to bleed, but just top up when low.....

....dont have to mix it with water too.

Bhozar · Dec 10th, 2007, 09:26 AM

My first coolant leak was the radiator. It had split slightly, so when under pressure would squirt the SC horn and all that side of the engine with coolant. I replaced it, and all the rad hoses at the same time.

My second coolant leak was the headertank had split. I replaced it two weeks ago.

My third cooland leak was found while on a rolling road. It wasnt leaking enough to really notice if you were moving, but on a RR produced a few drips. Its the thermostat housing its leaking from this time. I'm being lazy and getting someone else to fix it on Wednesday.

Sep 9th, 2007, 03:09 PM	#1
Mess Go Go Gadget Mini Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 644 Offline	Coolant Leak Since my last service at 10K miles checked under the bonnet every so often to make sure everything was ok. Noticed my coolant level was dropping ever so slightly and thought this was normal through every day usage and the odd run in the car over the B roads. Checked coolant yesterday and the bottle was completly empty The last time i checked was about 2k miles ago, now i do about 350miles a week and never had time until now. 1 of the reasons for me to check was that i could smell the heat and feel the heat from the car when getting out of it. Luckily i was only around the corner from fawdingtons in newcastle so took it straight there. They topped up the coolant and booked it in for a pressure test. The car is 16months old. Any ideas on what could cause this and also will all the work and any replacement parts be covered under the warrenty?

Dec 9th, 2007, 05:39 PM	#13 (permalink)
BlackEyedPea MINI2 Regular My Classifieds Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: London Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 268 Online	...another thing...am i not doing it right??.cos was told by a guy at the dealers that there was no need to bleed, but just top up when low.........dont have to mix it with water too.

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Sep 10th, 2007, 11:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
Tad MINI2 Regular Join Date: May 2004 Location: Wirral / Leeds Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 56 Offline	Well my coolant leak led to a screwed radiator. Good idea to get it into the garage. Just keep coolant checked, its probably something minor at this early stage. The bottles are also prone to splitting so it could be that.

Sep 10th, 2007, 12:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
Richard Crofts THE STICK Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Worcestershire WR15 Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 3,001 Offline	Expansion tanks on the R53s do have a tendency to leak. Mine was and I hadn't noticed, but a friend who works for BMW spotted it when it was in for something else and did the work there and then under warrantee just before it ran out!

Sep 10th, 2007, 12:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
oldmots MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Eastern USA Local Time: 07:02 PM Posts: 244 Offline	This merits close scrutiny. If the level started dropping after service, especially if the coolant was changed, the system may have not been bled properly. Be sure there are no air locks in it as an air lock can cause overheating and a blown headgasket. If you don't know how, take it to a good Mini shop and tell them it needs to be bled. I used the Haynes manual that tells how to change coolant correctly. It involves opening the heater valve electrically and opening three bleed screws.

Sep 27th, 2007, 10:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
The Gidfather MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: dudderly Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 12 Offline	I had the coolant leak in my 02 MINI one - oddest thing was that it seemingly wouldn't leak when the engine was running, only after. would go down about 2cm on a short journey after a while, which was quite worrying Took it to the stealer who after a few hours testing said it was the thermostat and case housing (I think). Fixed it, and no problems since (touch wood)

Sep 28th, 2007, 08:22 AM	#6 (permalink)
oldnell MINI2 Master My Classifieds Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Gloucester Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 992 Offline	My coolant dropping was caused by a leaking radiator. Had the dealer replace the radiator and all has been well. Interestingly, the level dropped by over an expansion tank's worth after fitting the new radiator. Topped up and it was fine, but the dealer said that was normal. Oldmot's post makes me think they could have eliminated all the air by bleeding it properly. Oli

Sep 28th, 2007, 05:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
JAMIE1131 MINI2 Master My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Earl Shilton, Leics. Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 792 Offline	Mine was recovered for lost coolant last weekend, Headgasket failure!!!

Sep 29th, 2007, 02:44 AM	#8 (permalink)
oldmots MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Eastern USA Local Time: 07:02 PM Posts: 244 Offline	You are wise to be suspicious. Not only does the system need to be bled, the engine should be started with the pressure cap off and watched until bubbles stop coming up in the filler neck or upper reservoir if you have an "S". It will take ten minutes or so, the thermostat has to open first. This cooling system has more pockets than a trench coat! You can be sure there are a few Minis out there that got blown head gaskets due to this very thing, but they got blamed on something else!.

Sep 30th, 2007, 08:49 AM	#9 (permalink)
JAMIE1131 MINI2 Master My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Earl Shilton, Leics. Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 792 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by oldmots (original) You are wise to be suspicious. Not only does the system need to be bled, the engine should be started with the pressure cap off and watched until bubbles stop coming up in the filler neck or upper reservoir if you have an "S". It will take ten minutes or so, the thermostat has to open first. This cooling system has more pockets than a trench coat! You can be sure there are a few Minis out there that got blown head gaskets due to this very thing, but they got blamed on something else!. I'd be willing to bet thats how my headgasket blew, it had the coolant changed less than 300 hundred miles before it happened!!

Oct 1st, 2007, 01:18 PM	#10 (permalink)
Mess Go Go Gadget Mini Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 644 Offline	well, got it checked over last week and they replaced the thermostat and case housing. A few hundred miles later and im out of coolant. No leaks anywhere, took it back and theres a hole in the gasket thats causing the coolant to leak through and is then being burnt off in the engine. - i think thats what the guy in the garage said. So its back there tomorrow to get fixed. Apparently its an all day job.

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Dec 9th, 2007, 05:28 PM	#11 (permalink)
BlackEyedPea MINI2 Regular My Classifieds Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: London Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 268 Online	garage?....would this be covered under warranty (TLC)? car is 55 plate....im using the coolant bought from BMW MINI dealer (w/anti-freeze)...dont know if that makes a difference, but was told could just top up the existing coolant...... ..filled it to max last week saturday. its now at min and only driven around 100 miles...

Dec 9th, 2007, 05:33 PM	#12 (permalink)
Mess Go Go Gadget Mini Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 644 Offline	My repairs where all covered under the warrenty. havent had any problems since it came out of the garage.

Dec 10th, 2007, 09:26 AM	#14 (permalink)
Bhozar Overly excited!! My Classifieds Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Worcestershire Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 1,174 Offline	My first coolant leak was the radiator. It had split slightly, so when under pressure would squirt the SC horn and all that side of the engine with coolant. I replaced it, and all the rad hoses at the same time. My second coolant leak was the headertank had split. I replaced it two weeks ago. My third cooland leak was found while on a rolling road. It wasnt leaking enough to really notice if you were moving, but on a RR produced a few drips. Its the thermostat housing its leaking from this time. I'm being lazy and getting someone else to fix it on Wednesday.