On Friday my wife was driving (2008 Mini Cooper Diesel) home in the snow and got stuck behind traffic going up a bank.
She found it hard getting up the hill, and rather than wanting the engine to stall she probably rode the clutch. Long and short, she said the car filled up with smoke but was able to get to the top of the hill.
When I arrived home from work about an hour later, the car STANK outside and inside. Hard to describe the smell, but very unpleasant. I left the car overnight and went for a spin in it the next day. It drives fine, but it still really smells. Especially when you put the heaters / fans on (which you have to in this weather).
If she did burn the clutch a bit, should we still be able to smell it now?
Oh dear.....poor clutch.....brake and clutch linings do smell when overheated so it may take a while to clear, leave the windows open but it is difficult this time of year and while keeping it secure. The clutch lining may have a shorter life as a result and the release bearing may have got so hot the bearing may get noisy one day so just incase keep an eye on things for a while.
2012 CM S All4 (03/12) | Abs Black w/White Roof/Mirrors/18" White Wheels | Cold Pkg | Sport Pkg | Xenon w/ Black Housings| Manual | Sport Susp| Anth Headliner | Flat Load Floor | Bluetooth | 2 Part Center Rail | Milltek downpipe back exhaust
Can't tell from your video......but would guess the heat generated by the burning clutch has 'cooked' an engine/gearbox oil seal/gasket causing it to leak......you need to investigate whether the source is coming from engine or gearbox which use seperate oil (unlike the old classic Mini's in which eng/gearbox oil was combined). Get a friendly local garage to put it up on there MOT ramps and take a look underneath with you.
That defintley looks like engine oil, not to be an alarmist but I wouldn't drive that as if it can drip that overnight what can it loose under running conditions.
Make sure you top up the oil, and then move it forward or back a bit so you have a fresh bit of tarmac and run it and see if you can physically see it dripping, dont put your hands anywhere near a running engine though.
Thanks for the advice, I've driven it into work this morning and I'm getting a local Mini specialist to take a look. The official Mini dealership never seems to be able to fit you in for days
I'll report back what they say.
I put cardboard until the car last night and there was a fresh pool this morning.
Sorry for my reply in advance as I can't see the video at the moment.
Is that a right-hand drive/British vehicle? If that's the case, it's coming from either the oil pan or the crankcase pulley area.
If it's a left-hand drive (which I suspect), then the oil is probably coming from the tranny like another poster indicated. Is it black in colour or more amber/clean? Black is almost surely engine oil so check the oil filter and heat exchanger area for leaks (right down in front under the intake piping).
Amber coloured is almost surely tranny oil, probably overheated the bellhousing and gearbox and now you've cracked the seal. You can see the bell housing by standing in front of the car and looking to the right hand side also under the intake piping.
To check in behind the bell housing, if you lean over the engine check between the cabin bulkhead and motor, you should be able to see the exhaust piping coming from the engine, to the right of that you can probably see if there is any pooling on the underbody panel. It could be running alongthe panel off to the side so it's important you locate the source of the leak.
You should also check your engine oil level to see if you've got any significant loss.
Re: the clutch smell -- mine was slipping badly and when they replaced it I asked to see all the parts (it was done as a warranty claim). It stunk up the entire service bay at the dealer, horrible, horrible lingering cloying smell. Not surprised it took some time to disperse.
Not seen dark brown engine oil before, normally black, and very on a diesel?
Also oil isnt sticky.
Could be gearbox/diff oil I suppose, that might be brownish and thick?
My oil leak from the crankshaft oil seal was brown oil, give the oil a smell, if it smells of anything strongly, it's transmission fluid, else it's engine oil.
That video isn't great, can you give us an idea where the leak is? I can see the leak close up and the oil on the floor, but nothing inbetween!
His is a right-hand drive vehicle, so sitting in the car, his leak is coming from the right side of the engine bay. On the PSA Doopers that means it's either coming from the crank pulley area or the oil pan. Sitting in the car, the gearbox would be to his left, so it's not that.
The waterpump is also over there, but I don't believe the fluid would be "brown" or "sticky". If the oil is cold, it could perhaps be perceived as sticky.
Brake fluid on my Dooper is yellow and slick, but not sticky.
Ok my mechanic has called. They have taken the shield off from under the car and he says the oil is coming from a grommet in the actual floorpan of the car?! They are continuing to look into it.
The fluid is dark brown when in a pool, but if I touch it, then it's light brown and becomes sticky if rubbed between my fingers - it will stain my fingers orange. We're having a cold spell in the UK though, there is snow so it's very cold out there.
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Nasty smell... 
2012 CM S All4 (03/12) | Abs Black w/White Roof/Mirrors/18" White Wheels | Cold Pkg | Sport Pkg | Xenon w/ Black Housings| Manual | Sport Susp| Anth Headliner | Flat Load Floor | Bluetooth | 2 Part Center Rail | Milltek downpipe back exhaust 
