Engine Drivetrain 2nd Gen S Most liked posts in thread: BSH Speed Shop Oil Catch Can (OCC) - Long Term Test / Collection

From your description of what is in your coolant tank it sure sounds like oil in the coolant. The oil cooler housing is a likely candidate.

 

Thanks for the info. Very interesting.

The one observation I see here is that you need to drive that car more often. It needs miles on it. :biggrin5: :devil:

 

UPDATE: To answer Jason's question, I now use the block off. In the last two months I get about a half cup of oil / water / foam in the OCC every gas tank fill up (~440 miles) and use about 1/2 quart of oil. I'm wondering if there is a very slow leak of coolant into the engine but the dealer apparently doesn't know how to do a dye test because they were perplexed by my situation. Although the dealer has been good to me, I don't have confidence since the mechanic didn't really know what the block was for. My Mini doesn't seem to have any coking of the turbo oil line (just had them install the heat shield). As for carbon build up on the values, I'm not sure but my oil is always black. Heavier weight oil did not help it from being consumed (I don't smoke or smell burning oil or see any drips). I do have a very slow coolant leak that the dealer thought was at the water pump. However, I wonder if it's internal. The dealer now thinks my high oil consumption is due to the clogged valve cover. I'm unclear of exactly the relationship between high oil consumption and valve cover. Any ideas?

 

I have 11,000 miles on my MINI I have six other cars that need love too.

Dave

 

:cornut: I have the exact same set up on Margi(08 R56 MCS/JCWm N14) and I get similar results except, I get 1-2oz(with plenty of condensed vapor) every ~200mi Spring, Fall, and Winter. I get less in the Summer. In the Summer I get mainly the 'black stuff' with no white vapor condensation. I installed mine at ~ 33kmi and got to see the intake valves at 49kmi when MINI changed a head gasket. The valves/chambers/piston tops were all as clean as a whistle. Still though, I use Seafoam every 3kmi(3oz through the intake and 13oz in the gas tank) as recommended by Matt Richter (Dr Obnxus) of MC2 magazine fame. I whole heartedly recommend the BSH set up as you've described.

Jason

 

2007 MCS w/ Catch Can

Greetings All,

I have the exact same catch can. I've had it for 3 months and only have gotten a few teaspoons of water gunk and haven't really noticed any change in the water level water since the first day or so. In retrospect, I have no reason to believe my valves were affected but it doesn't seem to hurt. Although initially very worried about pitch black oil with enormous consumption (1/3-1/2 qt every tank fill (2 weeks) I have accepted the lose tolerance on engine rings and the turbo are most likely the culprit. Its odd though I don't have any leaks or smoke or smells and it doesn't appear to be cooking off on the engine anywhere either. I'd hoped the catch can would help with the black oil but it hasn't. Similarly, I hear problems about the turbo oil line on the N14 model but don't have any symptoms of coking or lack of oil. The timing chain and tensioner were changed about a year ago and had no affect on the black or high consumption oil. (A rant for another time) Additionally, I've had the coolant tank and tubes changed and there apparently is a very slow leak on the water pump seal. I used to put about 1/2 cup in a month or so but now it seems to have resolved itself. So, although my personality wants it to be perfect, these "flaws" appear to be minor and the solutions will be either very costly or worse than the original problem. Overall, I like my Mini but for god's sake, I hope they upgrade from the cheap ass plastic knobs and parts!!! BTW, the dealers (I've been to 3) have been good overall but I was surprised they either didn't know or want to reveal the black oil "problem". And don't get me started on brakes!

 

:cornut: Do you also have the BSH tap/block off ? If you only have the OCC and not the tap then you only catch half of the blow by and the other half goes into the combustion chamber.

Jason

 

:cornut: Just looking through the threads/posts, the are a lot of MINIs whose valve cover gaskets have sprung leaks and required replacement.

Jason

 

The Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve is integral with the valve cover on our MINIs, if there were something wrong with the PCV valve, it could cause high oil consumption.

Dave

 

Update 2: OCC, Oil Consumption & Coolant

Had Scandinavian Imports of Rockville replace the valve cover and fix another "crack" in the Thermostat which is apparently plastic, and now a few thousand miles later, is leaking.

In the mean time I removed the OCC block and oil consumption dropped from 1.5+qt to 2/3 or 3/4qt every oil change. Also, my hose going to the turbo doesn't work itself off every week or so after removing the OCC block. But, I still have high oil consumption although less. Any good answers for this?

The coolant has goop or what appears to be a cream colored lotion in the reservoir after adding some old Havoline coolant as it's leaking.

Mini of Alexandria did a compression test but they said it's ok. After visual inspection of coolant they want to replace the oil cooler housing for ~$700. If the Havoline coolant caused the frothy coolant, then I'm at a loss for the high oil consumption. Any ideas??