Most liked posts in thread: Engine Damage due to Detonation

MINIs are very sensitive about running out of gas, they are not the carburetted cars of the past. Running out of gas usually wrecks the fuel pump, as it is cooled by the fuel going through it. Running out of fuel could also case a lean condition that would overheat the cylinders and melt a piston, I'm not saying that's what happened, but it is possible.

I don't ever run my MINI's fuel tank down to the red warning light, the MINI's gas gage is not very accurate, I usually get gas when it is just below half on the gage.

 

Yeah I don't think it's possible to smoke a motor running out of gas, I've never heard of that in my life... It's not like your pre mixing gas.

They prolly didn't fully seat a circlip or something in piston 1 and it come apart. I'd take it to a second shop for diagnosis for sure.

 

My BS alarm is going off, too. Even if she did run out of gas, I can't see any way for that to toast an engine.

A second opinion is definitely in order. There is a strong possibility the first shop messed up, and is deflecting responsibility.

Since your name is Ingrid, I also suspect the first shop is trying to pull a "woman" scam on you, figuring you'd buy whatever story they told you.:frown2:

CD

 

Yeah I agree with the above replies. BS on the dealership.

 

No indication where you are from so here is a link you can use to find a decent BMW/MINI shop in your area. To further identify a reliable one, check the 'Clubs' link on the above menu bar to find a club near you. They'll know who to trust.
http://www.minirepairshops.com/

 

The OP's post is very confusing to me, first it says the car was detonating, then in the body of the post it says a plug failed due to running out of gas - those are two completely separate and not conjoined issues - so what really happened?

She said the car was shuddering - that could be a miss due to plug misfire or injector failure, or it could be symptomatic of a detonation caused miss.

Running out of gas would not make the engine "ping or detonate", the wrong fuel could....and she says the car was not out of gas. But do you say that only because the engine continued to run or did the gauge show fuel in the tank?

It's all very confusing at this point......absent a more accurate description of events the only thing I can suggest is get it to a shop you trust who works on and knows MINIs, then see what they say.

It sounds to me like it lost a valve.

 

Was this at a dealership or private shop? Either was a cause to run far and fast away from them. Good advice given above...and welcome to M/A. It would help to know the model and mileage of the car.

 

I'm confused. How is cylinder/plug 1 the last to get fuel? Every firing order starts with 1, no? Also, your shop sounds sketchy. Is it an import shop or an everything shop? Is there any ASE master techs employed there? Touching on the lack of fuel they're talking about, it is possible there is an issue with your high pressure fuel pump. When they start to go they do some funky stuff but mine did throw a code. Keep in mind the car you're working with has an N14, kill it with fire and move on.

 

1342..... The story you are being given smells like a fish to me. If you give us your location someone may be able to point you to a reputable shop with knowledge of these cars. Good luck.

 

I'm thinking the mechanic is sitting inside the MINI so to him it would be 2431....... Bruhahahahaha

 

Maybe a special coating would help things?



Back on topic.....

 

I think the mechanic meant cylinder 1 is at the end of the intake manifold. I have no idea if that is true for an R56.

 

In the old days this was a concern with carburetors causing possible fuel starvation with some intake runners resulting in a lean mixture in certain cylinders....

The only way (maybe) this would apply to the DI fuel injected engines would be if one cylinder was getting more air to a given amount of fuel causing it to run lean.... Don't know if this is the case with cylinder #1. DI engines are set up to run lean.

With the carbon buildup on the R56 DI engines, I imagine cylinders #2,3 &4 would need more carbon restrictions being built up more than on cylinder #1 for a lean issue to occur. Since the oxygen sensor is looking for an average to make fuel ratio adjustments, #1 could be running lean.... In this scenario....

Time for some added walnuts....:idea:

 

I have a 2008 Cooper S and just replaced the valve cover and PVC Vent Hose myself a couple of months ago, and I'm a newbie in the mechanical range of things. It's not a hard repair, and if a n00b like me can do it successfullly without messing things up, then that dealer royally botched it.

I call shenanigans.

 

I though detonation was was cause by timing being off or octane being off as in spark knock. Lean condition I though would burn valves & piston crowns. Something is fishy.

 

It's an R56 so the answer could be anything.

Have you tried consulting this?



I am sure this will be the answer.