1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Intermittent Red Oil Light

Unfortunately, when the light comes on the damage has been done.

Was an aftermarket oil filter installed when the oil was changed? If so, or you don't know, install an OEM filter and see if the light stops.

 

Thanks for the positive feedback, honestly I was just a little lost and wanted to make this easier for others running into the same problem. I think it'd be great to make the post an article so others can find it easier!

PS: Car is a 2003 Cooper Base and I'm located in Houston, TX

 

Welcome to BOTH of you into M/A! Your problems and hopeful solutions are what M/A is all about. We are here to help out with suggestions and possible fixes whenever possible.

 

I suggest you cease using red oil. :arf:

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(Yeah, I know...no help. But since you already has lots of great, helpful responses from the ever-friendly MA crowd I couldn't resist. I hope you take this in the good humor in which it was intended. :wink

 

I signed up just in case someone else has this issue and my solution helps them, I apologize in advance for the length. I had the same issue as OP, I had just done an oil change then a few days later the oil light would come on any time I idled. The car only has 114k on it so the bearings should be fine (this scared the crap out of me since a lot of people said the symptoms lined up), I run Liqui Moly 5w40 and it was changed days ago with an oem filter so I figures it may be the sensor. I purchased an oem oil pressure sensor, but the issue was still there so I started digging deeper. Turns out the oil filter housings changed after 04' I believe so the filters are year specific and the early ones like mine are supposed to have a plastic cage that you insert into the filter, later model filters have this built in; on top of this the oil filter caps are different and if you swap them for one reason or another you can really cause some damage. After checking my cap I verified I had the older version and that I was missing the plastic cage, who knows how long it's been missing but i see that some people mention a spring at the base of the oil housing and I see nothing (turns out its only visible on the later model). After reading more it looks like the elusive spring is not replaceable and Mini recommends changing the ENTIRE housing! With things looking grim the cheapest housing I saw online was about $300 and with money being tight I checked my local junk yards. I found an 06' cooper base like mine and checked the cap to make sure it was the new one and pulled it off, out the door I only had to pay $11! I took some comparative pics for others in the same situation, it looks like I could have gotten away with a new plastic cage but now I have a newer less maintenance assembly and the oil light is finally gone. FYI, the gaskets ARE different, but they bolt up the same no problem! New housing is on the left, older on the right

 

My issue was very similar, and it was the filter missing the inner structure causing pressure irregularities. Before dropping money on an oil pump I'd highly recommend looking at the images I posted previously to see if you have the older style oil filter housing like I had and see if it has the correct Oil filter, Spring, and Cage like the image below. I replaced the entire housing in the troubleshooting process and now have the later model which doesn't have the cage. If that is a route you would like to take you can order a new one from ECS Tuning ( https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-mini-parts/oil-filter-housing/11427563522/ )

 

Thank you so much -- I will share your photos with the mechanic so he can verify that first.

 

Also, if you do have the later model I read that sometimes the plunger and or spring in the actual housing can break causing a similar issue. I circled the spring and plunger below, if they are damaged and/or missing you can replace the housing with the part linked above.

 

The Mini's oil pressure does drop very low when hot and at an idle. My oil pressure gauge frequently shows between 5-10 PSI when at an idle. However, I have never had the oil pressure light turn on so I suspect your pressure is dropping very low, probably below 5 PSI. I am not sure what PSI the light goes off at, I think around 3 PSI.

Your oil pressure could actually be very low, such as weak pump, or your sensor could be a little off.

What type, brand, and weight oil are you using?

 

Agree with Quikmni, it's a sensor or the pump. Get this one fixed sooner rather than later. If the oil pump goes, you might as well junk the engine.

 

Some aftermarket filters collapse. That will get you low oil pressure at idle. I use oem or Mann. Wix is purported to be a good filter too. Like k-huevo says you are damaging your engine running it like that. Let us know how this turns out for you. Good luck. :fingerscrossed:

 

Nice job of trouble shooting! Thanks for sharing this.

Welcome to M/A!

 

Nice post. Welcome to Motoring Alliance !!

 

If you do not have access to a oil pressure gauge to verify the pressure, I would suggest replacing the oil pressure sensor because it is cheap and easy to replace.
The sensor is P/N 12617513068 and available from many vendors for about $13.
penskeparts.com
pelicanparts.com

I have not heard about many oil pump problems so I would try the sensor first. The pump is expensive $250 and hard to replace.

 

Good point on the oil filter.
If an aftermarket oil filter was installed, which brand is it?

Just a note. Not all the aftermarket oil filters are a problem. I even feel that the WIX filter is better than the OEM filter.

 

There are many possible reasons the OP's oil light comes on at idle. I mentioned the filter because (1) past correlations of light at idle & oil change, and (2) looking at the oil filter is a simple, low cost, trouble shooting step. In some oil filter installations, the oil by-pass button is not pushed in completely. More often than not, it's because an aftermarket filter that is shorter than OEM is used. I've read reports of "oil light at idle" happening after an OEM filter installation also. Long ago, Purolator filters crossed referenced for the MINI had incidences of collapse. An inoperative by-pass nozzle is not likely to be damaging for the short term. In this case oil is by-passing the oil filter, but continues to lubricate. Most of the other possibilities are potentially damaging.

Here's another easy trouble shooting step, with the oil filter removed, push in the by-pass button/nozzle to see if it depresses and springs back.

Not all aftermarket oil filters are the wrong size, or have poor filtering performance.