R56 Cooper S losing (?) coolant
Discussion
We have a '07 Cooper S with 40000 miles that has developed quite a thirst for coolant. It also has a very unhealthy appetite for engine oil (1 Liter per 400 km - I pour oil every time I fill up the fuel tank) but my dealership still insists that's nothing to worry about, it should be fine as long as I don't let it go below the minimum. 
I first noticed the coolant loss driving up a hill in cold weather where I got the yellow and red temperature warning. Stopped immediately to investigate, let the car cool off and found that there was no more water in the reservoir. Filled it to "max" with my drinking bottle (~1L of water) and by the time I arrived home it was empty again. Repeated the procedure on the next day and it only took one short 5 mile drive for it to go below "min" again.
No white smoke from the exhaust, oil looks clean, reservoir cap seems to be tight because the system is under pressure when it's hot. I couldn't find any leaks/wet spots around the engine or below the car. Ideas would be very welcome.
With that kind of oil consumption plus the new coolant issue it sounds to me like a new engine will be required soon but I doubt that would be economical unless I find a cheap independent shop.
I first noticed the coolant loss driving up a hill in cold weather where I got the yellow and red temperature warning. Stopped immediately to investigate, let the car cool off and found that there was no more water in the reservoir. Filled it to "max" with my drinking bottle (~1L of water) and by the time I arrived home it was empty again. Repeated the procedure on the next day and it only took one short 5 mile drive for it to go below "min" again.
No white smoke from the exhaust, oil looks clean, reservoir cap seems to be tight because the system is under pressure when it's hot. I couldn't find any leaks/wet spots around the engine or below the car. Ideas would be very welcome.
With that kind of oil consumption plus the new coolant issue it sounds to me like a new engine will be required soon but I doubt that would be economical unless I find a cheap independent shop.
EricE said:
We have a '07 Cooper S with 40000 miles that has developed quite a thirst for coolant. It also has a very unhealthy appetite for engine oil (1 Liter per 400 km - I pour oil every time I fill up the fuel tank) but my dealership still insists that's nothing to worry about, it should be fine as long as I don't let it go below the minimum.
I first noticed the coolant loss driving up a hill in cold weather where I got the yellow and red temperature warning. Stopped immediately to investigate, let the car cool off and found that there was no more water in the reservoir. Filled it to "max" with my drinking bottle (~1L of water) and by the time I arrived home it was empty again. Repeated the procedure on the next day and it only took one short 5 mile drive for it to go below "min" again.
No white smoke from the exhaust, oil looks clean, reservoir cap seems to be tight because the system is under pressure when it's hot. I couldn't find any leaks/wet spots around the engine or below the car. Ideas would be very welcome.
With that kind of oil consumption plus the new coolant issue it sounds to me like a new engine will be required soon but I doubt that would be economical unless I find a cheap independent shop.
Disclaimer: I am not a mechanic, but i previously owned an alfa 156 2.0 ts so i know a bit about oil usage I first noticed the coolant loss driving up a hill in cold weather where I got the yellow and red temperature warning. Stopped immediately to investigate, let the car cool off and found that there was no more water in the reservoir. Filled it to "max" with my drinking bottle (~1L of water) and by the time I arrived home it was empty again. Repeated the procedure on the next day and it only took one short 5 mile drive for it to go below "min" again.
No white smoke from the exhaust, oil looks clean, reservoir cap seems to be tight because the system is under pressure when it's hot. I couldn't find any leaks/wet spots around the engine or below the car. Ideas would be very welcome.
With that kind of oil consumption plus the new coolant issue it sounds to me like a new engine will be required soon but I doubt that would be economical unless I find a cheap independent shop.
1litre per 400km is a LOT! My alfa was doing about 1 litre every 1000km (700 miles) and it would puff out blue smoke on hard acceleration after even short periods of coasting. I would be AMAZED if that much oil usage is "within spec" for any modern car. I know that the Cooper S engine is known to use a bit of oil, but that is more than a bit!
With regards to your coolant, how long has it been since you checked the coolent? These things do need topping up occasionally. It may appear to being loosing it very quickly if it was very empty because when you went to top it up, you refilled the reservoir but not the rest of the cooling system, as it got up to temp the coolent was distributed around the system, emptying the reservoir again. On level ground, start the car and remove the cap from the cooling system. Let it get up to temperature and circulate the coolent, top it up if necessary and go from there.
Remember, not a mechanic!
Thermostat housing tends to fail for the coolant loss, they do like to drink oil for fun, but might help changing the viscosity that you use currently.,mine seems to change its mind when it needs filling, some weeks it needs none, then all of a sudden it wants half a liter, very random.
jimmy156 said:
Disclaimer: I am not a mechanic, but i previously owned an alfa 156 2.0 ts so i know a bit about oil usage
1litre per 400km is a LOT! My alfa was doing about 1 litre every 1000km (700 miles) and it would puff out blue smoke on hard acceleration after even short periods of coasting. I would be AMAZED if that much oil usage is "within spec" for any modern car. I know that the Cooper S engine is known to use a bit of oil, but that is more than a bit!
Yes, I'm convinced the oil consumption is not in spec but since the car is out of warranty and I didn't want to throw thousands of £££ at it only to hear that it needs a new engine after all, I just kept on refilling.1litre per 400km is a LOT! My alfa was doing about 1 litre every 1000km (700 miles) and it would puff out blue smoke on hard acceleration after even short periods of coasting. I would be AMAZED if that much oil usage is "within spec" for any modern car. I know that the Cooper S engine is known to use a bit of oil, but that is more than a bit!
jimmy156 said:
With regards to your coolant, how long has it been since you checked the coolent? These things do need topping up occasionally. It may appear to being loosing it very quickly if it was very empty because when you went to top it up, you refilled the reservoir but not the rest of the cooling system, as it got up to temp the coolent was distributed around the system, emptying the reservoir again. On level ground, start the car and remove the cap from the cooling system. Let it get up to temperature and circulate the coolent, top it up if necessary and go from there.
Remember, not a mechanic!
Remember, not a mechanic!
The air pocket/overheating theory is sound. I will try refilling again. The car was at the dealership two months ago (service + new rotors/pads + front shocks).
In fact now I remember that there was a puddle of fluid below the car after I picked it up from the dealership. I checked the fluids, nothing seemed to be missing so i chalked it up as A/C condensation or water from the complimentary car wash. It was noteworthy enough that I took two pictures but since it hapened after they had closed for the weekend i couldn't call them and I forgot about it the following monday...
As far as I know one needs to remove the coolant reservoir to gain access to the oil filter. It could very well be that one of the hoses developed a hairline crack. I'll call the dealership tomorrow. Should have emailed them these pictures the day I took them.
Edited by EricE on Thursday 19th November 07:51
I called the dealership and they asked me drive by so they could have a look.
Today I got a call telling me that they found the issue: the thermostat housing is leaking.
That's the good news... the bad news is that they won't be able to source the item from BMW until 20. December (a full month) because it is backordered.
Today I got a call telling me that they found the issue: the thermostat housing is leaking.
That's the good news... the bad news is that they won't be able to source the item from BMW until 20. December (a full month) because it is backordered.
I have a 2007 Clubman S. The thermostat housing went on mine too, earlier this year at about 50k miles.
Mine has always used about a litre of oil every 900 miles (I've owned it for five years and since 17000 miles on the clock). Every 400km does seem excessive - reminds me of my Dads 1976 Allegro Estate which needed a top up of oil half way from South Wales to London every trip!!
How much are BMW charging to change the thermostat housing?
Mike
Mine has always used about a litre of oil every 900 miles (I've owned it for five years and since 17000 miles on the clock). Every 400km does seem excessive - reminds me of my Dads 1976 Allegro Estate which needed a top up of oil half way from South Wales to London every trip!!
How much are BMW charging to change the thermostat housing?
Mike
mike9009 said:
I have a 2007 Clubman S. The thermostat housing went on mine too, earlier this year at about 50k miles.
Mine has always used about a litre of oil every 900 miles (I've owned it for five years and since 17000 miles on the clock). Every 400km does seem excessive - reminds me of my Dads 1976 Allegro Estate which needed a top up of oil half way from South Wales to London every trip!!
How much are BMW charging to change the thermostat housing?
Mike
I don't have a price quote yet. They have offered me a free loaner from the 1st December until I get my car back. The Mini is my third/fourth car so I'm not too bothered about the delay but I would be quite miffed if it were my only car.Mine has always used about a litre of oil every 900 miles (I've owned it for five years and since 17000 miles on the clock). Every 400km does seem excessive - reminds me of my Dads 1976 Allegro Estate which needed a top up of oil half way from South Wales to London every trip!!
How much are BMW charging to change the thermostat housing?
Mike
By the way my car is a 2007 with 45k miles - fairly similar to yours.
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