Cooper S oil consumption and engine temp

[kaese]

Hi all,

Got a 2007 MCS. Oil consumption seems to be incredibly high though - was told by the main dealer that it should use around 1 litre per 850 miles (they all do that), and mine is 'bang on the money' for this.

What are others' experiences like with oil consumption? Is this true?

As an aside, the bonnet (around the air intake) gets alarmingly hot after a short journey. Is this 'normal' too?

Cheers

[softtop]

mine loses no oil at all. Maybe it was run it well

[VEA]

Mine doesn't use anywhere near that. I wouldn't worry about the heat thing though they all get hot!

Unless it is reading too hot on the dash that is.

Ask on Totatlmini if you want more definite answers...

[kaese]

VEA said:

Mine doesn't use anywhere near that. I wouldn't worry about the heat thing though they all get hot!

Unless it is reading too hot on the dash that is.

Ask on Totatlmini if you want more definite answers...

Thanks - I hear varying reports from different sites - some say 1L per 1000m, some people have never done an oil change. And I don't exactly believe the main dealer...

Will check Totalmini also -ta.

[czar]

The recommended allowable tolerance for oil consumption on the BMW MINI N14 engine, as fitted to all MCS from 2006 to 2010 and still fitted to the current JCW's is a maximum of 1 litre to every 1000 miles, if your oil consumption is greater than this to fewer miles, then this is outside of BMW MINI's acceptable allowable tolerance, and you should demand your dealer verify your vehicles oil consumption, and carry out the necessary work, to rectify your high oil consumption.

[Sam.F]

kaese said:

Hi all,

Got a 2007 MCS. Oil consumption seems to be incredibly high though - was told by the main dealer that it should use around 1 litre per 850 miles (they all do that), and mine is 'bang on the money' for this.

What are others' experiences like with oil consumption? Is this true?

As an aside, the bonnet (around the air intake) gets alarmingly hot after a short journey. Is this 'normal' too?

Cheers

I suspect the bonnet getting hot is due to the particular area you describe being above the turbo which obviously gets warm during use so not much to worry about.

I know they have tolerances with regard to oil use but 1l in 850 miles sounds utterly ridiculous - my 2009 JCW went 2 years and 12000 miles without needing a top-up and still had plenty left at the first service, same with it's predecessor (2007 Cooper S).

[kaese]

Thanks all for the replies so far.

Thought it was pretty ridiculous - though main dealer assures it's 'normal' - yeah right!

I have heard other reports of possible leaks elsewhere in the engine which will cause it to run hot and therefore burn more oil.

MOT is due the end of this month so will have to pressurise the main dealer to take a look (based on the tolerances mentioned) - hopefully any issues will still be covered by the warranty we got with it (purchased used from main dealer).

[Poprin]

I have an R56 Cooper S and have also been suffering from what I feel is excessive oil consumption. As someone has previously mentioned the tolerance level from BMW is apparently 1 litre per 1000 miles. Although like you have mentioned my dealer told me 1 litre per 650 miles!

Anywho... my mini also got very hot around the air intake as you mention and it went into Mini to have something looked at under warranty. They found that it had a leaking water pipe going to the pump and that the engine wasn't being cooled as efficiently as it should be. They replaced the pipe and in fairness since then I have noticed a significant drop in oil consumption and I don't set my hand on fire when I touch my bonnet!

The engines do use oil I think this unavoidable by they way they are designed so you must check level regularly but the consumption you are talking about can't be right in this day and age. I mean when I say mine was excessive it used 3 litres over 8000 miles and that is bad enough I feel!

[kaese]

Poprin said:

I have an R56 Cooper S and have also been suffering from what I feel is excessive oil consumption. As someone has previously mentioned the tolerance level from BMW is apparently 1 litre per 1000 miles. Although like you have mentioned my dealer told me 1 litre per 650 miles!

Anywho... my mini also got very hot around the air intake as you mention and it went into Mini to have something looked at under warranty. They found that it had a leaking water pipe going to the pump and that the engine wasn't being cooled as efficiently as it should be. They replaced the pipe and in fairness since then I have noticed a significant drop in oil consumption and I don't set my hand on fire when I touch my bonnet!

The engines do use oil I think this unavoidable by they way they are designed so you must check level regularly but the consumption you are talking about can't be right in this day and age. I mean when I say mine was excessive it used 3 litres over 8000 miles and that is bad enough I feel!

That's interesting Poprin - sounds like you had the same symptoms as I'm having now.

I agree about the oil usage - ridiculous, you'd think it was a bloody two-stroke.

[gary01502]

Hi this cured my oil consumption issues



Peugeot/Citroen/Mini 1.6 Turbo (THP) - PCV delete modification
12251 Views 2011-04-01

This technical modification is applicable on the following cars:

Peugeot 207 GT / Rallye / XS / THP150 1.6 Turbo 150/156hp
Peugeot 207 RC / GTI 175hp
Peugeot 308 150/156hp
Peugeot 308GT 175hp
Peugeot 3008 1.6T 150/156hp
Peugeot RCZ 1.6T 156hp
Citroen DS3 1.6 Turbo 156hp
Citroen C4 VTS 1.6 Turbo 150/156hp
Citroen C5 1.5 Turbo 150/156hp
Mini Cooper S R56 1.6 Turbo 175hp
Mini Cooper S R56 1.6 Turbo JCW



Stopping oil from getting into the intake manifold directly from the crankcase

The latest and greatest modification for getting rid of oil in our intake manifold, which is causing so many problems in the cylinder head and intake valves, comes from Peugeot themselves.

The new RCZ and 308GTI with the THP200 engine have a small difference in their intake manifold compared to the older models.
While the manifold body is the same, there is a very small cap that closes the rear PCV hose in the THP200 engine, which does not exist on the THP150 and 175hp engines.

PCV is the Positive Crankcase Ventilation system, which forces blowby gases back (and a lot of oil coming with it) in the intake system.

This cap is very cheap and available from Peugeot (part code 0361S4 ), using it saves the trouble of having to clean your intake from oil and combustion residues.


The difference between the intake manifolds can be seen in the following pictures from Peugeot Servicebox.



THP 200 - Intake manifold (image taken from Peugeot Service Box)



Part number 8 is the cap that closes the PCV return hose from the engine to the intake manifold.



THP 150/175 - Intake manifold (image taken from Peugeot Service Box)







Installing the cap in THP150 / 175 engines



First remove the rear PCV return hose. Press the clip to release it from the engine cover.

Hose connecting the rear PCV outlet to the intake manifold





Intake manifold side

Press the clip on the intake manifold to release the hose again.

Rear PCV hose - connected to the intake manifold





The cap that solves our problems

PCV delete mod1 - Peugeot part



PCV delete mod1- Peugeot part





Removing the rear PCV hose



Removing the rear PCV hose



Removing the rear PCV hose, intake manifold side



Removing the rear PCV hose, intake manifold side



Removing the PCV return hose from the engine bay



Removing the PCV hose from the engine bay



Remove the hose from the engine bay.

Rear PCV return hose (removed)



Install the caps

Closing the rear PCV outlet



Closing the PCV return inlet, intake manifold

Both caps installed, no more oil in the intake manifold.





Special thanks to giannis27 for his research, time and photos!


More information or answers in frequent questions you can find in the Forum of Technical Support of Etuners

Alfa Romeo

Copyright 2009 etuners.gr

[Defcon5]

Gary, surely blocking the PCV will cause issues due to the crankcase pressure becoming too high?

[john171]

kaese said:

Hi all,

Got a 2007 MCS. Oil consumption seems to be incredibly high though - was told by the main dealer that it should use around 1 litre per 850 miles (they all do that), and mine is 'bang on the money' for this.

What are others' experiences like with oil consumption? Is this true?

As an aside, the bonnet (around the air intake) gets alarmingly hot after a short journey. Is this 'normal' too?

Cheers

Oil consumption on my '07 MCS R56 is below 1 liter every 5000 km-6000 km when I do the change, so it seems to be well within spec.
I think you do need to be concerned about the bonnet temp above the turbo, several things as after-market ad ons are available to protect the bonnet fresh air scoop from warping, a documented problem with the turbo MCS. One thing you want to stay away from is any type of turbo mounted heat shield that is meant to keep the heat from rising up to the underside of the bonnet, which was an early attempt at protecting the bonnet scoop.

[kaese]

swerni said:

What oil do you guys use?

I'm currently using Castrol Magnatec fully synthetic - the variant which meets the BMW spec (can't remember what it is called, exactly).

Oil consumption does seem a little better as of late - I was previously using Carlube fully synthetic which didn't seem quite as effective.

[kaese]

john171 said:

Oil consumption on my '07 MCS R56 is below 1 liter every 5000 km-6000 km when I do the change, so it seems to be well within spec.
I think you do need to be concerned about the bonnet temp above the turbo, several things as after-market ad ons are available to protect the bonnet fresh air scoop from warping, a documented problem with the turbo MCS. One thing you want to stay away from is any type of turbo mounted heat shield that is meant to keep the heat from rising up to the underside of the bonnet, which was an early attempt at protecting the bonnet scoop.

Thanks John - will look into the after market add-ons you describe. Thankfully temperature hasn't been too much recently but will bear this in mind for future.

[Paul Jersey]

I live in Jersey in the Channel Islands, my MCS is 2008, found out about the high oil consumption when it went back to the garage for a minor electrical problem. I was told by main dealer over here that consumption expected is 600 miles per litre. Not a problem if you want a serious and fun car to drive.

Also are you aware that there is a recall on this motor for a heat shield on turbo, attached to this shield is a sensor fitted that regulates oil sent to the Turbo, could this be a cause of the problem. Since this recall, I think my oil consumption has got better, but still regular check it. Oil I use is Castrol Edge 0-30.

[rigga]

The heat shield recall on the Turbo is a thermal wrap to go around the oil feed pipe, it was getting too hot from heat off the Turbo, and the oil inside was carbonising and blocking the pipe, then the Turbo died, won't affect oil consumption.