R55 Cooper S

[SlimJim16v]

Some oil pumps won't work unless primed. I've heard Vasaline* is used to pack them.

*other lubes are available.

[scrw.]

I have on a standard gear pump on other engines, but the mini one sits in the oil in the sump, and is a sealed unit. Hope I have just missed something stupid.

[SlimJim16v]

scrw. said:

Hope I have just missed something stupid.

Hopefully. I seen, and done some very silly things.

[scrw.]

hmmm, well, the oil pump is not sucking, is being driven from the crank okay, so it looks like the pump has packed up or the pressure relief valve is stuck, but do I repair & trust it or put a new one in......

[scrw.]

Bought a new pump, for the sake of £110 its not worth risking the whole motor. Work resumes in a couple of days.

[CoolHands]

Yeah keep us updated, interested to see if new pump solved problem

[scrw.]

I am wondering if lack of oil in the pump is stopping it creating an initial vacuum, and filling the pressure side of the pump before fitting it would sort the problem (that itself indicates a worn pump I think). But faith lost in the old pump now, not risking it. I will fill the pressure side of the new pump on fitting it (apparently they dont leak through) just in case it helps the new pump get started. I may strip down the oil pump at some point out of curiosity, but its not an item you can really play around with solutions until you find the issue.

[jackofall84]

scrw. said:

I am wondering if lack of oil in the pump is stopping it creating an initial vacuum, and filling the pressure side of the pump before fitting it would sort the problem (that itself indicates a worn pump I think). But faith lost in the old pump now, not risking it. I will fill the pressure side of the new pump on fitting it (apparently they dont leak through) just in case it helps the new pump get started. I may strip down the oil pump at some point out of curiosity, but its not an item you can really play around with solutions until you find the issue.

Really good thread and enjoying seeing the progress, Just to say that having a fluid on the downstream side of the pump (the outlet) shouldn't make any difference to the upstream side (the inlet) the main reasons a functioning pump won't start is due to insufficient NPSH, i.e. not enough pressure on the inlet to begin with.

[scrw.]

Well my oil pump off ebay turned out to bea genuine BMW one, always nice

2020-01-15_09-43-22 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

2020-01-15_09-40-09 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

[scrw.]

And it works perfectly, I did fill it with oil from the top hole and wound it back slowly until the oil dribbled out of the pickup strainer, other than that it just got bolted in, had oil in the filter after a few seconds of cranking. Inlet side all on and injectors connected back up, just waiting for the sportcat to turn up (hopefully friday) and I can finish up. I think tomorrow I will put the rads into the front housing ready for finishing up after fitting the exhaust up.

Old oil pump is in the corner of the garage, I may pull it apart to see whats going on in the future, however it may just get skipped. Productive evening

[GaryF]

Excellent news

What sort of DP have you gone for? I've an Akrapovic 100 cell fitted and it mkaes a great improvement to sound and performance (in conjuntion with remap).

[scrw.]

Cobra 200 cell, the say that it will not throw and CEL's on an otherwise stock motor so will see, not planning on getting it mapped just yet, will also go with a custom made stainless cat back exhaust removing the centre box.

[scrw.]

old.....
2020-01-16_09-03-44 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

Ebay special intercooler and new air con and water rads. Brackets on the intercooler are a touch out, my OCD may survive once it is hidden behind the bumper.

2020-01-16_09-04-42 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

All stop until the downpipe arrives now.

[GaryF]

Nice and shiny

I've got the Airtec upgraded intercooler - is that what that one is?

Edited to say, just spotted you called it an "Ebay Special" intercooler

Edited by GaryF on Friday 17th January 11:55

[scrw.]

Same design as the Airtec one, just £130 rather than £400 odd. Finish isn't as good but worth a punt.

[anonymous-user]

Great thread have you done this before or using a manual?

[scrw.]

done rebuilds before, but not on a mini, my Haynes is getting grubby LOL. Nothing too difficult, if anything it is an easy motor to work on, once you can get at it!!

[R12many]

Love threads like these. Great work and hope everything goes as planned.

[scrw.]

Fed Ex just dropped my Cat/downpipe off, spannering tonight

[scrw.]

Work getting in the way of spannering :-(

Anyway, Cobra next to the stock downpipe, i see why they say it shouldn't throw a CEL as the 2nd O2 sensor is stepped away from the exhaust flow by an inch or so.

IMG_20200121_195428 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

IMG_20200121_200700 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

All in, just need to finish some hoses around the thermostat housing then the front is going back on, hopefully finished by the weekend.....

IMG_20200121_201958 by Old_Chad, on Flickr