16 replies to this topic

[Little Miss B]

Ok so I've got another little problem with my mini
Why driving this week my friends in the car behind noticed smoke coming from the passenger front wheel arch. It wasn't very often and only appeared when I really put my foot down, say to get up a hill etc. The mini is running very rich could a bit of oil burn off? Thanks

[Paul Wiginton]

The smoke is probably building up in the engine bay and being blown out of the wheelarch by the cooling fan.
Run the engine with the bonnet open and see where its coming from, could be oil burning off the engine if its leaking somewhere, or the manifold leaking gases.
Are you sure its smoke and not steam? which would mean the radiator is possibly split

Paul

[Little Miss B]

Forgot to mention that I can smell petrol rather than oil fumes when in the car but this could be because the previous owner fitted speaker where the air vents are so I'm getting a bit of blow back. She does have a small oil leak but that's under the engine could it still be that? It's really infrequent like I mentioned before only when I really put my foot down and she's under pressure.

[Paul Wiginton]

If it smells of fuel, get it checked out by a mechanic unless youre competent yourself

Paul

[Simoncarter1]

Its not the tyre rubbing on the arch is it? just have a quick check for rub marks on the top of the arch, often the front of the cars suspension droops with age/miles and it gets abit tight.

[Little Miss B]

It's possible but unlikely I think as she has had Hi-Los fitted within the last year or two and sportspack arches (we recently raised them up in the last few months (to give her more clearance), but also it usually appears under acceleration rather than at any other time.

[Pauly]

Petrol smell can be a leaky carb or split breather on the tank.

Smoke could be a leaky radiator (overheating?).

Paul.

[Little Miss B]

The fuel /air mix is pretty rich anyway so that could be the reason for smelling petrol (It's not an overly strong smell).

[bmcecosse]

Engine hot and idling - take the oil filler cap off and rev the engine. Is there a plume of smoke /fume ? If so - this could be the problem - smoke from breathers coming out the wheel arch.

[Little Miss B]

OK so I've assessed this problem some more and found that the smoke is coming from a breather filter coming from the engine (its the pipe that would normally go through to the carburettor but as she now has a K&N carb, its no longer connected there. The thing that concerns me more is that the smoke seems to be getting worse (although its unpredictable, and goes from quite heavy to nothing seemingly randomly.

Any help would be much appreciated!

[Ouster]

Take the oil filler cap off, give it a rev - plume of smoke/fumes? Either the breathers are blocked, or bore/piston/rings are knackered.

[Little Miss B]

Take the oil filler cap off, give it a rev - plume of smoke/fumes? Either the breathers are blocked, or bore/piston/rings are knackered.

Okay, so if its the breathers would it make sense that its intermittent?

If its the bore/piston/rings then presumably thats an engine out job, yikes!

Would there be any other tell-tale signs to look for if it was the bore/piston/rings?
Thanks

Edited by Little Miss B, 10 October 2009 - 03:13 PM.

[Ouster]

Possibly slightly smoky, uses more oil than it should, oil being forced out of seals. If you took the head off you'd be able to see the condition of the bores.
The fact that it smokes under load means it could be the rings or somesuch.

[minidaves]

ok so when was it last serviced (not just an oil change) sounds like either oils knakcered so needs a proper chemical engine flush and some nice fresh 20/50 put into her, or the rings are worn out and the engine needs a rebuild/replacement.

but if runnign rich you need to get it sorted else it will need a rebore for sure as the oil will die and the bores will wear away due to bore wash

dave

[Little Miss B]

She doesn't seem to be using more oil then normal and the smoking is so irregular. I'm taking her to the garage tomorrow and hoping and praying she doesn't need a new engine. However if she does, which is best a new engine or a rebuild? Would they cost about the same?