12 replies to this topic

[Back fire]

Mini Sprite 1275cc

Hi, I have just noticed a small leak from the oil feed pipe (the end which goes into the engine block) I have checked the nut and it is tight. Anyone know the cause of this leak ? Thanks

[Ipod]

Is there a rubber "o" seal in there...and has it perished ??

[Kam]

Have you got the metal pipe as below on yours



Which goes here where its been replaced with the braided version



The metal pipe on mine didnt need replacing but I did anyway as I saw some posts on here about leaks from there?

Are you getting your yellow oil light come on atall during driving?

[Back fire]

Yeah ive got the metal pipe, the yellow light doesnt show at all while driving. Is it worth getting the braided oil feed pipe ?

[Kam]

People will tell you its expensive for just a bit of braid?

But as theres oil pressure involved I changed mine even though it wasn't needed as I reckon it would cost a tad bit more with oil loss there?

I got the minispares one, but I've seen others cheaper, but minispares for me

[Dan]

Is there a rubber "o" seal in there...and has it perished ??

Please read the large notice at the top of every technical section page, please don't guess at answers in the technical section unless the problem has proven impossible to solve for some time.

There are 2 types of oil transfer pipe, the early type uses a large banjo fitting at the block sealed with 2 copper washers. The later type uses an olive and tube nut to fix to the block. This type is used on engines with an engine number starting 12A. If yours is an earlier engine with the banjo fitting, simply tightening it or replacing the copper washers should solve the problem. The later olive sealed type is a disasterous piece of Rover penny pinching, it often leaks and fairly frequently pops out of the block completely causing a catastrophic and very messy loss of oil. The best answer is to replace the entire thing with a properly sealed braided pipe as shown above by Kam.

[samsfern]

i had one of those pipes on my engine, it started leaking, then about a month later, blasted out of the engine, all the oil spewd all over the road! And i was doing about 60 at the time, and actually saw oil pressure drop, so instantly, switched the engine off, knocked into neutral and rolled to a stop, only to be sworn at and nearly assaulted for covering the white nova that wa right up my back bumper, with oil, lol

so throw that stupid cheap *melon* rover fixing away and get the braided oil feed, as pictured. They are known for leaking and popping out.

[Back fire]

i had one of those pipes on my engine, it started leaking, then about a month later, blasted out of the engine, all the oil spewd all over the road! And i was doing about 60 at the time, and actually saw oil pressure drop, so instantly, switched the engine off, knocked into neutral and rolled to a stop, only to be sworn at and nearly assaulted for covering the white nova that wa right up my back bumper, with oil, lol

so throw that stupid cheap *melon* rover fixing away and get the braided oil feed, as pictured. They are known for leaking and popping out.

bought a braided pipe from minispares now, so that should stop the leak.

[glyn]

Have you got the metal pipe as below on yoursWhich goes here where its been replaced with the braided versionThe metal pipe on mine didnt need replacing but I did anyway as I saw some posts on here about leaks from there? Are you getting your yellow oil light come on atall during driving?

Bringing up an old post, this pipe is no longer made, I have a friend who has a standard Italian job mini only covered 18,000 miles since new, she has an oil leak from this pipe and doesn't want to replace it with a braided one as the car won't be standard, I'm sure it's just the 'o' ring that's perished does anyone know where we can either get the o ring or the whole pipe?

Thanks

[Dan]

There is no O ring, that was a misleading post. This pipe is sealed by square section rubber olives at the ends similar to the metal ones in a domestic plumbing fitting and is useless. No it is no longer made. You can try replacing the olives if you can find some and re-tightening the nuts into the block but it will fail sooner or later. The best thing to do really is to replace it with the braided parts. It may seem like an upgrade but in all honesty it's something Rover should have made as a service replacement or even a recall, the standard part is not fit for the task.

Edited by Dan, 28 January 2014 - 06:31 PM.

[Miniholic]

Mine failed and dumped what seemed like most of the contents of the engine on the M1 and throughout the engine bay, I would advise anyone to upgrade to the braided pipe.

[glyn]

Thanks, I should have said I understood it wasn't a no ring but couldn't think of a way to describe it. I will see what she says but she really doesn't want to put non standard bits on!!!!

[Kam]

Thanks, I should have said I understood it wasn't a no ring but couldn't think of a way to describe it. I will see what she says but she really doesn't want to put non standard bits on!!!!

 

Bottom line is her car has 18'000 miles on it and that pipe leaks, mine when changed above had 38'000 miles on it and was not leaking, so why has hers leaked? because they do at any given point and you know what will happen if the leak (not in this case) goes unnoticed

 

Two choices here even if someone is a 'purist'

 

Stick with the original pipe and try to repair it and hope for the best in time to come and to go swimming with sharks that weekend

 

Take off and put a braided version on, who exactly cares about noticing its not standard? if its for a concourse show then drive all year round with the braid and to the show, at the show your gonna be cleaning the car ain't you for the concourse event so just swap the pipes, engines don't need to be started to judge 

 

Show over and braid back on, at least it won't be engine over

 

Your call