1st Gen Countryman (R60) Talk (2010-2015) R60 Countryman Discussions

R60 2015 burning (not leaking) oil, where to start looking?

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Old 07-27-2024 | 11:14 AM
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2015 burning (not leaking) oil, where to start looking?

My wife's 2015 all4S with around 100k which is using oil. The last time I checked it needed a quart after 1k miles of driving. There isn't a drop of oil on the ground, and I had her start the car cold the other day and saw the puff of oil burning off as it started. I had her floor it as she was leaving and saw the smoke coming out of the exhaust under hard acceleration. This isn't billowing smoke, but noticeable if you are looking for it.

We have just been adding oil for a while but since its using more now I feel like should get around to fixing it. A while ago when I first noticed this I changed the pcv out for a new one I had one of the intake tubes from the turbo off to check and I did see some oil sitting inside the pipe.

I think oil is leaking into the air intake tract somewhere and burning off, am I missing another explanation? Assuming I'm looking in the right direction what are the trouble spots on these cars that commonly fail? How can I diagnose where it is coming from?

Thanks!
 
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Old 07-29-2024 | 12:55 PM
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Hello,

Its either the valve cover or the valve stem seals. If its the valve cover that has been fixed already, its those valve stem seals.

https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2015-...Engine/Covers/


https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2015-...d/Valve_Seals/

11340033950



https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-camshaft.html

 
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Old 07-30-2024 | 09:15 AM
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I did not replace the entire valve cover, just the rubber diaphragm and plastic cover/spring on the upper left part of the valve cover. Is there a chance that something else failed or i installed this incorrectly so it’s causing the oil consumption?

also is there a chance the turbo is causing the oil leak into the engine?

The consumption feels like a lot and like it happened relatively suddenly for it to be burning as much is it is through the valve stem seals but I could be totally off base.

thanks!



 
  #4  
Old 07-30-2024 | 09:45 AM
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2014 MC
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Sounds like you need to eliminate why you have/saw oil in the intake tube for the turbo. Was this the intake or pressure side? Seems like that would be your source of burnt oil and puffs of smoke. Intercooler probably has oil in it too then...
 
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Old 07-30-2024 | 01:15 PM
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Originally Posted by 2014 MC
Sounds like you need to eliminate why you have/saw oil in the intake tube for the turbo. Was this the intake or pressure side? Seems like that would be your source of burnt oil and puffs of smoke. Intercooler probably has oil in it too then...
And if that's the case the back side of the valves are all sludged up.
 
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Old 07-30-2024 | 01:17 PM
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I had to replace the valve cover twice before I got the oil into the turbo inlet via pcv tube to stop.
 
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Old 07-31-2024 | 07:07 AM
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Originally Posted by jawilli6
I had to replace the valve cover twice before I got the oil into the turbo inlet via pcv tube to stop.
Did you replace with the MINI OEM or go Aftermarket. I was looking at something like this since I have oil consumption but not a qt every 1k miles.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-bremmen-...MaAuqcEALw_wcB
 
  #8  
Old 07-31-2024 | 12:00 PM
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I used this one:
Bremmen Parts - 11127646552 - Valve Cover With PCV - N18 Engine (ecstuning.com)

My understanding is these engines do use some oil. I think it's even in the user manual to check the oil and top up as needed every x number of times you fuel up with gasoline.
Yup, it's in the 2013 R60 manual:

 
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  #9  
Old 07-31-2024 | 01:14 PM
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Originally Posted by jawilli6
I used this one:
Bremmen Parts - 11127646552 - Valve Cover With PCV - N18 Engine (ecstuning.com)

My understanding is these engines do use some oil. I think it's even in the user manual to check the oil and top up as needed every x number of times you fuel up with gasoline.
Yup, it's in the 2013 R60 manual:
Any issue with getting the valve cover around the fuel line in the back corner? Some people said in the videos they had to disconnect it. Thanks. Also torque at 10ft/lb I saw two different orders of bolts in starting on the two by the plugs and the other starting back by the air cleaner?

 
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Old 07-31-2024 | 01:31 PM
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I was able to get them on/off without removing the fuel line. Easier to get off than on. If it doesn't come off relatively easy and you start having to flex the part to get it around the fuel line, I'd probably stop and remove the fuel line. I wouldn't want to dislodge an o-ring/gasket from flexing it and not know it. I actually didn't think about that at the time and maybe that's why I had to do it twice?

I don't recall the torque spec and order. I know I downloaded it after paying bmw TIS system for it, I'll have to check my home computer and I'll post it here (assuming that is allowed). The torque will be specified in newton-meter in case you beat me to it.
 
  #11  
Old 07-31-2024 | 01:39 PM
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Thank you for all your help.
 
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  #12  
Old 08-14-2024 | 07:11 PM
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Thanks for the replies
it was this first tube I saw some standing oil in, the second picture is the only place I see oil on the outside of anything, I did replace that hose but not the sensor between it and the turbo pipe.

Not sure if this narrows it down

 
  #13  
Old 08-15-2024 | 04:41 AM
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Puffs of smoke after engine has been sitting a while sounds like valve stem seals.

You can eliminate turbo seals by looking at the exhaust side with a borescope through the oxygen sensor hole. But blown turbo seals would be smoking oil all the time, not just a puff on start up, so I'm still leaning to valve stem seals.
 
  #14  
Old 08-15-2024 | 06:59 AM
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It does a puff of smoke on startup but also if you floor it, not just when it’s been sitting, I feel like valve seals wouldn’t explain the oil in the intake tract?

inexplicably she drove for a week with a bunch of long drives and lost very little oil the last two weeks.
 
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