So, I found oil in the bottle, chocolaty looking stuff on the dipstick. Thinking head gasket, but, I can't identify a definite spot in the one gasket I removed.

What do you all think?

 

May not have been the head gasket. We see more failed oil coolers cause the milkshake than head gaskets. Could also have a cracked head which you would have to have the head pressure tested to find.
R52 R53 Oil Cooler

 

How is the oil cooler diagnosed?

 

I was into vw's for a long time and the oil cooler was the first thing to check. I just capped one oil cooler water inlet and clamped the other to the air compressor hose and ran the air pressure up. Stick the thing in a bucket of water and watch for any bubbles to come out the oil ports. You could do it the other way around using some sort of adapter or fitting on the oil ports but it looks like it would be easy to use the water outlets on that model.

A radiator shop could do the same for you if you don't have the air compressor.

 

Hey, thanks.
I'll be removing it shortly.

 

Oil cooler pressure tested good.


So, either head gasket or cracked head............

 

Would there be any benefit to buying a reman head if the current one is ok?

 

Howdy all! The MINI did end up having a blown head gasket.......I took the head in and had it freshened up with new seals, guides ect and she's running like a scalded dog again.


I love this car so much, I'm considering a 2005 convertable "S" with 50k.
Any thoughts of how much you all think the convertable is worth? It's leather and is in top notch shape.

 

Way, is there a tutorial on changing out the oil cooler heat exchanger somewhere? Link?

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...in-an-r53.html

Replaced mine when I got water in the oil but it was not the problem.

Head gasket was bad, and mine was just like traildogs, no visibly bad spots.
I didn't get my head checked and just hoped for the best and just put a new gasket on

So far so go, no water on the dipstick for 4 months and no more oil leak either.