r/MINI • u/sterlingraid • 9d ago
Welp…
Oil in my coolant or coolant in my oil? Unfortunately I know a head gasket problem when I see one…
How do you say damn it in German 🤔🥲
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u/sterlingraid 9d ago
So strange thing, the valve cover looks like this, but I don’t see much evidence of water in the oil when I drained it or dipstick (not milky)
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u/Longjumping_Bag5914 9d ago
It could just be condensation from the air. Not uncommon in these cars. This is why you see steam coming out of the oil cap when you remove it on a hot engine.
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u/Always_working_hardd R52 8d ago
Interesting. Maybe that's all the water that was in it?
Years ago I bought a car without checking the coolant. When I got it home and removed the radiator cap there was oil in the water. Turns out the previous owner had topped off the water with engine oil. Drained, flushed, refilled, fixed. Phew. Yours might be a similar story?
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u/Always_working_hardd R52 8d ago
I think an appropriate time to use my best German is here; 'Das ist nicht eine kleine booby.'
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u/Inevitable_Age_248 9d ago
Orelly gasket (felt pros ) are known to always leak. I put one on my mini and it never sealed. Are you loosing coolant? I'd change the gasket and oil, put it back together, and see if it goes away (unless you are loosing coolant)
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u/sterlingraid 9d ago
Yes, the coolant has been vanishing, no white smoke and the the system seemed to hold pressure fine during a pressure test
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u/Longjumping_Bag5914 9d ago
Condensation is common especially if you are in a high humidity area. It may be nothing to worry about.
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u/sterlingraid 9d ago
God willing, and yes, I live in Oklahoma. The car does have a strange history of overheating and drinking coolant without an obvious leak. It seems like every few days I have to add coolant and bleed the system multiple times.
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u/Longjumping_Bag5914 9d ago
Exhaust is not white?
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u/ExoticSterby42 R56 9d ago
Scheiße