I've recently joined the world wide club of mini owners with a morris mini 998cc dual su carby powerplant. Runs well after I had the cylinder head replaced due to a crack and i'm cleaning the carbs and tuning them within the next two weeks. The issues i want to deal with first: The drivers side door handle is very loose (just the handle, the base fitting sits just fine) and because of that it doesn't lock properly. The second issue is a tiny oil leak. The old thing likes to have a trickly wee. Not a huge leak, just a drip perhaps every few minutes or more. Would love some advice from those of you who know the ins and outs. I was going to pick up oil sealant since it's a tiny leak and it might be a gasket that can be resealed. The handle however i'm not sure whether it's in need of a replacement or something easier. I tried prying off the trim earlier with no avail.

Welcome to the world of minis dsoan, tell us a little more if you can about your new mini!

With your door handle, there's about four different styles from Sliding window type, to Australian production type to clubman and then rover. We'll need to work out what it is. They each have their own problems.

With the oil leak, yeah its typical when you get an engine of a few miles or hours on the clock that it will start to have an oil leak issue. Sealant isn't the way you will attack it. Oil will just push it out of the way and continue on to the garage floor, there's pretty well no exceptions to this rule no matter how small it is in. There will be a small gasket or seal somewhere which will need to be replaced. They're not difficult to identify and not expensive, pictures tell a thousand words on here too.

You will need to develop this a little further and identify where it is coming from, if its a gasket or oil seal. The oil will be on the bottom of the engine, but try to track it back up the engine block to its source.

_________________
SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

I had a leak that was rectified by tensioning the timing chain cover screws.

_________________
It's easy once you know how.

Cheers for the advice! I'll have to take a photo and put it up here when I have the time. Another issue is that it's coughing up a bit of white smoke (not a thick cloud, moderately thin vapor). I know this means either water vapor from the exhaust or a broken head gasket, but i had the cylinder head replaced and gasket replaced last week or so. The last few times i've started the engine it takes a while (after coughing a bit of smoke) to idle properly. Suggestions would be appreciated! also, any bits or bobs i should plan on doing/thinking of when it comes to maintaining a mini, upgrading etc. Already plan to replace front drums to cooper discs and install a vacuum water return thingo for my radiator so I don't have to top it up every now and again.