As already stated I have been rolling around trying to find where my car's oil leak is coming from (what mini doesn't have a oil leak )

I've been rolling around on the floor and was just wondering....what this is (the centre of the pic just below the underneath of the fuel pump)? I know this is probably a really stupid question but I have never rebuilt a engine before and I don't know what it is, also - should it be covered in heaps of oil? (I'm assuming not as much as what's on it; the pic doesn't really show it). Thanks heaps.

_________________
"In two years time your car will be like a lady's clothes, out of date, my car will still be in fashion when I am dead" - Sir Alec speaking to Pininfarina

The looks to be leaking between the block and fuel fump. Might have to replace the gasket.

The leak is coming from the fuel pump as stated above. To fix it you need to undo the two nuts holing the pump onto the block. The pump will move back under pressure of the arm that is moved by the camshaft to pump petrol.

Slide it back a bit further until its clearly out of the block. Remaove all traces of the old gasket from the block and the pump. Paint a new petrol pump gasket with aviation gasket goo on both sides and let it dry until it goes tacky.

Fit the gasket over the two studs and then slide the petrol pump back into position as best you can. Start the two nuts (and their spring washers) and then evenly tighten up those nuts.

If you have one of those new and wonderful rachet type ring spanners then you are a long way in front. Otherwise the job it bad on the back, hard on the arms and hands because you are going spend an hour in a tight awkward area. Good luck

Thanks guys - I thought it would be that because everything above the pump is oil free and everything below the pump is covered in oil, at least it will be pretty easy to fix (ie not engine out).

Anyways what is that little arm thingy that is just below it - I'm really curious - what does it do?

_________________
"In two years time your car will be like a lady's clothes, out of date, my car will still be in fashion when I am dead" - Sir Alec speaking to Pininfarina

The arm thingy is the gear change lever going into the box. It goes in and out and rotates to change gears. Have someone change gears while lying under the car to see how it does it. (engine not running )

_________________
David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

Oh that - i forgot to tell you

Thats part of the gear change mechanism on the magic wand and remote change style gearbox. Knuckle joints and rods that activate the selectors in the gearbox.

Thanks, you guys are champs!

_________________
"In two years time your car will be like a lady's clothes, out of date, my car will still be in fashion when I am dead" - Sir Alec speaking to Pininfarina

If your going to try changing the petrol pump gasket from under the car - please make sure the car is properly secured on jack stands - nothing less than jack stands or on properly manufactured solid ramps. Chock the wheels.

Then when you are under the car - make sure your face and eyes are protected from any petrol that might fall. You have no need to undo any of the fuel lines but sometimes they slip off and they could be perished near the rubber metal union.

Also the rubber diaphram in the pump could be slightly perished and allow some petrol to seep.

be careful your whole backerlight spacer for the fuel pump hasn't had the bottom of it bashed out by the mechanicle fuel pump. i dunno what order it happenned for me but.

backerlight spacer bottom was smashed.
pump arm had fallen inside gearox after breaking out of pump
oil was everywhere and i was 5 hour away from home and went through a litre or two to get home.

i wasn't a very happy chappy.

_________________

Sunday Morning Mini Sprint http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtGuzqBQ32Q my "rendezvous"

backerlight spacer bottom was smashed = Bakelite spacer lower edge damaged

PS when you change the gasket, take the time to carefully check the tightness of those gear change rod clamp bolt thingumys

_________________
"Show me the Mini!"

Yeah bit of an Update:-

I'm currently being forced not to be a lazy b**tard cause on the way home last night my car could only do 20km/h max! Fuel Starvation was the culprit. So called RACQ for the free tow home and is currently down at my mechanics cause I don't feel like spending time on my back only 1 week away from having 2 major assignments due at uni.

Still starts and idles ok but it is currently just a 'fuel' as it doesn't 'pump' anymore. So the oil leak will be cured very soon, and a new fuel pump will be fitted - no effort from me!

It was pumping a little bit - dribbling a bit of fuel as the engine cranked.

Can't complain though - I did get 40 years out of that fuel pump before it stuffed up! It was still the original one.

_________________
"In two years time your car will be like a lady's clothes, out of date, my car will still be in fashion when I am dead" - Sir Alec speaking to Pininfarina

Thought it is time to update.

Turns out the pump wasn't the problem - the problem was that the fuel wasn't getting to the pump in the first place!

So the original pump lives on - with new gaskets but, alas, there is still an oil leak coming from some where. That'll keep me occupied for some other time.

Anyways my mechanic pulled the fuel line off the tank and blew compressed air though it and all this cr*p came out, he also cleaned the tank out (there was a bit of cr*p in there too) and replaced the fuel float.

It's all good now and it's getting me to uni and back fine.

_________________
"In two years time your car will be like a lady's clothes, out of date, my car will still be in fashion when I am dead" - Sir Alec speaking to Pininfarina