Hi,

My mini K has had a very slow, minor oil leak for about three weeks or so. It is dripping maybe a couple of times every few hours when stationary.

The oil pressure is usually around 80 when I am driving around, but this morning when I drove it into town it was at about 60, dropping to 50 when the car was in neutral.

No drama I thought, just lost a bit of oil. I had some 20/50 in the back. So I parked it up at about 9am and went to work. arriving back at the car at 10pm I topped up what was left in the oil bottle ( maybe 20% of the litre bottle) not much I know, but it put the oil mark bang on, on the dipstick.

Driving home I notice that it is moving around 55-65 when in gear at stable at 50 when inn neutral/idle.

The oil leak was localised to the nearside front of the engine (right side to look at the car).

any suggestions or experinece shared would be great, I am new to minis.

thanks!

Oil leaks and pressure loss are not necessarily related depending on exactly where the oil is dripping from (a photo of where it is leaking would help forum users assist you).

It is more likely that the spring or oil pressure relief valve is bypassing allowing a lower pressure perhaps? Search for posts on modifying the oil pressure relief switch for an easy mod which helps give a more consistent oil pressure (not necessarily a higher one). It is quite an easy mod and has been proven many times over. It involves hacksawing a rod/bolt of correct size to insert into the spring; shortening the spring; and finally putting it back together minus the plunger replacing it with a ball bearing instead.

Having said that, the pressures you quote it is running at now are perfectly fine and what most people would consider "normal"
KB

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My $20 is on the timing cover oil seal. Laborious to replace but not technically difficult.

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1967 Cooper S - new front bearings to do.
1965 Cooper S shell - Slow progress. No time or money!
1966 Deluxe- next rustoration!
Mk 2 & XJ6 Jags. Less said the better.

thanks guys, talked to miniman Matt this morning who informed me that the pressures are all good. So I'll stop stressing. The hunch is that it may be the oil filter that's leaking, but I need to get it up on a ramp to find out more.