Ok guys, (Clubman 72 Manual ). Firstly, driving, then kind of burning smell, then engine heating indicator says its overheating. Parked, coolant level is high. (Is this a blown thermostat?).

2ndly, every night i notice a couple of oil dots on my drivers side rubber mat. Over 3 years, its amounted to an easily viewable amount of oil on the mats ridges now. Clean oil. Found it is leaking, very slowly, down the backside of the brake pedal. Any idea where it is coming from and how i fix?

Thanks , Gerry

Are you sure its oil? I'd bet its hydraulic fluid leaking out of your brake master cylinder. As a minimum the master cylinder needs new seals, but may need to be completely replaced.

I doubt your overheating problem is a stuck thermostat, but it could be and they are cheap and easy to replace.

Tim

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1951 Morris Commercial J Type Van
1955 BSA C11G
1961 Morris Mini Traveller
1969 Triumph TR6R
1977 Leyland Moke Californian

does the burning smell like hot coolant???
Or more like electrical smouldering or just a bit oily smokey??

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I think the smell was like Hot coolant. Smelled like when dirty water in radiator comes out when a hose busts .

So if its the brake oil at moment just gotta make sure its full till i get it looked at I guess

[quote="
So if its the brake oil at moment just gotta make sure its full till i get it looked at I guess[/quote]

I would suggest A.S.A.P

The oil running down the brake pedal is brake fluid.

FIX IT NOW
This is very important.
Don't put it off, your brakes are about to fail. The rubber in the bottom of the master cylinder is leaking slowly, it will not get better on its own. It will get worse. You will stick your foot on the brakes and the pedal will go straight to the floor.

Please don't ignore this.

thanks, I will get it checked this week. As i said, its been dripping about 2 drops per day over 3 years, but recently starting dripping a few more drops.

Funny story. At 17 had my first Mini, back in 1981 . It became a problem and I traded it in. When I went back to collect my new car I saw my old Mini with its front end bashed in. I said what happened, the salesman said, When you told me the Brakes were gone, I thought you meant they didn't work that well. i said, No, I said, they're gone. I know he said, I hit the wall cause I couldnt stop.

Sounds like you have had a dream run - master cylinder leaking for 3 years.
You could always resort to the "Bush Mechanics" (ABC TV) trick of topping up with a mix of water & detergent, in the event you are too tight to fix it properly.

ABC Bush Mechanics - God I loved that programme......................

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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.

If you suspect it's the thermostat causing your overheating, then simply put a new one in. It's the cheapest part of your cooling system, so just do it! Atleast then you will know that it's not the thermostat if the problem stays.

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It does not need checking
It needs fixing.
It will fail without warning.

Burning coolant without any real loss possibly a stuck thermostat, a blown head gasket. Oh yeah a leaking heater core or tap (i think they are the internal type)

Best you do a cooling system pressure test to check for a leak and a compression test!!

Brakes as everyone else says.....Get them fixed now!!!!

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDMkVq1jRGU

I had a clutch MC leaking for 3 years too, although I never saw where the fluid was going - TILL THE SEAL LET GO AND NO F^&*ING CLUTCH!!!! + I was in Adelaide at the time and do you think I could find a place that sold Mazda RX7 MC's??

Anyway - fix it before you hit something. As for the smell, can't help on that one

Daniel

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Videos - Turbocharged A-Series on Dyno & at Wakefield
Mafs waz not my strong subgeckt at skkol

The other cheapest part in the cooling system is the radiator cap. If the pressure's not right and it's leaking, your car could overheat.

O.k. guys, thanks for the help and concern. Sounds to me like someone is saying that my brakes need fixing. Booked it in to be fixed tomorrow. And they can check thermostat at same time. And do pink slip for Rego. Just one more question then. In March this year this is what Mechanic did 'Rebuild front brakes. New wheel cylinders, oversize shoes, machine two drums, replace two front brake hoses (still original) bleed and adjust, Adjust rear brakes.

Does this have anything, or nothing to do with this 'Master Cylinder' ?!

Nothing to do with Master Cylinder (MC). The MC is attached to the pedal and has the fluid in it, the bits the mechanic fixed are in behind the wheels. Get the MC fixed and the brakes should be/feel like new...

Daniel

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Videos - Turbocharged A-Series on Dyno & at Wakefield
Mafs waz not my strong subgeckt at skkol