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[prefacelift]

Good morning good people
I have a 99 mini face 3.0 that appears to leaking engine oil from every orifice particularly from up above even after both cam cover gaskets where changed only a few weeks ago, only 89 on the clock. I'm thinking perhaps the oil pressure regulator may be sticking and creating to much pressure?? Would you guys recommend an engine flush and oil and filter change (paper type) currently fully synthetic oil but after the flush will use mobile 1 semi synthetic..... what do you think.....
Many thanks
Steve. 

[Nick W]

These engines are not easy to keep the oil inside of. This mostly due to complex and easily blocked breathers, which cause the underdeveloped cam cover gaskets to leak.

So, here's the list of necessary jobs:

Clean the entire breather system.
Check that the cam covers are flat, the gaskets are correctly fitted, and that the bolts are tightened to the necessary 8Nm - a figure that is so loose you need to use a torque wrench to achieve.
Wash as much of the engine as you can manage, ensuring that you don't drench the electrics.
Then you can check for other leaks: the oil pressure sender is a common cause, but a new one is easy to fit and costs £5; the crank and cam seals can also leak, which is a much more involved fix.
I use the thicker grade of oil that is specified, as there is no need for anything 'better'

[BazaJT]

What cam cover gaskets did you use?Some gaskets are notoriously poor!As said check breathers are clear and that the covers are true-use a straight edge to confirm.

[prefacelift]

thank you gentlemen,  BGA gaskets were used and according to my mechanic who is also a friend had checked that the cam covers were straight, maybe the breathers are blocked as you've suggested, i'll check that out this coming week, will probably still do an engine flush as well just to clean the oil pressure regulator in case it is sticking?? I spose it cant hurt..... plus down grade the oil from fully to semi
thanks guys   

[Shackeng]

The wisdom on here says only the correct GM cam cover gaskets work properly.

[prefacelift]

you are right   

[Nick W]

The wisdom on here says only the correct GM cam cover gaskets work properly.

You missed off consistently. Like GM oil, or filters it smacks of dogma to me. I am thoroughly underwhelmed by the whole breathers/cam cover/gasket design.

As a paying job, I would have to consider the hassle of a come-back. On my own car, I would just buy another pair of the Elring gaskets that were part of the £12.50 head gasket set I fitted nearly 3 years ago. No, they still don't leak. Actually  thinking about it, I would probably use them on a customer's car too.

[Bojan]

As Nick W said, it's not mandatory to use GM gaskets.
Any good-quality suplier will do - Victor Reinz, Erling, Payen.

The quality of the gaskiet itslef has the smallest contribution in the whole saga - blocked breathers, misfitment (gasket not seated properly, due to the akward position), wraped or cracked camcovers - these are all more likely to produce a leak so fast after fitting new gaskets.

[terry paget]

When the engine is running the cam covers are maintained under engine suction  by the breather system. Any leaks in the cam cover gaskets allow air to leak in, not oil to leak out. After many years service the small breather hole blocks, then the cam covers are pressurised by crankcase gas blowby, this pressure eventually blows a hole in the cam cover gasket.

Relieving the blockage in the small breather should rectify matters, though changing the blowing gasket is also advisable. Changing the other cam cover gasket is pointless, though often recommended. Fitting expensive Vx gaskets is also pointless, any old set will do. The Omega 2.6 I bought in May 2015 had a leaking cam cover gasket and a complete set of Leader gaskets in the boot, with invoice for £15.75. I fitted one set to the leaking side, cleared the breather, and handed the car over to my daughter. 18 months and 10267 miles later the car is home again for its MOT, and there are no oil leaks.

[prefacelift]

Thanks guys will look into breathers this week, appreciate the help.

[prefacelift]

Or....... if there's anyone from here that can have look at the breathers for me who doesn't live to far away would be great?? Watford Hertfordshire.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Breathers dead easy - have you seen the guide? Nice enough job, just involves leaning over a bit, poking your hands down, but once you get the 'feel' it's fine 

[prefacelift]

I'll have a go then thanks geezer

[Kevin Wood]

Just to say that it's unlikely to be anything to do with the oil pressure regulator as this is a very uncommon failure and probably wouldn't result in external oil leakage. Make sure the breathers are clear firstly.

If the breathers are found to be blocked, then it would be worthwhile filling it with some cheap oil, running it for 1000 miles then changing the oil. Repeat until the oil stays clear. If oil changes have been neglected previously, this is where the crud that blocked the breathers has come from.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

SO excessive, but I'm in for the long haul on my car... I actually sourced a complete spare breather box, scrubbed until it was clean enough to be used by a day-old baby to drink from, then swapped it over.

A PAIN and something I shan't be doing again for another 100k miles or so 

However, the ten times easier means of cleaning breathers, as the guide describes, pop the two hoses off, and make sure they're not blocked. Frequent oil changes also helps avoid this clogging a bit. 


EDIT: Must type faster, but as Mr Wood says, couple of changes in quick succession won't hurt.