Mini Oil Pressure Problem

[mowgli5381]

Hi all, got a 2006 cooper s in with the oil pressure light coming on at idle. Will only do it hot. I've changed the oil and filter, the pressure switch and checked the pick up in the sump. When the the light does come on you can hear the faintest (and i do mean faintest) noise from the top end, nothing from the bottom. Took a big end off and its like new, no marks etc. Im thinking bypass or relief valve in the filter housing, has anyone ever come across this?

[tonyboy101]

hi
i have had a few of these in with oil pressure problems the main cause was quality of oil filter
also connect oil pressure gauge to see what pressue you are getting
i will only fit dealer filters to these

tony

[mowgli5381]

Genuine bmw filter in it as have seen crap filters causing this in various cars. Cant remember the figures now but it does drop at idle, but you only need to breath on the throttle and its back up.

[dopsleutel13]

Common Causes of Low Oil Pressure


To avoid these MINI Cooper problems it is very important to learn and understand the lights and gauges on your dash. It is also important to get under the hood of your vehicle and get familiar with some of the common components that need checking periodically. Common Causes of Low Oil Pressure as follows:


Oil pressure light on because: You just changed oil and filter and put oil filter in upside down.


Oil pressure light on because: You damaged the small bypass valve at the bottom of the filter housing on filter installation.

[mowgli5381]

Oil filter is in ok, and the bypass and drain back valves are ok.

[betrescudan]

use tester to reset oil quality

[mowgli5381]

Really? How does that cause a pressure drop?

[alessioblaupunkt]

I know nothing about Mini, I'll give you my 2?
Head gasket with sized holes, sized oil duct in engine block, Oil pump damaged by previous oil filters or
few service to the engine or previous oil not meeting engine specification.

[mowgli5381]

agreed alesio, these are all things im considering, but just to clarify, the engine is spot on, 40k on it, insides are clean as a whistle, got dealer service history, im just in that usual position of thinking which option to go with? is the relief valve in the pump defective, or the pump defective? or is it the filter housing with either the drain back valve or bypass valve. like i said earlier it doesnt knock or anything, when the light comes on it really is only a faint noise from the top end.

[cactikid]

what grade of oil was used i would be thinking,how could oil filter be upside down is it not a paper one with holes top and bottom?

[alessioblaupunkt]

Engine more sitting than on the road
40k in 8 years so car did 5000 per year -> NEEDS 1 oil change per year can you verify how many oil change?

Can't be bypass valve cause bypass close the filter if it is clogged so engine continue to run with unfiltered oil.
Don't know about the rest.

I feel sorry for hydraulic lifters.
----------------------------cactikid topic----------
I know Volkswagen TDI Mann paper oil filter has TOP marks.
Difference between top and bottom part is the distance of the inner plastic tube inside the paper thread.

Just remember to have logos on the upper part: that's the correct way to install a Wagen paper oil filter.

[cactikid]

next time i will get ruler out and measure,yes i put writting to the top,on pugs/citr cars i remember the cross inside used to break causing low pressure and putting light or audible warning on .

[Meat-Head]

Can you drill 1/8" hole in manifold buttery fly to increase revs.

ON TOPIC:-

unplug the dynamo incase dragging down low engine speeds

[dopsleutel13]

INFO oil pressure :


We have also had reports of 'oil pressure warning light' at idle and customers finding a 'small spring' loose at the bottom of the base.


Here is a photo of what the Filter Cannister Base should look like:

If either of these valves are damaged, you will need to replace the entire housing.
************************************************** ***********************************
more info:
This article applies to the Gen 1 2002-2006 R50 MINI Cooper and R53 Cooper S Hatchback.


A Little Background...


The early MINI with production dates up to 07/2004 has a couple extra pieces inside the oil filter cannister cover - a spring and plastic cage. These items were eliminated on the later models after 07/2004.


The oil filter specification with the initial production of the MINI required a 'paper filter' which necessitated a plastic cage in the cannister cover to prevent the filter from collapsing under pressure. For this reason, the early production MINIs have a spring loaded plastic 'cage' built into the oil filter cannister cover. This 'cage' provides a rigid structure within the filter to maintain its shape under pressure. The cage also helps to 'seal' the top of the filter for proper oil circulation thru the filter.


The early 'all paper' oil filters designed for use with the caged cover did not have any internal support structure (or 'built-in' cage). BE CAREFUL when purchasing aftermarket oil filters as there are still some of these 'uncaged' filters in the market.




Beginning with the 07/2004 production, they changed the filter specification and a plastic 'cage' was built into the filter itself, eliminating the need for the cage in the cannister cover.

The potential problem...


A potential problem arises with your 2002-2004 MINI during a filter change when the plastic cage 'detaches' from the cannister cover and gets pulled out with the oil filter, allowing the spring to pop free. If the technician is not familiar with the early filter setup - the plastic cage gets thrown out with the dirty oil filter. Without the spring and cage in the early cannister, the filter fails to seal against the cover resulting in 'low oil pressure' warining light.


Since the cannister cover is built differently for the 'cage version' vs. the later version, the filter will not seal properly without the cage, allowing unfiltered oil to circulate around the filter. Circulating unfiltered oil is NOT good for your engine...


Another problem arises if you should happen to purchase an early 'un-caged' oil filter. If you use this filter with the later 'uncaged' cannister cover, the filter will collapse affecting filtration and oil pressure.



The solution...


If you find a loose spring with the oil filter without the plastic cage, MINI recommends replacing the entire Oil Filter Housing module with the newer style housing.


Make sure the new oil filter has the plastic cage 'built-in'. You will be safe with the factory filter (NME1050 ) or the MANN filter (NME1056 ).


Note:


We've had occasional reports of the oil light staying on at idle and going off as soon as the rev's are up. We have seen a couple issues that have caused this:


1. The plastic Cage and/or Spring is missing.


2. One of the valves inside the filter base is damaged (missing pieces).


3. Aftermarket oil filter with inadequate 'stiffness' on the ends of the filter causing oil to bypass the filter (Wix filter caused this problem for one customer). The factory oil filter has a rigid black plastic base on the bottom to press against the valves at the base of the oil flter housing.

[mowgli5381]

Saw this too, like i say its a genuine filter, and although the valves in the bottom are in place and appear undamaged, could they still be at fault? also the relief valve on the pump. I'm thinking its either pressure valve in pump or filter housing. Suppose filter is the cheaper one to try first.