Oil level on a long run

[moonstone2001]

I decided that before I strip the Moggy down for a full respray I would give the old girl a good run for her money so I went on a holiday starting on Friday from Folkestone to ely for the festival and down to Southampton today so a fare few miles in the hot weather

i have noticed during the hot day whilst traverling she was leaving a good bit of oil on the ground when I stopped at the services. I topped up when I started the day and checking at the services about 150 miles or so she is down to 3/4 full. being new to owning a Moggy can they leak a bit on a long run? should I investigate further its stopped leaking as much when i checked check on arrival at my friends and outside temp went down?? i think the rocker cover is not seated properly and it might be coming from there?

Thanks for any thoughts on this...

Robbies

[MarkyB]

What sort of driving was it?
Sustained motorway driving at or near 70mph often results in higher oil consumption.
You may be able to improve matters by clearing out the breather from the valve cover, even more by getting a carb that you can connect it to.
Try checking the oil and see how fast it goes down from the 3/4 mark, some engines use less oil if it isn't full right up.

[bmcecosse]

If there are obvious leaks - running down the side of the block etc - the remedy is obvious........ Be sure to use 20W50 oil (Wilco is fine) and make sure the crankcase breathers are not blocked - and one (usually the rocker cover) is connected to the air cleaner casing - or much better - directly to the carb as MarkB mentions. . And yes - 3/4 full is fine - and top up when it gets down to 1/2 full - but don't forget! If the car has only been used locally/short trips - the old oil would be contaminated with fuel and moisture - and then a good hard run quickly 'boils off' the contaminants showing apparent high consumption. But this should now stabilise. But DO sort any obvious leaks from the rocker cover - it's only two bolts and a cheap gasket!

[moonstone2001]

Thank for the info and putting my mind to rest just arrived on the island and its hardly used any so i think the surgestion about short runs might have been the problem, i will have a look into the breather location as I changed the rocker breather before I left as the one on the car was old and didn't really fit

I will see if I can track down a gasket whilst on the island to fix that weep from the rocker too

Thanks once again for the help

Robbie

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

It is not uncommon for a car to use a pint in 100 miles at motorway speeds. Crankcase leaks should be sorted as the drops amount up to a serious loss over time, especially at high speed and good oil pressure.

[bmcecosse]

You are bound to get a Mini rocker cover gasket - surely!

[moonstone2001]

Went to see Barry at Prices garage as I was recommend to him, he couldn't be more helpful!!! turns out that the garage that fitted the oil filter last used the wrong gasket so the oil was able to leek out, Barry very quickly found the problem and fitted the correct gasket and all was well in the Moggy again

Thanks for everyone's help

Robbie

[bmcecosse]

Oil filter doesn't have a 'gasket' - but it does have a rubber ring seal...However leakage there would surely be obvious.......with a wee puddle on the ground.