Got a leak!!!! Help

[BOYROLLO]

Hi gents bought a jcw cooper s about a month ago and its developed an oil leak!!!! Now ive cleaned the residue off the underside around the sump area is there anything specific i should look for ie areas etc also whats the little fan behind the sump???

[ianking]

Little fan behind the sump is for cooling the power steering pump

[BOYROLLO]

Cheers ian any ideas on the leak seems to be mostly driver side

[Craig]

The sump gasket is prone to failure... Clean the area, heat the car up and see if you have any further leak ;). Hope you get it sorted :yes nod:

[BOYROLLO]

Cheers craig will try that tomoz!!!

[Mon the fish]

If you've got a facelift car it could also be a gubbed engine mount, but sump gasket is more likely

[BOYROLLO]

right update!!!! cleaned off bottom end got up to temp and nothing!!!!! so i looked a bit further up and seems there is oil on the left hand side of the rocker cover area beside a sensor for something......any ideas?????

[BOYROLLO]

ps its an 02 supercharged version

[Gismo]

Sounds like the engine mount, or even the dipstick wasn't in right?

[Mon the fish]

Pre-facelift engine mount wasn't oil-filled AFAIK

[BOYROLLO]

Right bit the bullet and nipped into John clarks but went straight into the workshop and grabbed a techy who duly informed me that it was the rocker cover gasket apparently they are weak at the back left corner!!!! So ordered the bit £16ish pounds and gonna get a homer done from a lad at work!!!! Also just asking but when should the transmission fluid be changed??? And is the clutch always heavy???? Cheers peeps

[Mon the fish]

BMW say the transmission fluid is good for the life of the car, but I changed mine at 60k. It was really easy to do, and good for peace of mind

[Craig]

Yeah, R53 cooper s clutches do tend to be quite heavy(in my experience) so I don't think this is something to worry about....