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Leaking Oil around dipstick

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outoway

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Ok, don't know how common this is, but for some reason the Mini is leaking oil around the dipstick. I have noticed that the dip stick doesn't fit to tightly in its hole. Was thinking that it may need a new rubber peice on the dipstick. Or is there some other reason that this would do that??
 
Insufficient crankcase ventalation can cause this. A tired engine can cause this. Overfilling the engine with oil can cause this.

There are aftermarket dip sticks with double o rings on them to minimize this problem
 
well, I know that the oil isn't overfull. it fits really loose. kinda like the rubber shrunk. Will have to look for the double o ring one I guess!
 
Run a compression check to make sure you don't have any blow by on the rings. Simple to do and that eliminates one area quicly and easily or your find it quickly and easily. Let's hope it isn't rings.
 
Check your positive breather. If its blocked it will build up presure and force the oil out.
Also, if the breather is OK take off the rocker cover cap and see if there is any breathing coming out of the engine. If there is too much, its a new set of rings at least.
If every thing else is alright, it shouldn't leak at the dipstick , as there should be vacume in the crankcase drawing any oil back into the engine.
 
This is not at all uncommon. The BMC "A" engine needs lots of venting....and some of the earlier models just didn't have enough of it. Also, if your engine has been "hotted up" a bit, it increases the problem.

By all means, go with a tighter fitting dipstick, and if that doesn't solve the problem, you can hook a small door spring (coil spring) to the finger hole on the dipstick and anchor it one of the bracket bolts on the lower part of the engine.
 
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