How to change the valve cover gasket on a R56 Mini Cooper

Oil leaking into the spark plug wells. Easy job replacing the gasket - takes only a couple hours.

[@toffeelover377]

Just completed the gasket renewal and followed your instructions and I must thank you. It went perfectly, my son actually did most of it as I was busy, the fix seems good after a day of driving and I can't thank you enough for your video 🙏🏽🙌🏽👍🏽

[@toffeelover377]

Just serviced my wife's R58 and found oil in the spark plug housing chamber exactly as you did and now I know how to remedy the problem! Thanks so very much for an excellent, informative video 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@rosst.2565]

Thanks for actually showing were you put the seals on each corner, every video I've watched did not display this part or vaguely mentioned it.

[@brandonsmith5227]

Hey man awesome video, I’m changing mine right now and without your help i believe i would have broke everything💯💯💯

[@toddmatuszewicz9909]

Hey MCMC, Just changed the valve cover. Your video was very helpful. I appreciate that you are often just figuring it out like the rest of us. I would add, be careful when removing the valve cover because the air filter housing tie down nut on the valve cover can drop out. Best to pull it out first. Took me about 1/2 hour to find it after I heard it drop. It wasn't in the engine but it had me worried. Thanks again for posting.

[@mcmcminicooper]

Thanks for the helpful tip. I've fished out many nuts and bolts out of the engine because of exact reason. Not rushing is always good and having a magnetic probe handy.

[@james76g]

Helpful video thanks. I did mine yesterday with no issues and took 2 hours end to end.

[@drewdegeer4432]

just found out this is what I need to do. Thanks for the video, very instructional and easy to understand.

[@shaunwilliams934]

Thanks for the video. I did mine today following your video and it really helped. Many Thanks for taking the time to make this

[@amanda__linny1522]

Just wanted to thanks for this video. My mini was shooting out black exhaust on acceleration (especially when a fancy car was behind me). Anyway, your video was really helpful. I was able to change out the gaskets without any trouble at all. The one's I removed were basically stuck onto the engine and really brittle. Hoping this solves my problems. Thanks again.

[@mcmcminicooper]

I'm figuring it out too. Thanks. Just hope you never have to replace the coolant thermostat and crossover tube, my videos on that should make it easier than when i did it. Best of Luck.

[@rickcurtis2983]

Excellent video, thanks!

[@ukdanweb]

Great video, very helpful indeed. Would have missed the tip about adding some RTV gasket seal if not for this video. So would have probably had some little leaks. Cheers man

[@mcmcminicooper]

Glad it helped

[@tinae4410]

Thank you! This helped tons. Much appreciated!

[@mcmcminicooper]

Glad it helped!

[@simonthomas5367]

Really useful video, thanks. Maybe try and mount the camera when you’re taking things appart? Would be good to see the details of individual clips etc.

[@mcmcminicooper]

Thanks for the suggestion. One of the key goals is i don't want to waste viewers time watching me unscrewing things or fumbling around.

[@simonthomas5367]

@@mcmcminicooper Understood. Keep this useful vids coming!

[@cariea]

Do you have any tips on getting out stuck coils?

[@mcmcminicooper]

I do not. Mine we’re tight but eventually released when I pulled hard enough. It seems the boot over the spark plug can almost fuse together. Most likely you’ll need new spark plug coils. Good luck.

[@cariea]

Found that they come out if you put your finger/thumb under the rubber triangle tab at the top of the boot then lift the coil with your other hand and wiggle it out..@@mcmcminicooper

[@mcmcminicooper]

@@cariea Great 👍 tip

[@grantlalala]

Did this fix keep the oil off the spark plugs?

[@mcmcminicooper]

Yes, no more oil in the spark plug wells.

[@mcmcminicooper]

Also don't forget to check for cracks in valve cover. Apparently, these crack a lot since it is made of plastic

[@mahmoudraheem6301]

How I know if the cover all need to change not only seal And there's no way to change only pcv without the cover ?

[@mcmcminicooper]

Check the plastic valve cover closely to see if it cracked. Apparently they crack because it’s plastic. The PVC is under a small cover left back near the valve cover. I think you can see a hose leading to it. I never changed mine but remember see it there.

[@mahmoudraheem6301]

@@mcmcminicooper thank you very much dear I will check when I remove today I have same engine on peugeot 3008 2012 100000 km

[@zzhughesd]

Is this like a 90 mins or less job? Thanks

[@mcmcminicooper]

I think so. It is hard to tell when filming. It throws off the actual time it takes.

[@jaydee1389]

I' gotta do this but I don't have a T20

[@mcmcminicooper]

Trip to Home Depot or Auto Zone

[@jaydee1389]

@@mcmcminicooper yeah. Easy trip.

[@elchacacervantes2587]

This model doesn't have a PVC Valve?

[@mcmcminicooper]

Yes it does, but it is not your tradition looking PVC valve which are plastic L shape things. On the R56, it is a PVC valve cover that is flush with the main valve cover. I think if you are looking at the engine from the front, its on the upper left of the valve cover. There should be a hose attached to it from the side or back. Look online parts and it is a cover with a membrane and spring. Never replaced one so good luck.

[@elchacacervantes2587]

@@mcmcminicooper Ok I'll look into that! Thanks!

[@JohnLetra]

I got alot of oil in my spark plug well from cylinder 1-2-3 but number 4 is dry

[@mcmcminicooper]

I had the same problem when i went to change my spark plugs. Changing the valve cover gasket solved the leaking oil into the spark plug well.

[@mcmcminicooper]

Also check the valve cover is not cracked, which cause the gasket to fail Apparently the plastic cover cracks often.

[@JohnLetra]

@@mcmcminicooper i have a 2010 mini cooper s was drving home today and the car lost power and coolant leaking and then there is oil everywhere on the valve cover gasket and a code p0012 and p0001 and then random muilt cylinder misfire when i open the coil pack there is ton of oil in cylinder 1 -2 -3 and number 4 is dry the car turn on but feel like dying and smoke coming out the front hood

[@JohnLetra]

@@mcmcminicooper kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJ6ao4uhqqeImqM&ab_channel=Letran here is the video

[@JohnLetra]

@@mcmcminicooper i also noted the valve cover gasket is valve cover gasket brittle abit from the inside by the spark plug seal

[@zzhughesd]

RTV comment? thanks

[@mcmcminicooper]

I used RTV that is made for gaskets

[@zzhughesd]

@@mcmcminicooper Thanks , seams many do this as best practice and some don't; unsure why not one rule for all

[@jamalmoussaten6359]

Close youre oil cap before a bolt falls in it

[@mcmcminicooper]

You got that right. Dropping something in the after replacing the valve cover gasket would suck.