R56 Mini Cooper S coolant system flush & bleed (How to)

R56 Mini Cooper S coolant system flush & bleed (How to)
In this video i show you how flush and bleed your coolant system using distilled water.
Tools are listed at the bottom of the page.
commission earned -
Redline Water Weter coolant addictive: amzn.to/3jzFQdN
MINI brand Antifreeze/coolant: amzn.to/2R0SaqJ
Scanguage 2 (how i read my coolant temperature: amzn.to/34tkHvq
Facebook group Mini Cooper DIY: www.facebook.c...
Don’t forget to subscribe www.youtube.com...
Project Mini,
Maintenance, Modifications & Repairs made easy.
My goal is to help as many people as possible to keep their Mini Coopers on the road. I find the easiest way to do all the maintenance that these cars are known for, plus I’ll teach you how to do your own performance and esthetic mods. Subscribe to my channel and let’s keep the amazing Mini Cooper community on the road!!!
Project Mini Store: teespring.com/...
Mini Cooper S R56 - How to’s: • Mini Cooper S R56 - Ho...
My Instagram is @project_mini_official
/ project_mini_official
Facebook groups -
Mini Cooper DIY: www.facebook.c...
Mini Cooper R53 Enthusiasts: www.facebook.c...
R56 Mini Cooper S enthusiasts: www.facebook.c...
Facebook page / projectminionyoutube
Tools every Mini Cooper owner needs.
commission earned -
1. Bentley service manual
2002-2006: amzn.to/2QVZDaE
2007-2013: amzn.to/3h1Hhj5
2. BMW specific code reader
Foxwell NT510 Elite (This is what I use): amzn.to/3bAuRgX
AUTOPHIX BMW Diagnostic Scanner Tool (cheaper): amzn.to/3lT8xnF
3. Timing chain tool
EWK Camshaft Timing Chain Cam Locking Tool for Mini Cooper S N14 R55 R56: amzn.to/3jTo84W
4. Electric ratchet
Milwaukee 2457-20 M12 Cordless 3/8" Sub-Compact 35 ft-Lbs 250 RPM Ratchet w/ Variable Speed Trigger : amzn.to/330QtiO
Milwaukee (2-Pack) 48-11-2420 M12 REDLITHIUM 2.0 Compact Battery Packs: amzn.to/3lWfNis
Milwaukee Genuine OEM 48-59-2401 M12 Lithium Ion 12 Volt Battery Charger w/LED Indicating, Red: amzn.to/2GsxhCQ
5. Hose clamp pliers
Hose clamp pliers: amzn.to/2QZ0HKW
Cable type hose clamp pliers: amzn.to/3lSRW3l
6. Thin wall spark plug sockets
OSOF 14mm & 16mm Spark Plug Socket Thin Wall 12-Point Removal Tool 3/8 inch Square Drive Set: amzn.to/2QYBrED
7. Torx bits
GEARDRIVER 23-Piece Torx Bit Socket and External Torx Socket Set, Premium S2 and Cr-V Steel Made, Tamper Proof Bit Sockets, Storage Case Included: amzn.to/2FbgKCy
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

[@suninpalmtrees2462]

Hey just a shout , I've had so many problems trying to take this somewhere so it can be serviced, allot people diss-piss and say oh it's a german car, and I tell them is British car. I wanted to say thank you for making this video for all the mini love fans.

[@gpzjeffrey7974]

Not a fan of using worm gear clamps on coolant hoses. Really easy to over tighten and cut the hose. The OEM spring clamps maintain the same clamping force on the coolant hose regardless of the temperature and age of the rubber, taking up and giving up minute amounts of slack as the rubber expands and contracts.

[@e47kz]

my radiator hose was zip tied to the one above it, is there any reason for that? Should I just re zip tie or just leave it like normal

[@WOLFBLADEZz]

Great videos mate, keep it up loving the content!

[@ProjectMini]

Thank you 🙏

[@hemanperdomo790]

I saw you mentioned you had a tune on your cooper to make it run cooler. Is there any advice you can give me on getting this tune or what I might need to tune it myself ? I've been working on coopers for a while and the high operating temperatures mix California heat are just insane. I appreciate any input.

[@angelinamcmurtrey5285]

Just last night I hit a rock on the road and it caused my coolant hose to break instantly over heating and leaving me stranded in a canyon with no service or a house for miles! Thankfully I was able to get my car cooler and drive it to a gas station. I fixed the hose and went driving again tonight only to have it over heat again! Your video helped me bleed my coolant system and now it's not over heating! Thank you so much hon. Life has been a huge struggle lately and when it rains, it pours. You were able to make my life a lot less stressful. X♡O♡X♡O

[@ProjectMini]

I’m really glad to help!

[@stevenjenks9789]

I watch your videos all the time. Mini's are cantankerous at best but it's a love-hate relationship and I love mine 2009 JCW

[@MrHiboost95]

I am right there with you on that. I have as well a 2009 R56 JCW Hatchback in Mellow Yellow. It's definitely a love and hate relationship!

[@raymondferreri3151]

After you flushed multiple times to remove all old coolant leaving you with just water to full capacity you then added 50/50.Seems to me that doesn't allow enough antifreeze into the system considering residuals in the block and water pump. I think an undiluted antifreeze would be best up to half of the spec total capacity. What do you say?

[@gpzjeffrey7974]

What I've done in the past was to drain and fill with distilled water for two times, or when the coolant drained clear. Then I filled with a sacrificial cheap coolant (Walmart Supertech G48), ran that for a week, then drained it and refilled with Pentofrost NF.

[@raymondferreri3151]

A very important tip. Make sure the rubber o ring in the reservoir cap is not cracked or damaged. Simple but major!

[@Gamboa96]

thanks for sharing with us :) i will defenitly use that aditive when doing the flush and bleed. your videos helps me motivate to do in mine... my car runs 105-115ºC max and kinda want to drop those temps and give it a refresh! keep it up

[@ProjectMini]

Thank you 🙏

[@jpboricua2323]

Are those temps normal for a mini?

[@ProjectMini]

If you’re talking about my temps then no, i have a tune that lowers the temps

[@nickvlaanderen]

@@ProjectMini How do you tune it to have lower temps?

[@hangterisaan]

@@jpboricua2323 thermostat is set to 105°C

[@moisesramos17]

Would you recommend me doing this first then changing the coolant hoses? Also are the oem lines suffice since they’re almost half the price of silicone?

[@izzzzzz6]

How are you catching the coolant and where do you take it to recycle it? Thanks.

[@staticxadikt66]

Just go get a drain from an auto parts store. Look up your local household hazardous waste facility or google "antifreeze disposal near me" for disposal.

[@guppylove7200]

Do you need to let the radiator fan kick in or ? Cheers buddy

[@jaysemartinez2943]

What do you do if at the last point in the process, you’ve tightened your bleed screw an you coolant starts to rise in the bottle like it’s a boiling kettle? But the car doesn’t overheat

[@ProjectMini]

Keep bleeding the system

[@phillipwiggins7891]

At what temp does your thermostat open. I have an OBD2 gauge plugged in to see my coolant temp sensor temperature. The housing I bought showed 221 degrees. At what temp should I get worried about it getting too hot. The fan kicks on at 200 degrees is this normal…Thank you in advance

[@ayteecee518]

The old original thermostat was set at a higher temp and the improved one was reduced. Not sure what it is in F, only know degrees Celsius think the old one opens at 110, the new improved one is 105

[@RackyAdy]

Hi. I need to change the thermostat housing as the thermostat is stuck closed, but also need to flush the system, as the previous owner put red coolant instead of blue. Do you recommend to do the flush with the old thermostat housing in place, or do the flush after I change the housing ? Thanks in advance.

[@ProjectMini]

With the new housing

[@michaelvanna8982]

Hi Do you have to.turn again the blower on your final 50/50 coolant fill? Thanks

[@ProjectMini]

Yes, you do so to get the air out of the system

[@michaelvanna8982]

@@ProjectMini you are the best!

[@josephsanna7042]

Grest video , but Maybe using camera to show fluid coming out of bleed screw would be more help. Or actually showing screwdriver on the actual bleed screw. I have a much older mini. It's very different.

[@ozboz33]

Why would my thermostat open, then engine heats up until fan kicks in,but temp still rises until overheating warning on dash.? Is all the bleeding done with expansion tank cap off,then once flowing water out bleed screw close it and refit the cap and let it run to make sure it doesn't over heat. Cheers

[@sergiolopez1475]

Is it normal to top off your reservoir every 2 or 3 weeks?

[@alvaroeyzaguirre8404]

No at all !

[@iGodinJesus]

How would I know if I have air in my system.

[@LisaCapri13]

Hey I need help and would like to ask some questions. I don’t have Facebook though.

[@melraine919]

Well done 👍✌ Good demo and info Thanks ✊ UK

[@christopherdudley1585]

Should the heater be run with A/C turned on?

[@ProjectMini]

You can’t run both at the same time. Run one or the other they will both open the thermostat. If you drained the heater core then you have to run the heater

[@jamesmore8516]

I know this is a really old video but why is your coolent blue mine is pink here in the UK

[@vumba1331]

Depends on the water in the region, needs to be free of amine, phosphate and silicate.

[@Squirrel-harvest_]

My coolant is getting on the low side, is it worth just topping it back up? Or draining it all as shown here?

[@ProjectMini]

If your coolant is old i would flush it but if not i would just top it off

[@PrestigeWorldwide-XXII]

you have diesel engine?

[@pilotkoray]

Thank you

[@danmazz8733]

I need to do this to my 2008 base mini, because i see some oil in my reservoir. Do you think this is head gasket related? Im getting white smoke as well, and a very pungent exhaust smell.

[@ProjectMini]

Its very possible

[@danmazz8733]

@@ProjectMini Should i do do a flush, and then see it the oil returns?

[@ProjectMini]

I would do a leak down test and see if you get air bubbles in your coolant reservoir

[@Bixsu-]

Any update?

[@j.e.z.6071]

THX.

[@sakuraheader6512]

Thank you.

[@johnmcnamara4846]

Top job.

[@aldoandrade227]

So I added drained and now added water but the water does not flow through? It just stays in the reservoir. What could it be?

[@kjpshemp2026]

Are you sure the bleed screw is opened enough?

[@angelinamcmurtrey5285]

Thank you for your wonderful videos! They are very easy to understand and follow.

[@ProjectMini]

Thank you! 🙏

[@christopherdudley1585]

Does this MINI have rod knock? I hear the same noise when it first warms up. Thanks.

[@ProjectMini]

Mine sounds normal

[@Bixsu-]

This is just how a MINI sounds.

[@christopherdudley1585]

@@Bixsu- But there was a video posted on the fixing of rod knock?

[@ProjectMini]

That’s on my R53 not my R56

[@christopherdudley1585]

@@ProjectMini I haven't had much success finding a rod bearing replacement guide. Maybe you can have one soon.

[@srtowner]

Great video as always. The whole time I was watching I was sitting here wondering if any uses Water Wetter in their Mini Cooper then lo and behold at 11:43 BOOM water wetter. Lol I'm gonna be doing this to my 11MCS soon. Just gotta get the silicone hoses first.

[@ProjectMini]

Thank you 🙏 i use water water in all my vehicles. It’s good stuff

[@srtowner]

@@ProjectMini I used to have an 03 Neon SRT-4 that I built up quit a bit. I always used WW in it. Anything that helps a turbo car run cooler is a good thing.

[@ProjectMini]

💯

[@abh1945]

How many the r56 quarts does the coolant take?

[@johnk815]

My 2009 Mini Cooper s auto takes 5.5qts

[@peterroberts4753]

Do you ever use a cleaning additive on the radiator?

[@ProjectMini]

I haven’t

[@dougmasters3875]

Your Facebook group could use some attention. Over run by spammers and no admin's to kick them out.

[@duanewhite3184]

Nigeria tell everybody that the bleeder is made out of plastic and if you tighten it too tight it will break into two pieces and will be a b**** to take out I managed to get mine bled and got my heater working in the nick of time mine broke so I took J-B weld and sealed it all up now I'm getting good heat until next time I got to bleed it but I'll just have to keep an eye on the coolant level make sure it stays up because if it's using coolant I might just scrap the car

[@ananrayd7318]

One trick I do to make sure I get most of the old stuff out is I put my mouth on the reservoir and blow air into it

[@ProjectMini]

I’ll stick to flushing it with distilled water 👍

[@danmazz8733]

When did you blow in the reservoir, when the lower hose was removed?

[@iGodinJesus]

Thank you