Since I work for a dealership I generally get my oil changed at the dealership. I believe they use Valvoline or something similar in every car that comes in here. I don't take mine to BMW for oil so I am curious...how many of you change your own oil? Do you use synthetic or standard oil? Recommendations? Anyone?

Thanks,

Docwatson
02' MC CR-W

 

I've been using Amsoil for many years and have yet to be dissapointed. It's not cheap but worth it to me. -- Johan

 

Synthetic. Don't use regular in the MINI, it comes with synthetic from the factory and should continue with it. As for prefs, Redline, Amsoil, German Castrol (if you can find it), Mobil 1, Royal Purple, Castrol Syntec. In that order.

 

I've heard great things about Amsoil and Royal Purple. I use RP when the dealer doesn't do the oil change. I think that the MINI oil is a rebranded Mobil 1 or Castrol synthetic... I can't remember.

 

Well then I guess we will be ordering some new oil here. I didn't think too much about it because back when I rode crotch rockets (younger and more agile) a buddy of mine who worked for an oil packaging company told me that they put the same oil in each manufacturers bottle. Now some of them put in additives after the fact but the oil was the same regardless of whether it was Castrol or Pep-boys. But I know nothing about synthetic. I don't use synthetic in my bike or my Ram 1500.

Thanks for the info.

 

Don't get mixed up between synthetic blend and full synthetic. You want full synthetic like those mentioned above. I use Amsoil (full synthetic) and will stay with it.

 

This is a fun site to learn a lot about oil and what's the latest and greatest at keeping your engine clean and running smoothly: www.bobistheoilguy.com

I lurk on that board and just read, and I have gathered that when the dealer puts the castrol in, I should let it go about 5k miles, and when I put my redline in, it can go longer safely.

mb

 

I use Castrol Syntec. AMSOIL makes great gearbox oil. I haven't tried their engine oil.

 

I've been running Royal Purple in my '04 STi after sending in a variety of oils to blackstone for analysis. I bought Amsoil Euro Spec 5w40 for the Mini and will see how that does. I decided to try Amsoil ASL 5w30 in the STi and if it performs better than Royal Purple, I'll switch. The only real way to know if the oil is right for your car is to send in an oil analysis and see how it did in your car...everything else is just a WAG based on opinion. I avoid Mobil 1 in supercharged/turbo charged cars...it just hasn't held up for me.

 

Mobil 1 thins out quicker than others (although I've been running it so far). Royal Purple is actually a group 3 oil along with the new formula Mobil 1 and Castrol Syntec. This means they use modified dino base stocks. Amsoil is group 4 and Redline is group 5. These two are synthetic base stocks.

We've been having a discussion over in "under the bonnet" about the new Mobil 1 formula and other oils.

 

I've read that Royal Purple is Group IV...regardless, it performed much better than Mobil 1 for me in my car...Mobil 1 simply could not take the turbo of the STi...nor did it do well in my Saab 9-2x. Motul 5w30 did pretty good, Mobil 1 Extended Service did ok but was done at 5K (not 15K as advertised). It's fun testing them all, that's for sure.

 

Redline for me. Of all those mentioned, it is the only Group V oil.

 

How did your oil analysis look?

Motul 300V is a group V oil as well but $$$ at about $15 each.

 

I change oil in my Mini and wife's CR-V every 8K miles, so frankly never bothered to get analysis. Have been using Redline for more years than I'd like to admit with no problems. Wife's very old 88 Accord now has over 265K miles and doesn't use a quart between changes.

 

I hear you. I used Mobil 1 without problems but the analysis let me know that it wasn't really holding up. If you send one in, you may find out the Redline will be just a "good" for 10K or longer and extend those changes I have that and Motul 300V on the list (already tried regular Motul).

 

Going to do one set of Mobil 1 for the winter, but they just changed formula so that is out the window for the future, I'm planning on switching engine oil and LSD/Tranny fluid to Redline in the spring, I've done a few DOT 4 Brake fluids, but I get only 3 months out of them so I'll be swtiching up to a Motul or ATE Super Blue there so hopefully I can get 6 months out of it. (BMW claims the ability to make it 2 years before needing to change brake fluid.)

 

I'm going to drop by Auto Zone tomorrow and see if they have any German Castrol (they're the only place in the States that sell it). Depending on what I find, I'll either go with that or get some Redline from JSCSpeed. I do a lot of highway driving and if I followed the service interval display, I'd be doing 18k mile oil changes. I currently change the oil in the 8k mile (~9 month) range. If I switch to Redline, I'd extend this to a yearly change. With Castrol, I'd probably stick to the current strategy even though it's better than the Mobil 1 I currently use. Decisions, decisions...

 

I get at most 5-6 months out of an oil change, and thats going on the 10k interval, but as the warranty is just about up I'm going to swtich to 5k intervals.

 

You'll like the Super Blue...run it in the STi w/stoptech lines and carbotech pads. It does not absorb water as quickly as most - 2 years is about right. Waiting for the stoptech lines to arrive for my GP so I can run the same setup

 

Actually I don't think its absorbtion, I think I'm boiling it I'm a habitual late braking apexer, I just happen to have the urge to run a perfect line (withing the lanes of course) when traveling place to place. In all fairness I'm at 50k, I was around 28k when I last had the brake fluid changed.

 

As far as oil - whatever's cheapest among Royal Purple, Castrol Syntec or Mobil 1... our local O'Reilly runs specials on all 3, and I just buy the one that's on special...

On the topic of brake fluid - I change mine at least twice a year, alternating between Motul RBF600 and Ate Blue (so I know I get a complete flush). If you do ANY autocrossing or track days, I highly recommend flushing at LEAST once a year and more often the more track/autocross days you do!

 

From our experience, good fluid (Ate Typ 200, Ate Blue, Motul RBF600 and the like), good pads and either the TyrolSport or Turner caliper bushing kits make a major difference in braking performance and boiling... If you continuously boil your fluid like our esteemed Dr. Mike (the rocket scientist, no joke), it's time for a big brake kit! We've been running the Wilwood 11.75 race kit with good results, but we're testing another setup right now...

 

I'd really have no problem leaving Redline in the Mini for 10+K miles but I'm a bit **** and don't mind changing the oil/filter every 7-8K. With regards to wife's CR-V, must change every 8K to maintain extended 100K mile warranty.

 

Here is the other side of the coin. Besides my 2006 MCS I have a 1992
Chevy S-10 with 345,000 miles. The motor has never been apart and it
still has the same timing chain. I change oil and filter every 4,000 miles
with whatever K-MART has on sale and I usually only have to add approx.
a pint of oil between changes. Now I would never do this to my beloved
MINI but it has worked on that old truck.