Just curious, I used to run royal purple in my E90 and I loved it so I'm kind of curious if anyone is running it in their F-56?

If so, what weights are you guys running?

I'm heavily modified, by the way, So it is in no way a stock motor lol.

 

You mod'd the engine. It is pretty much your engine now. What oil did you have in mind using?

I have to note you have not changed any of the clearances. There is still the hydraulically controlled variable valve timing and lift system which in some way dictates what oil is ok and what oil can cause problems. With other brands of cars there have been users reporting when switching from the factory recommended oil of 0w-20 to 5w-30 oil the engine controller flags an error code which points a finger at the variable valve timing system. It is that sensitive to oil viscosity.

You won't like this but my advice would be to run the factory oil. However, with the engine producing more power you should have better engine cooling -- not a lower temp t-stat which is nonsense -- but larger capacity radiator properly shrouded and with a higher capacity radiator fan to match. The idea is not to run the engine as cold as your fridge but to deal with the extra heat load and keep the coolant temperature within spec.

To help with engine cooling a better/bigger engine oil cooler is a good idea. Engine oil cooling accounts for no little amount of the total engine cooling.

Run the factory oil. But change it more often. Based on what I read here and on other forums some MINI model years/engines don't do well even with the owner following the factory oil change schedule. My habit over the years with cars ranging from a VW Golf TDi to a Dodge Hellcat, and with 3 MINIs in there (currently drive a 2023 JCW) is to change the oil at 5K miles. This in contrast to the automaker which called for an oil change schedule of anywhere from 6K miles (Dodge), 10K miles (MINI, M-B, BMW, VW, Porsche), and even 15K miles (another Porsche).

My vehicle usage did not involve any tracking. All the engines were left stock. But my driving was such that extended drain intervals were just not suitable for my vehicles.

I'll add a couple of times after changing the oil in one of my cars then setting out on a road trip covering upwards of 5K miles in a week -- work schedule limited my time off -- I'd arrive back home. And when 5K miles rolled around I'd change the oil. The oil draining was still translucent and had an amber color to it. It was clear to me that had my usage consisted of driving freeway miles for 10K (possibly even 15K miles) the oil would be ok. Sure time to replace but not past time. But that was not my usage.

 

I am out of warranty (car is a 2018 MCS) and I had mods in the car after 1500 miles anyway, I don't worry about that part of things.

I also change my oil every 5K miles because I don't trust the factory change periods when I have a modified engine.

I was thinking of going for Royal Purple HPS 5w-30. I am also located in Los Angeles, so I dont need to worry about cold weather.

 

My SOP is to assume the factory is the only real authority on what oil should be used in its engines. I certainly am not qualified to tell you to use Royal Purple oil rather than the factory oil.

It is your car your engine. If you want to go with RP or any other oil that's entirely up to you.

 

As long as the oil meets or exceeds BMW specs you should be fine. Oil can be one of those topics that everyone has their own experience or opinion. I like LiquiMoly, ran it in my R55s and it seemed to cut down on my oil burning a little bit, In the R53, after fixing the leaks, in this last 3k she has only burned/loss 1/4 qt, so im going to stick with what works for me. If you are doing your own oil changes any way, whats it going to hurt to give it a shot for the 3-5k? If you dont like the way she is running swap it out for something else?

 

I run the RP 5w 30. Have had good luck with it in my 5 liter mustang and have been pleased with it in the Mini. Both cars are hobby cars and not daily driven.

 

I've run Royal Purple in my 2015 F55 for the last year and a half. No issues so far.. I use the 5w-30and change every 5-7000 miles.