It would appear I suck at checking my oil...
I would tend to agree with you... although.. it will depend on how the oil is drained.
not sure if this has already been covered but, to get the most thorough drain it's best to drain the oil hot (at least 140F). first, drain the oil. second, change the oil filter (this will allow a small amount of used engine oil from the oil filter housing/lines to drain into the crankcase). third, drain the oil again. doing this will ensure the maximum amount of oil has been drained. fyi... it's a 1/2" drain plug.. not a 13mm...
oh, and I usually fill roughly 5 quarts per oil change. Maybe 4.8-4.9 qts.
and mine is an R53... not sure how R56 is set up.
not sure if this has already been covered but, to get the most thorough drain it's best to drain the oil hot (at least 140F). first, drain the oil. second, change the oil filter (this will allow a small amount of used engine oil from the oil filter housing/lines to drain into the crankcase). third, drain the oil again. doing this will ensure the maximum amount of oil has been drained. fyi... it's a 1/2" drain plug.. not a 13mm...
oh, and I usually fill roughly 5 quarts per oil change. Maybe 4.8-4.9 qts.
and mine is an R53... not sure how R56 is set up.
I need to get a Bentely for the Mini too.Edit: I found the document.. 4.2L is what is listed for my Mini. Thanks!!
R50, R52 and R53
W10 (2006 MINI Cooper) – 4.50 liters / 4.7551 quarts
W11 (2006 MINI Cooper S)– 4.80 liters / 5.0721 quarts
R55, R56, R57 and R60
N12 (2007+ MINI Cooper) and N16 – 4.20 liters / 4.4381 quarts
N14 (2007+ MINI Cooper S) and N18 – 4.20 liters / 4.4381 quarts
Some one else has also mentioned looking down at the dipstick with it still vertical.
I agree, it's hard to read the dipstic. According to the owners manual, the space between the two metal marks is 1 quart, and the oil light in the dash will alert you if it is 1 quart low. So wouldn't that mean it will tell you if it hits the lower mark on the dipstick? Seems like you might not even need to read the dip stick if that is the case.
I agree, it's hard to read the dipstic. According to the owners manual, the space between the two metal marks is 1 quart, and the oil light in the dash will alert you if it is 1 quart low. So wouldn't that mean it will tell you if it hits the lower mark on the dipstick? Seems like you might not even need to read the dip stick if that is the case.
Turns out I was 3 quarts low!!!!!
I checked the oil before a drive from L.A. to Sacremento only 3 weeks ago and it seemed fine. How the hell did I lose that much oil in 3 weeks? ...........I really wish there was a low level warning light or something when it gets at the most 2 quarts down. Even with 1 quart in there, there was never a low oil pressure warning light and the engine rattle was pretty loud.
....... Would an oil pressure gauge help to diagnose low oil before it gets too low?
I just hope it didn't do any damage.
I checked the oil before a drive from L.A. to Sacremento only 3 weeks ago and it seemed fine. How the hell did I lose that much oil in 3 weeks? ...........I really wish there was a low level warning light or something when it gets at the most 2 quarts down. Even with 1 quart in there, there was never a low oil pressure warning light and the engine rattle was pretty loud.
....... Would an oil pressure gauge help to diagnose low oil before it gets too low?
I just hope it didn't do any damage.
Last edited by OceanMini2; Jan 26, 2012 at 10:42 PM.
I have to add a quart of oil about every 1K miles. Get used to checking the oil on a regular basis. MINI says that its normal for the car to go through 1 quart every 750 miles. They said its normal for a "high performance turbo charged car." I think its a lame excuse as I had a 400hp Subaru STi that never burned a drop of oil.
Does anyone have any MINI documentation stating this? This sounds crazy...pretty hard to believe.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: South Central Minnesota
The night I picked up my car from the dealership I discovered that the factory stick was junk and had cracked about a third of the way down the stick. I immediately ordered the "Next Gen" replacement offered by Craven Speed. Kellen was very helpful and I encourage all Mini owners of the R53 crowd to check the stick in their cars and order this replacement if needed. The cut "rings" in the stick are very easy to read and don't leave you guessing.
Have you ever wondered how different the oil level reading is if your Mini is not parked on level ground? Most streets are sloped for water drainage. If you park your Mini on a typical street and check the oil level you could be tricking yourself.
First picture shows a clean stick.
Second picture shows an oil reading with a Mini parked on a 4 degree slope (US driver's side low).
Third picture shows the oil reading with the Mini parked on a level surface (in this case I used a jack and a bubble level).
If you check your oil with the passenger side on the low side of a slope you will see an oil level reading that looks much higher than the real oil level is (as long as you are not checking the oil on a RHD Mini). None of this may surprise you but note that more than half of the oil zone is dry in the test (or would be wet if the car was tilting to the other side).
The traditional location for the oil dipstick is in the center of the motor. The Mini S has a turbo located in the center and they found it necessary to move the dipstick to the "front" (looks like the passenger side) of the motor. This makes it necessary to check your oil on very level ground to avoid miss readings. Note how the traditional motor's dipstick (located in the center) has very consistent readings but the Mini R56 motor has a large swing when the motor is not level.
First picture shows a clean stick.
Second picture shows an oil reading with a Mini parked on a 4 degree slope (US driver's side low).
Third picture shows the oil reading with the Mini parked on a level surface (in this case I used a jack and a bubble level).
If you check your oil with the passenger side on the low side of a slope you will see an oil level reading that looks much higher than the real oil level is (as long as you are not checking the oil on a RHD Mini). None of this may surprise you but note that more than half of the oil zone is dry in the test (or would be wet if the car was tilting to the other side).
The traditional location for the oil dipstick is in the center of the motor. The Mini S has a turbo located in the center and they found it necessary to move the dipstick to the "front" (looks like the passenger side) of the motor. This makes it necessary to check your oil on very level ground to avoid miss readings. Note how the traditional motor's dipstick (located in the center) has very consistent readings but the Mini R56 motor has a large swing when the motor is not level.
6th Gear
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,260
Likes: 87
From: Pacific NW
I have an "S" and it doesn't use any oil between changes, I check the oil weekly, though.
Car forums tend to have more people complaining about cars, giving the perception that there are widespread problems. No one comes to a car forum asking why their car runs well.
Dave
Car forums tend to have more people complaining about cars, giving the perception that there are widespread problems. No one comes to a car forum asking why their car runs well.
Dave
Not all Minis consume large containers of oil. I think that some of the owners ran low oil after thinking they did not have to think about oil for 15,000 miles (the factory supported maintenance schedule is very long). The Mini has no temp gauges and the design and marketing suppresses the fact that a Mini has a motor in it that requires some attention. I think the cartoon styling and the computer like user controls make people think that they are not driving a car at all.
5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 0
From: NH
Same thing happened to me in my 09 JCW. Granted I was probably 10K miles since last change. I'll be keeping a much closer eye on oil levels here on out..
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 719
Likes: 0
From: Tallahassee, FL
My "S" engine does not burn oil and it is almost at 35K miles.
Not knowing any better, I have adhered to the recommended oil change schedule.
I just had my 3rd oil change.
Although I have been pretty consistent about checking my oil regularly, I now know that I probably didn't get accurate readings.
So, I plan to be more diligent about checking the oil and getting a good reading.
Also, I plan to step up the oil changes.
Looks like I need to keep a bubble level in the boot too.
At least I live in Florida and level ground is pretty much all we've got.
Thanks OceanMini2!
You clear directions and illustrations have been very helpful.
Not knowing any better, I have adhered to the recommended oil change schedule.
I just had my 3rd oil change.
Although I have been pretty consistent about checking my oil regularly, I now know that I probably didn't get accurate readings.
So, I plan to be more diligent about checking the oil and getting a good reading.
Also, I plan to step up the oil changes.
Looks like I need to keep a bubble level in the boot too.
At least I live in Florida and level ground is pretty much all we've got.
Thanks OceanMini2!
You clear directions and illustrations have been very helpful.
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,129
Likes: 4
Our S used 1/2qrt in the first 5,000 miles - I have the dealership service receipt showing they topped it off at my request when it was in to fix the bubbling chrome hood scoop. Have not needed any since, in fact it is a little over full ever since the last service a couple thousand miles ago.
Last edited by MCS Fever; Jun 7, 2012 at 12:59 PM.
New (to me) 2007 MC non-Sport, 88k miles. YES they do consume oil too.
Only had it for a couple months (put 2-3k on it). Last week noticed erratic behavior in stalling at lights, and over a couple days the check engine light came on once (and left), oil symbol came on once (then left), service light came on once (then left), then oil again (and left). Called dealer to schedule appt. Was worried about stalling out somewhere until appointment, so dealer recommended checking oil and putting in a quart. Couldn't read %$#& on the dipstick but put in a quart. Later dealer put in another 2ish quarts (total of 3ish)
Still not sure how I'm going to check it. Now I'm off search for "best type of retail oil to use." (M1 deal at Costco!).
Only had it for a couple months (put 2-3k on it). Last week noticed erratic behavior in stalling at lights, and over a couple days the check engine light came on once (and left), oil symbol came on once (then left), service light came on once (then left), then oil again (and left). Called dealer to schedule appt. Was worried about stalling out somewhere until appointment, so dealer recommended checking oil and putting in a quart. Couldn't read %$#& on the dipstick but put in a quart. Later dealer put in another 2ish quarts (total of 3ish)
Still not sure how I'm going to check it. Now I'm off search for "best type of retail oil to use." (M1 deal at Costco!).
Please take the time to learn how to check the oil level.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...81-post39.html
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...41-post79.html
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...54-post80.html
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...4-post100.html
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...5-post109.html
I'm going to try and pick up some MINI oil, but when the dealer service tech told me to put in a quart I wasn't prepared and had to go retail (didn't know how low it was, or if I'd be stranded soon).
Thanks for the links and advice!
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Northern Virginia
As did my '09 after approx. 8k since last change.
1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Bergen, Norway
My R56 MCS 2009 is in for its second engine replacement! In Norway we have an expression: "Monday car"... based on the thougt that some cars are assembled on a monday after a rough weekend..I think I've might got a mondays car.. The dealer has been very helpful and documented everything so that the engine change will be changed free of charge! This time the (also free) rental car is a BMW 320i Sport. Nice car, but Mini is what I like!
Last edited by minMINI; Jun 30, 2014 at 01:23 PM.
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