I just picked up my new R60 last night. It is an S with the N18 motor.

Twice in the final paperwork discussions the MA said to always add a quart of oil every 3-5K miles "because it is a high compression turbo and will push oil out."

Seriously? Is that right? I'd never add a drop without checking the level first of all, but I also wouldn't think a new motor would burn, leak or "push" oil out. Should I head to Autozone and grab a case?

 

I would only add oil after checking the level to determine whether it is actually needed.

Don't be surprised if you are losing oil at that rate.

 

My MA told me the same thing on my R56 - to check it every 3k miles and add castrol oil if necessary.

 

Check it and add as needed....
Most MINI'S, even the gen1 supercharged, are oil burners.....
1 quart per 1000 or even 800 is not uncommon....
Some cars won't burn much oil....maybe from luck and a good break-in....but either way...your MA has you thinking "check your oil" .....that is a good thing!!

 

First of all, you are right, never add oil unless you check it and the level is low. An overfilled crankcase can cause problems also. My MINI is a 2013 S with the N18 engine and I check my oil level at least weekly. I pay for an extra oil change midway through the computer indicated free one. My computer indicated cycle was at 9,400 for the first one and looks like it is indicating 18,800 for the second. I did my first mid cycle change at about 5,000 miles and am going to change again at 14,100. I'm at 14,000 miles now and have never had to add any oil between changes. The level has gone from full to maybe a quarter of a quart low but has never gotten to the half quart low level. That tells me that even if I went the full computer indicated mileage between changes, I would never have been a full quart low. I do some hard driving but most of my miles are commutes on the freeway at 65 to 75 mph. Maybe more hard driving would change my oil usage.

 

Thanks all. Not what I expected, but I'll keep an eye on it. I guess I'll grab a quart just to have on the shelf. Need to figure out what it came with. I'll check the manual.

 

I'll echo the previous point and add a little one of my own. Check the oil religiously as it can and will likely use oil between services. I do my oil change ever 7500 miles.

And for the oil, i just buy it at the dealer, it's no cheaper or worth it for me to find 1 of the 4 approved oils by MINI for my car. The quarts at the dealer are similarly priced to what I can buy at parts stores or even wal-mart. Plus it helps build a relationship with the parts and service department for future needs and wants

 

My 06 R53 and my 2012 R58 JCW, never have had to add a drop..ever!

 

I just added a HALF quart for the first time to my 2005 r53 a couple months ago..a couple weeks before I changed my oil...(looks like my oil pan gasket or crank seal has a small weep starting..a common gen1 issue).
But so many folks burn such LARGE amounts...it has to be checked regularly till you know YOUR car...and then STILL look at it on occasion!!

I DID break my motor in LONG AND SLOW...keeping rpms low for the first 5000 miles or so..then gradually increasing the RPMS over next few thousand....and have changed my oil every 5000 miles or so since then....

 

I have a 2011 CMS with about 45K miles. I change at 7.5K intervals, and oil consumed in the meantime is still less than 1/4 quart, maybe even less than 1/8 quart. That is if I have any accuracy at all reading that darn obfuscating dipstick.

 

my 03/2012 build cms all4 will burn any oil above the ~1/2 mark on the craven dipstick in a couple hundred miles ... after that it stays at ~1/2 until i or the dealer change it

at oil/filter change, 4 quarts puts the level at ~1/2 ... so that is what i do / have the dealer do ... add only 4 quarts at changes, and the level remains at ~1/2 until i change it again

my OBC change interval is 8,000 miles which i feel is too long, so i do 4,000 mile changes between the dealer changes every 8,000

scott

 

i have a 07 MCS and i add about a quart a month (1000) miles.

 

Should be covered under the 3 yr 36K free maintenance (although it might be more hassle going to the dealer than doing it yourself).

 

Bluebrat,

The following link show the best methods I have seen to read or modify the stock dipstick. It is a shame we have to go this far to get a good reading.

My Justa uses almost no oil between oil changes twice a year (5,000-6,000 miles).

Morris, 2011 MC, PW/B, 21,000 miles.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...732-post1.html