I found this list of recommended oil for the mini:

• MINI High Performance Synthetic 5W-30
• Mobil 1 SAE OW-40
• Castrol Syntec European Formula SAW 0W-40
• Pennzoil Platinum European Formula Ultra SAE 5W-30
• Valvoline SynPower SAE 5W-30

I usually buy Mobil 1 SAE OW-40, but it's very thin. Can I use mobil 1 5W-30 instead?

 

Mobil 1 5W30 is thinner than their 0W40, and is only rated A1/B1, A5/B5, whereas the
0W40 has the appropriate A3/B3 and A3/B4 ACEA ratings that MINI specifies.

Viscosity at 100C and 40C:
5W30 11(100C), 61.7 (40C)
0W40 12.9 (100C, 70.8 (40C)

I used to use Mobil 1 0W40 Euro formula until they changed it a couple years ago
and removed their LL-01 certification. It's still a fine oil if you're changing it more
often than MINI suggests.

I'm currently using Amsoil 0W40 European Car Formula (code EFO).
It is engineered for A3/B3, A3/B4 and BMW LL-01 specs (although technically it has not
been certified for these or any specifications).

You should be fine with any on your list unless you have some unusual requirements.

 

+1 - Amsoil European 0W40.

 

Pennzoil Platinum European Formula Ultra SAE 5W-30


I hate oil threads

 

I've pretty much always used Mobil1 5w-30, and never had issues in terms of the quality of the oil. I replaced the oil pan gasket this weekend, and the inside of the engine looked practically brand new after 162k miles on it. No gunk or nothing on the sides.

I'm sticking with Mobil1 for now.

 

Good to know, because I'm using the same oil and changing every 5,000 miles.

 

Honestly, you can change it not as frequently, and more like 7500 miles, or perhaps even 10k miles. That's generally my range for changing the oil, and again-looking at the inside of my engine, it is practically spotless with no gunk or anything of the sort, even on the oil pan itself. I've gone as much as 15k miles, but with about 80% highway driving, so that would make a difference also.

Just make sure you "drive" it frequently though, because these engines love to rev and be in that happy zone of 4 grand or higher.

I have also occasionally used a quart of Marvel Mystery Oil to replace one of the quarts of Mobil1 when doing an oil change. Whether or not is truly does keep the engine clean could be up for debate, but considering how clean the inside of the engine is, I attribute it to driving my Mini like it's meant to be driven with many happy motoring miles, and using MMO on many of those oil changes.

Admittedly, I would have to add a quart of oil maybe every 2-3k miles, but I believe it's less burning oil, and more oil escaping as I found several areas of the engine (oil pan gasket, oil filter housing, oil cooler, crankshaft position sensor o-ring, rear main seal) that were all leaking, and that I think would add up over time.

I do have a kit from Blackstone Labs to get my oil analyzed, so I'm excited to see the real world condition of my engine in the end when I send that out by the end of the week.

 

rotella t6 5w40, goes in my bmw's and my mini's including my track car

 

I've read too many horror stories on here from people who deeply regretted following MINI's 10k-mile interval. Better safe than sorry!

 

An oil change at 5,000 miles (or 12 months) with a decent synthetic oil is a cheap insurance policy against expensive repairs.

 

I see that I failed to notice what year Mini you own. That makes a bit of a difference in what I'm saying.

1st gen vs. 2nd gen in terms of oil intervals are a bit different last I remember. Gunk, and carbon buildup is much less of an issue with the Tritec engine versus the Prince engine, so my statements from earlier were geared towards 1st get Minis.

Yeah, 5k miles for a 2nd gen Mini sounds about right. Hell, I've heard even as low as 3k miles for some folks, and that is with synthetic oil.

 

Genuine MINI oil and switched to Liqui Moly Molygen 5w-40. So far so good.

 

Mobile1 0w-40 euro blend full synth... because it doesnt vape all its additives like Pennsoil Ultra Plat 5w-30 was.

 

Motul 300V 0w40

Oil Change every 5k, sent out for analysis twice both times Blackstone asked me why I was sending in "new oil"

 

Uh, could I get a translation for ordinary folk, what does "vape all its additives" mean?

 

 

5w-20 castrol, too. But i buy oil with as numerically-close cold/hot viscosity as I can find. Would probably never use oil with a 40-point swing. I change the oil every 7500-8000, but replace the filter twice between those marks depending on how i've used it.

one thing I cannot do - ever - is check my oil. My mini has perhaps the dumbest dip-stick - it has spirals - think of a tightly-compressed spring. especially when new I cannot see the oil depth. will have to change it to a flat model soon.

 

Royal purple HPS 5W30 every 5k

 

I have only had my car for about a month........2012 Cooper S convertible.

When it is due, I plan on changing oil every 5,000 miles with a synthetic 10w/30

 

I have used Amsoil signature in the past for years but have switched to Motul 8100 X-Clean+ Engine Oil (5w-30) - 5 Liter because of cost.


I change my oil every 3k -4K in my Gen 1 R53 JCW.

I run a Meth kit and my oil gets dirty faster then non-meth injected cars. I spray the big 1.0 jet with 100 VP M-1 Meth. I have a ViPEC / Link ECU and I have duel maps tuned for Meth and 93 octane or just 93 only.

Inside of my motor top and bottom end look brand new at 105,000 and I beat on my car very hard. That’s what I built may car to do, high HP and able to take a beating. Don’t worry I am very OCD about maintenance. I change oil more than most because of my setup but fresh oil is very cheap insurance when it comes to engine rebuilds with very expensive performance parts.

Frequent oil changes are good for all MINI’s but a must for 2nd and 3rd gen direct injection motors. Also for all DI motors at every 50K - 60k I would recommend walnut blasting the back of the valves in the head since the fuel no longer washes the carbon off the back of the valves.

ECS sells it.

 

Yeah,I agree with Dave. More frequent oil change is a good insurance. I got frustrated recently though. I typically change oil every 5k miles. But this last time we got so swamped with life that I missed the mini oil change and was up to 7k. It's still within mini schedule, but I like to do my oil change more frequently then they recommend to help the engine last longer... It's not in there favor for the car to last. So far I've stuck with ordering the C3 version of the Castrol Edge 5-w30. We'll see if that pays off later.

 

Anyone have an opinion on LiquiMoly fully synthetic?

 

Quality oil is quality oil.

It all comes down to the fact that our filters are still made of paper and need to be replaced no matter how long or good the oil we use is.

 

I sent in a sample for Blackstone labs last week, so I am eager to hear what they say...but also a bit nervous. Don’t want to find out I have coolant in the system, or some other high readings of certain artifacts.

 

I would argue it is in thier favor for the car to last long, for any manufacturer for that matter. If I buy a new car and the engine blows up after 100k miles because the mfr oil change interval was too long, I probably won’t buy another car from them. Us mini folks are nuts though and will probably always come back no matter what lol.