Using this thread for a guide I did my first oil change yesterday. Everything went just fine until I was filling it up again with oil. While pouring I noticed that I was using 10W-30, not 5W-30. Checked the other bottles already emptied and they were the same. Must have had a brain fart at the store and picked up the wrong ones. Here's my question. Any implications of using 10W-30? I'm guessing not an issue in the Summer, but should I change it out before the cold weather gets here?

 

it will not hurt anything. run it since it's already in there and just swap back on the next change.

Chad
Detroit Tuned.

 

Update ..... After my purple MINI decided to up-chuck 1 quart of royal purple 5W-30 due to a seperated into two parts O-ring ..... the old O-ring is holding fine and the car runs so smooth on the new Royal Purple synthetic. I mean it is absolutely different than the stock castrol synthetic. It no longer rattles slightly at start-up. The engine feels smoother and seems to have a bit more power .... because I am downshifting less on the same hills. Gas mileage also seems to have improved "slightly". More time will tell.

Use lots of new oil to lube your O-ring and NOT WD-40!

 

Glad things worked out and don't be to hard on yourself on the WD-40, it seems most people think it is a lube.

It is actually more of a solvent than lube. WD stands for Water Disperant, 40 is simply the 40th formula they developed. (Could be folk lore but I remember hearing this someplace from the developer.)

 

WD-40, as ive heard from many, many sources, eats away at rubber and o-rings. Just want to throw it out there since it seems like some are choosing that first for the o-rings. I would just use some regular oil or I think 100% silicone oil is also alright.

 

Thank you RANDYBMC you did a great job way back on oil change article, very good.

 

AM/Randy:

Over the weekend I changed my oil and re-set my service indicator. Thanks to all.

TIA

 

To itphoto.............Just to let yo know not to be alarmed by 5-30 vs 10-30.
The 30 is what the oil IS 30wt. the 0, 5, 10 15 nomenclature fefore the 30wt. means what the oil pours like at a freezing temperature, ie, 10/30 will pour like 10 wt. at freezing temperatures. I personally use 0/30wt. year round on mine with no reservations. I use Amsoil signature 0/30 and I love it, I get 5% better gas mileage with it "pays for the oil and the Dimples I put on the car".

 

how do you reset the oil clock thing. that tells you how many miles to go till oil change?

 

glad to see that you guys can do a good how to on doing an oil change as oposed to the r56 how to which is actually shows you how to drain your trans and double fill the engine

 

How do you reset your idicator after you do your oil change i am having trouble resetting the idicator part after you do the oil change?

please help asap

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...524-post2.html

 

I just went through my first oil change. The toughest part was trying to get the canister cover out of/into the engine compartment. I have a 06 MCS"a", so I don't know if that's the reason due to larger size transmission on the drive side. I read some instructions of an engine damper installation that the engine position is slightly off towards the passenge side with automatic MINI. I ended up taking out and tighten the canister under the car through the lower control arm and steering knuckle. Thank "Rhino Ramp" for making this job much easier.

I also want to point out that the Bently manual has different information than the owner's manual for MCS. Bentley just says 4.7qt for oil change while the MINI owner's manual says 5.1qt. I put in 5 and a little extra qt and the level was at max.

Finally, I have a question about the drain plug. Am I supposed to torque it to 18 ft-lb?

Happy Holidays to everyone.

 

One of those measurements was probably in liters.

 

Without going into my COLD garage, I can't check my Bently manual but torque is either 18 or 25 ft.lbs. BTW: 5 quarts fills mine up.

 

IMO, the appropriate torque is the German standard - 'guttentight'.
As long as you don't tighten it with a 2 foot lever or a impact gun, as seems to be the case with too many shops, it'll be fine.

 

Yes - note the many who've had problems getting the blasted thing out....

25 ft lbs ain't very much...... Just needs to be tight enuf to not fall out...it isn't load bearing or anything...

 

I just changed my oil for the first time, but I didn't replace the oil drain plug gasket. Should this be replaced at each oil change? Thanks Randy for the tutorial.

I did notice an oil leak however It's not bad and I think it started before the oil change. I sent the dealership an email tonight to schedule service. I have 4000 miles left on my warranty

 

Oil drain plug gasket is attached to the drain plug itself. I've never seen any info requiring changing of the drain plug gasket.

 

In 48,000 miles with an oil change every 6,000 miles I've never seen a leak from the MINI's drain plug gasket. I have seen the hex head on the drain plug gradually get kind of borked up. Although I attribute that to the son of Kong tightenings it's gotten at the dealer. I keep a spare on the shelf with the oil filters just in case & look closely before reusing it.

 

I think the 4.7qt was spot on for the MC, but for MCS should be 5.1qt. That's what I read in the owner's manual.

Heck, the most important thing is, I see the oil level up to the MAX mark on the dip stick.

 

5.1qt is 4.82l, so I still hold that the conversion is what he's seeing. The issue has previously been discussed that the Bentley manual and the owner's manual are in disagreement about English vs. Metric.

Either way, 4.7 puts the mark dead-center on the stick in mine.

 

Thanks for the info. Turns out I have a coolant leak also Hopefully not a big deal. I'll find out next week

 

Your coolant leak most likely is the thermostat housing. According to the tech I talked to, they all do it & it is an easy fix. Fret not you still have warranty coverage.

 

You are supposed to replace drain plug gaskets on every oil change.