I had my oil changed at MINI dealership. Is that true that MINI Oil last for 15K?

How often do you change it?

thanks,
dominos

 

How lonjg it lasts depends on several factors. MINI's recommended service interval is 15k, as it is on many vehicles. I plan on following the manufacturer's recommendations.

 

Just make sure you keep it topped off if you plan to go the full 15k between changes.

 

what are the factors?

 

I change mine every 3.5k because i tend to drive it hard and i just feel better when i do.

 

how hard it's driven. kind of trips (length/traffic). weather. driver paranoia.

 

I really don't drive it that hard.....it's because i feel guilty when i get on the pedal, so the least i could do is change the oil as much as i can. Also living in Jersey with all the stop and go traffic can't be to good for the oil. I do about 45miles a day from school to work on route 1 and the GSP.

 

I have done mine 1/2 way on ever recommended oil change.

5K on the first, 7500 on all the rest. I now have over 91K on mine mostly highway, also mostly driven hard, and in all kinds of weather. -45F to 105F.

That's my story and I'm sticking with it

Mark

 

Is there a synthetic brand oil that MINI recommends? Just out of
Curiosity?

 

Castrol Syntec. And MINI synthetic.

 

The MINI/BMW synthetic is Castrol Syntec.

Mark

 

I follow the recommended service interval (or what the computer tells me)

Change usually somewhere between 15 and 20k miles. So far so good.

Nik

 

That explains why my engine has a sticker recommending each one.

 

Mark

 

I change mine once a year, because I do less than 6k miles per year. Just did it two weeks ago, so it's gonna be a while before I have to do that again!

 

The interval changes slightly depending on how the car is driven. Highway miles are counted less than stop and go driving. The computer makes the adjustment in the service interval for you.

 

The oil should be changed when the service interval says OR at 1 year! I have 6000 miles till my next service but I got a free oil change today. Dealers will not tell you about this, (I had my car in for service 2 months ago and they did not do it.) If it has been a year call your SA and set up an appointment ASAP!!!

 

IIRC my 1st oil change was when the indicator said to do it, which was around 12k miles. The 2nd oil change was near 22k miles, and was done because it had been 12 months, the maintenance indicator still had 5k miles to go. They also had me come back at my 2 year anniversary of taking delivery of the car for a complimentary brake fluid flush. It looks like I'll probably get one more free oil change before the free maintenance period is up. After that, I'll change the oil myself with Mobil 1 at 12 month intervals, assuming I don't go more than 8-10k miles in a year.

 

xsmini you have a pile of miles on your car. It's hard for me to argue that those intervals are too long. But I think they are.

One reason I do is what happened to my wifes Audi A4. I know it's not a MINI, but listen for a minute. Audi changed her oil every 10,000 or one year. After 3 years of ownership at 32,000 miles the Audi's engine sludged up. No oil pressure. After a week & 4 pages worth of part #'s we had it back. Believe me it was never the same. Thank God it was a lease car & we could give it back. I'm pretty soured on long oil change intervals now.

For me it's every 5,000 miles. I track my car & clean fresh oil seems important in that use.

A lot depends on the cars use. If you toddle around town & drive little. Change your oil more often. If you drive a lot of highway you can probably go longer than my 5,000 interval.

As far as brands go, I use Mobile 1 full synthetic.

 

Crashton - I totally agree with you that it really depends on how you drive your car. I drive mine everywhere, but mainly highway driving. Never had a track day, but every now and then some spirited weekend driving. One of these days I'll pop the valve cover off and see what it look like inside (will post pics when I do).

When I bought it I figured I would just follow the OBC and see where it got me. Crazy perhaps, but so far so good.

(I'm still on the original clutch too)

Nik

 

Really? I didn't know that. Is this up to the dealer, or is it dictated by MINI? My last service was last December. Based on current usage, I won't be up for another change until next April. I would love an oil change in December!

(That being said, I did my own early in the summer. But the dealer doesn't know that!)

Thanks,
Ed

 

My Dealer told me about the one year interval last week.

 

Nik, if you are on the original clutch that tells me you are a good driver & have mechanical sympathy with your car.

When your car is cold, pull the oil cap off & stick your finger in there. Give the top inside of the valve cover a swipe with your finger. I'll bet you won't find sludge. Dirty yep, but no sludge.

My wifes Audi was like peanut butter. She drove short trips.