This is the longest I've run oil. I was living in an apartment at the time and could not change the oil. I hope this isn't a sign of abnormal damage. I can't believe the MINI's OBC would have had me changing the oil at 17,000. Almost 7,000 more miles on this oil?! Anyway, here it is...for all to learn from. Take care.

Seth

 

I do mine every 7,500 miles (12,000 Km) just like what your guy has recommended. Thanks for sharing.

 

Yep, 7,500 was what I had been doing. That's what I'll continue to do. That's for sure.

 

I think you'll be just fine. I'd change it at 7500 as the Blackstone report suggests and send in another sample just to see what it reads. It was a little surprising to see how thick the oil got with that mileage. At least it's changed now!

 

Here's another analysis from my 06 MCS. This time I had 5,500 miles on the oil. In the notes he refers to a note from me. The reason I changed it at 5,500 was because the oil kind of had something funny at the tip of the dipstick. That's what the note he refers to. I was also using some coolant. I decided better safe than sorry, so I sent it off. As you can see, things looked good. I just switched to Royal Purple, so I'll see how that does next time. These were both the MINI brand oil.

-Seth

 

Whatever.

Owned 4 MINIs since 2002 and have followed the factory OBC intervals with no problems. I sleep well at night having seen the condition of the engine's internals.

If folks are into recreational oil changes, that is their prerrogative. Changing synthetic oil every 7.5K seems excessive. But do whatever makes you happy.

 

Does'nt look like anything is off the chart or out off whack too me. Some values are 50-60% lower some are 20-30% higher. Looks like a wash to me.

 

I did do an oil change at 2000 miles but that was only to get the break in oil out. I intend to just follow the OBC for future changes which for me will be the annual change as I don't put that many miles on in a year.

 

I haven't seen convincing evidence in the seven years since MINI has been selling in this market, that following the OBC oil change intervals is the pathway to catastrophic engine failure.

There are a few MINIs I know of with well over 150K-200K miles on them that have followed the OBC oil intervals and the cars still run fine.

 

Meaning? The oil is good or the Tritec is robust or both.