So as a few of you know, just got my MINI a few months ago. Recently just found out how to change the oil myself. So I was wondering... Which type of oil do you use? And reasons why? Let the posts roll! Thanks all.

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/search.php

 

BMW/Mini recomends "Castrol synthetic" but, take a look at
"Mobil 1 0/40w synthetic" its on their list and that is what I use !

Also, next time take a look in the "search" in the upper right corner,
you can find lots of answers their quickly ...................

 

Sorry... Newer to the website. Actually just started figuring things out last night..

 

On my engine, there is a sticker that says "Use Full Synthetic 10-30" and that's it. 2007 Gen 2 R56. That makes it easy.... Mobile 1 and I will use an OEM MINI filter.

 

Many threads, many different opinions...

Personally, Redline or Amsoil are my choices, but for an everyday driver, the manufacturer recommended oil is pretty darned good.

OEM (Mann) filter is good, but NAPA gold are better constructed, and I believe a bit cheaper....

 

Hmm thought my Owner's Manual read 5/30 weight???

 

Right directly on my engine, MINI says to use 5-30 Fully Synthetic with no mention of brand, so I am going with Mobile 1. Been around a long time and has never let me down. The manual says 5-30 or 5-40 year round viscosity. The 5-40 may protect a bit better under extreme conditions since the 40 number has a more thick viscosity rating. The 5 indicated cold weather viscosity, suitable for most except maybe the Arctic circle. Conclusion is MINI recommends, PER THE MANUAL, a fully synthetic oil 5-30 or 5-40 with their particular API SH or higher rating. This information is directly out of the manual, that came with the car, so if anything lube related goes wrong with the car, the manual was followed to the word. I always keep my oil receipts and they are itemized as to what I exactly purchased and used in my MINI. Additionally, I am good with 5,000 mile oil change intervals with an OEM oil filter.

Of course, I am sure, no doubt, that there are those out there that will beg to differ no matter what the manual says
Seems that no matter what car, there is always a forum that beats this OIL SUBJECT to death.

 

Mobil 1 syn........seems this time this is a Mobil friendly conversation, looks like everyone likes the stuff

 

castrol 0w30 slx
(BMW Longlife-01)

 

Royal Purple 5w-30!

 

i've been hearing a lot of Royal Purple? better than castrol?!

 

Mobil 1 is usually on sale at Costco and Wal Mart - 6 packs for under $20.....

I also use the factory filter and change about twice a year or every 7,500 miles. On a turbo motor, waiting till the service light comes on at 18K or more just doesn't make sense to me when it's this inexpensive to just change the oil.

 

IMHO Mobil 1 is better than either Royal Purple of Castrol. Never was a big fan of Castrol as it is a Group III oil, Mobil 1 is Group IV and the best is Redline, a Group V oil. I use 5W30 Redline and change once per year, even though I drive the Mini less than avg. of 6K miles per year. (2004 with under 24K miles)

 

What does the [ III, IV, and V] mean? I've never seen that before..

 

Group V oils are considered superior because they don't start out as a dino or mineral oil. You can google "Group V oil"

American Petroleum Institute

The American Petroleum Institute (API) sets minimum for performance standards for lubricants. Motor oil is used for the lubrication, cooling, and cleaning of internal combustion engines. Motor oil may be composed of a lubricant base stock only in the case of non-detergent oil, or a lubricant base stock plus additives to improve the oil's detergency, extreme pressure performance, and ability to inhibit corrosion of engine parts. Lubricant base stocks are categorized into five groups by the API. Group I base stocks are composed of fractionally distilled petroleum which is further refined with solvent extraction processes to improve certain properties such as oxidation resistance and to remove wax. Group II base stocks are composed of fractionally distilled petroleum that has been hydrocracked to further refine and purify it. Group III base stocks have similar characteristics to Group II base stocks, except that Group III base stocks have higher viscosity indexes. Group III base stocks are produced by further hydrocracking of Group II base stocks, or of hydroisomerized slack wax, (a byproduct of the dewaxing process). Group IV base stock are polyalphaolefins (PAOs). Group V is a catch-all group for any base stock not described by Groups I to IV. Examples of group V base stocks include polyol esters, polyalkylene glycols (PAG oils), and perfluoropolyalkylethers (PFPAEs). Groups I and II are commonly referred to as mineral oils, group III is typically referred to as synthetic (except in Germany and Japan, where they must not be called synthetic) and group IV is a synthetic oil. Group V base oils are so diverse that there is no catch-all description.

 

As long as you use a quality synthetic oil and change it MORE often than the car says to you will be fine.