changed the oil in both my MCS and my wife's GTI using my new top sider oil sucker outer thingie in about 20 mins. Super easy and clean

I've seen a couple of posts about oil weights but i have to say that using Mobile 1 0w-40 (on the approved mini oil list) really appeals to me because of the super low viscosity at start up. We'll see how it looks in 6 months when i change it again.

When you all change your oil, do you get that nice sound of the oil pump cavitating for a split second as the new filter fills with oil?

 

Really? well I tried the topsider for my first 500 mile oil change today and the tow truck will be here at 7:30 AM tomorrow to have my car towed in, the oil pan removed (hopefully that is enough) because the hose BECAME STUCK IN MY CRANKCASE THE INSTANT I PLACED IT IN!!!! Four hours later after pulling it broke off, leaving about a foot inside.

2012 cooper hatchback

 

Eeeeek! I hope it works out for you. Good luck!

 

woah - that totally sucks. I can't figure out how the hose would get suck where the dip stick goes, but i have heard of that happening on f150s. would love to hear or see any pictures of the fix.

I would still say it's the easiest way to change the oil but i guess there must have been a change between our engine to get the hose to get lodged in it.

 

When doing the topside oil change I make sure to insert the hose slowly and will usually push in and pull out before going all the way.

If you go slowly the hose has a chance to lube up...no need to rush pushing the hose all the way into the pan.

Hmm...hard to keep a straight face explaining this....

 

Haha! Hopefully you never get stuck or break off...

 

Would be helpful if you noted what brand/model of pump you used as a lesson/warning to others.

 

So what are your thoughts about the junk that settles at the bottom of the pan?

 

i've never seen an actual picture of the oil pan dropped from the n14 engine so some of the other engine builders might be able to weigh in here, but it looks like from this diagram at realoem.com:

that the drain plug sits up kinda high into the bottom of the pan. i would say that if there was any gunk it would be more likely to be sucked up by the top sider than by pulling the plug.

 

At the DIY day with the MetroplexMini one of the guys was pulling his drain pan. I can't remember how often he said he did it but it was pretty regular. Got it all nice and clean and put it back on. Easy to do when your car is up on a lift though.

I saw it but didn't take note of how high up it was in there. Good point perhaps.

 

A set of Rhino Ramps is probably cheaper than a decent topsider oil pump. I really don't need any excuse to slide under my car for a look-see anyhow, so the topside method never appealed to me.

 

I've been doing topside oil changes on my VAG cars for more than a decade. Always got out more by sucking than by draining. Since I have maintenance on my R56, I won't be doing oil changes for a while, but I did look at the dipstick tube for the Mini and it doesn't seem as wide and straight as the VAG autos. I used a Pela extractor for years, but they warn that you should only perform topside changes on cars with flat dipsticks. The wirey/coiled dipsticks have smaller shafts and typically sharp bends at the bottom of the tube. The Pela tube is a hollow coiled metal affair. Can't see any way it could break (perhaps get stuck though). Here is their advice:

Please note, the Pela Oil Extractor is not compatible with some cars. If the dipstick has a sharp bend or an internal taper, the extractor tube will not be able to reach the oil pan. Also, if the dipstick is like a steel cable (rather than a flat metal), it probably won't work. The best way to check is to make sure the dipstick goes in and out easily.

Good luck to the fellow getting his car towed!

 

You have to deal with the used oil eventually anyway, draining it into 15 quart oil jugs I can do several vehicles before the trip to AutoZone to dump...

 

Rhino ramps, Fumoto Valve's with Nipple's, 8 inch hose and the 5 quart jug of Mobil 1 and filter. No mess and I am done in 15 minutes in my garage for 35 bucks. With 5 cars to keep up with, its the easiest way to do an oil change. I have the Valves on all the cars, and use nothing but Mobil 1 on all of them.

 

I'm with Blackbomber and NightFlyR I don't understand what is wrong with making use of gravity to remove oil from an engine. I've been working on cars for more than 40 years and gravity has never failed me or gotten a piece of hose stuck in a crankcase....

 

I like the Fumoto Valve on most engines but I question it's use on my 2009 MINI as it would stick down and reduce ground clearance since the drain plug is on the bottom. I hate the thought of shearing it off. Then again, maybe I am just paranoid.

 

I can see that someone would like to suck the oil out of the pan, so they don't have to lay on the ground to undo the drain plug.

My next door neighbor has an old garage hoist in his shop, I just change the oil over at his place.

Dave

 

Gravity sucks naturally, no need to spend $ on one of those topsider thingy's . I also can't believe it get's more oil out, but that's just me. Anyway, good luck.

 

No, your are 120% right ... the person who said 'Fumoto" has an 04 GEN1. I've recommended the Fumoto for GEN1 cars for a very long time (a way to get around the "my plug is stuck" problem)

But as you correctly note the GEN2 drain points DOWN, while the GEN1 points to the rear. On a GEN1 the Fumoto is protected. On a GEN2 it would BEG to be broken off. I'm amazed Fumoto even lists a valve for the GEN2, but their list is by size, not wisdom . . . .

 

Why didn't you take out the dipstick tube to see if the stuck piece was in there? It's one bolt! Either way, good luck and hopefully you'll be on the road soon. What size diameter tube did you shove in there? I've used an extractor at least 20 times on various MINIs and never had an issue.