Some time ago when picking up some supplies at a mini dealer, I was told that the garage techs. usually just pour 5 qts. of oil when doing an oil change. I didn't think that a bit of extra oil could be harmful, infact perhaps better lubrication instead.

Boy was I wrong. Recently I did the same thing to my legacy wagon, which requires the same 4.2 qts and 5w30 oil as my mini.
Right after the oil change the the car ran very hot and was near red lining in just a few minutes. I was baffled.

I soon realized that the extra oil acted in very different way, than I first thought. With the extra oil in the crankcase, the entire oil supply was getting whipped into bubbles and actually starving the motor from the lubrication it desperately needs.
I syphoned out the excess oil and voila, problem solved and disaster averted.

I unfortunately did 2 oil changes in my mini with the 5 qts. Thinking back I realize that it was running hot, and that the fan was on a lot more often. I removed the extra oil from the mini as well and it runs cooler. hopefully no real permanent damage.

Please learn from my oversight, and use the exact amount of oil. I am curious if any one else heard or knows of dealerships using 5 qts.

 

i asked at my dealer and was told they use 4 quarts with an oil/filter change and that 4 qts puts the oil level very near to half on the dipstick

scott

 

i've heard for MINI, it prefers oil level closer to the top/2nd nub of the oil dipstick, which is between 4.5-5 qts. the tech said that it's good for the timing chain rattle problems.

 

I've always found it takes something more than 4 and less than 5 qts. to fill mine with the filter change. I try to keep it near the top buton, but not over.

 

Owner's manual says 4.5 quarts...

 

The book says 4.5 qts. Every time I have changed it it is 4.5 qts.
I got the gallon jug the last time and might have overfilled a tad.
When I say tad we are talking 1/4 qt. I'm not convinced that the tolerances
on any car are so close that 1/4 or a 1/2 qt either way would cause catastrophic
failure, although certainly the MINI is a strange breed when it comes to
things it likes and dislikes.

My personal opinion is to keep it between 1/2 and to the top of the second nub.
It is proven time and again here that low oil IS catastrophic in these things.

 

4 to get it on the stick and then fill as needed to top it off. NEVER OVERFILL! The increase in pressure can do all sorts of damage to an engine.

 

My dealer also said it takes 5 qts with a filter change. The oil level is always at or over the top bump on the dip stick, making it imposible to check the level no matter how many times I wipe it off.

 

on both my 03/2012 CMS All4 and my dad's 09/2011 CMS All4, 4 quarts puts the oil level exactly in the middle of the OEM and Craven dipsticks

this is after changing the oil and filter and running the engine

neither of our cars uses ant oil between changes (5k on dad's and 4.5k on mine) IF the level is at or below half ...

if filled above half, then both cars quickly burn or blow oil out the PCV until just above half (say 5/8), by quickly, i mean in 200-300 miles

scott

 

Every time Mini did my oil changes during the free maintenance period they would overfill it with 5 quarts. I think any more than that your asking for trouble...

 

Just changed my oil yesterday and used the trick someone else on the forum mentioned. I put in about 4 & 1/2 qts of oil, and then I put the dipstick in just until the handle touched the edge of the filler tube (which is one inch from being totally in place). I could easily see the line of the new oil on the dipstick, just slightly over the first bump. I added a little more oil until the level was one inch below the second bump. Job done.
When I put the dipstick all the way in, it still is hard to read, both bumps wet with oil, but I tried the partial trick again and it was easy to see, just above the first bump.

 

[FONT=Arial][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial][SIZE=3]N14 and N18 – 4.20 liters

All R55, R56, R57, R58, R59 and R60 should have 4.2l (4.4 qt.) added for an oil and filter change. My dealer added 4.7 quarts and I had to remove .3 quarts to get the oil level to the top bulge on my dipstick. I believe any amount of overfill shortens the oil life.

2011 MC PW/B
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4.4 quarts lines up with my experience on my first oil change on the MINI. I added just over that amount and the level is sitting right at the top "ball" on the dipstick.