Non-Turbo Mini Cooper, 1.6l
Joe Gibbs DT-40 (5w-40)
Manne Filter
1 quart Make up oil (1/2 quart at 5500 miles of DT-40, another half quart of Store Brand SN non-synthetic at 9300 miles.)
Miles on oil 9800
Miles on unit 40,000
4.5 quart fill


Blackstone Comments:

This oil did seem to hold up well. Wear metals are nice and low, especially considering the
longer oil run and the spirited driving. Universal averages show typical wear levels for this type of engine
after about 7,000 miles on the oil. The TBN was 2.7 showing lots of active additive left. Try 12,000 miles on
the next oil and check back. Nice engine.






ALUMINUM 6
CHROMIUM 0
IRON 27
COPPER 16
LEAD 0
TIN 0
MOLYBDENUM 43
NICKEL 1
SILVER 0
TITANIUM 1
POTASSIUM 1
BORON 36
SILICON 6
SODIUM 10
CALCIUM 3162
MAGNESIUM 1354
PHOSPHORUS 1002
ZINC 1257
BARIUM 0
MANGANESE 1

TBN- 2.7


cSt Viscosity @ 100°C 12.11
SUS Viscosity @ 210°F 66.8
Flashpoint in °F 390
Fuel % .5
Antifreeze %0.
Insolubles %.3
Water 0.0


I am pretty hard on this car, lots of driving in the 4500-5500 rpm range on my daily commute. Whoever made this dipstick, should be buried alive. Not only hard to read, but very innaccurate. I drained out between 3 and 3.3 quarts (less the sample, and this is with me adding 1/2 a quart just prior to the oil change, at about 9300 miles), but the dipstick showed that I was in the "safe" zone. I originally filled with 4.5 quarts. When I changed the oil and added 4.5 quarts, it is way past the "full" mark on the dipstick. I figure I'm using about 1 quart every 5000 miles. Never did an oil pressure light come on, nor did I hear funny sounds, but I think being nearly 1.5 quarts down from the full capacity, yet showing halfway into the safe zone is asking for trouble. Very poor design. I refilled with more DT-40, and will make sure I check the level more often, keeping it near full, and probably running it out to 15k. Good thing I didn't get the turbo version, I'd be in all kinds of trouble, this thing is a blast to drive.

 

What made you go with that oil? (not criticism, just curious).

 

I use it in my Z4, got 2 cases for a great price with free shipping.

 

so blackstone is recommending trying 12k on your next oil for a non-s.........so maybe the MINI recommended 9k service interval is not nearly as crazy as it seems.

 

I use Blackstone for my airplane oil testing. Excellent service, so very educational feedback, and wait till you get some history on your car after a couple of samples.

 

Mini once said 15,000...
so pardon me if I get nervous about trusting the basic fluid suggestions by MINI without data...so doing changes a bit early works for most!

From what I have read the OP's oil seems to be a decent High Zinc oil...should serve him well,
Most of these BOUTIQUE oils are usually not sold on long-life....but rather formulation and protection....
My suggestion...
IF you chose to use a NON-Approved oil...do oil sampling to determine how long the oil should last.... to the OP!!
MINI branded oil does have a VERY good additive package for the $$...better than some mass market oils..which are often made to only last a shorter time...(that is one of the reasons why MOBIL makes a DIFFERENT MOBIL1 for long interval changes....).

 

That report would have been way better had I kept it topped off....

 

The OEM dipstick can be modified if you are adventurous...
But with a price of about $60-75, yoyu can get a craven-speed dipstick....much easier to read...also does not snap like the OEM ones (some are plastic)as they get old and brittle..

 

I can deal with it being hard to read, its just that once you get it read, it's not accurate. I've read all the threads about checking oil and spoke to the local BMW joint in regards to it.....it's just not accurate, for mine anyway. If They call 1.5 qts. down, "safe", then that's ridiculous.

 

for 5w40 i'd give amsoil zrod 10w30 a shot - slots between a 30wt and 40wt at operating temps, huge amounts of zinc. tested one of the top protecting oils, i run it in my evo