Quick question.

I have a new mini 2013. When I take off the oil cap, the oil chamber looks empty. The oil stick says all good.

I am not a car guy. Does the oil run down to a lower chamber. Am I all good?

 

yes, the oil pools in the bottom of the motor, if the dipstick reads normal, you're fine.

 

Huge thanks for that fast response.

So what else should I know about minis and oil? It was so weird to shine a light in the oils chamber and see, no oil.

Do you really need to check the oil as often as they say? Once a month? Someone told me minis have a different motor that drinks it up faster? True?

 

I know nothing about the 2013's but it couldn't hurt to check it once a month, at least until you have a feel for what it's normal oil consumption is. If it's low, add some to top it off.

Other than that, change it when it's due and it should be fine.

 

I don't feel you can ever check your oil to often. I check mine regularly when I fill up. It takes me a few extra minutes and I'm able to visually inspect the coolant tank, hose connections and strut mount tops. Prevention goes a long way to catch possible problems.

I'm not sure on the 2013 motor. My new MINI is a 2012 with the N18 motor and I have read it fairs better than the N14 in the 2007 to 2011/2012. My old MINI was a high mileage R53, 144,000 and I checked oil every fill up.

Older higher mileage motors will tend to burn more oil than newer units.

 

I check every 2nd or 3rd time I get gas. Pretty much every 2-3 weeks. I think once I added almost half a quart in 4,000+ miles. Haven't had to top off other than that one time. 2011 N18

 

On the road I check the oil daily-part of the preflight. In town once a week at a minimum. This may sound a little OCD but from the time the bonnet is popped it takes less than a minute to check all fluids. It's an old habit acquired during my former life in aviation. It's a small price in effort to pay for financial peace of mind.

 

4 1/2 or 5 quarts of oil is lying at the bottom of the engine, you'll never see it again until it's drained once it's out of the can except on the end of the stick. Besides checking the oil, brake and coolant levels, you should also be paying attention to the CONDITION of those fluids watching for a sudden change in their appearance.

To really answer your question: Examine the dip stick, observe where it goes and in what direction then measure the amount of oil on the end of it. Compare that spatial relationship to the location of the filler cap and the chamber just below it then ask yourself the question again.

 

Flying brick,

Great response. My deductive reasoning was leading me that direction as well.