My Copper S started making an odd noise a few weeks ago, so I took in to a shop to find out what it was. Turns out I was 4 quarts low on oil! I wasn't due for an oil change, and when I got my tires rotated in December ago they (supposedly) checked fluid levels. But I've never seen any fluids leaking out, or any oil spots in my garage. Where'd it go? I'm guessing it could be a head gasket and it just burned off the oil it leaked, but I never smelled anything that would suggest it. Did the dealership just screw up and short me 4 quarts of oil last service? Anybody have something similar happen?

 

4 quarts would be a lot for blow-by! I'm wondering if they didn't screw up at your last service. Had you checked the oil yourself during the interem? I think that I'd check under the car very thoroughly, looking for a possible leak, just in case.

 

You didn't say how long ago your last service was, but I'd vote for the dealer not having put new oil in. I'd also guess they didn't change the filter, which is why you still had any oil. If you lost 4 quarts between normal service, you would have to have either smelled it burning (either via combustion or burning as it leaked out the block/head), or seen puddles where you've parked.

Or, it could be they didn't install the filter properly. But, then, you still likely would have smelled it burning as it hit hot engine/exhaust parts, and seen puddles or drips, at least.

In any case, one should check their oil regularly. And especially if you hear "an odd noise" coming from the engine compartment!

 

I think we need more info! If you are on the extended service intervals that MINI recs, then to be four quarts down may be normal. Most auto manufacturers have a spec for an allowable amount of oil burned, most are up to 1 quart per 1k miles. I know it sounds odd but that is true even for Honda.

 

While this is technically true (most owners manuals call that "normal"), if your car is burning a quart every 1k, there is something wrong. There only car I have ever owned that came close to that was my 1972 Vega, and we all know about those.

 

I would agree whole hearted if the little service guy in me hadn't worked for service depts for so long.

 

So does this mean you came across many cars that "normally" burned a quart of oil every 1k? Or that customers were just told that was normal because it's too expensive/time-consuming to repair. Personally, if I had a car that drank that much oil and the dealer told me it was "normal," (despite what the manual says) I'd dump the car and never buy that brand again.

 

Again I agree with you. I have had to tell customers on behalf of the factory no there is no repair it is normal. That said I agree, it is not normal to me. I also know if you run any motor to 18k miles between changes, as people have said here that they do, and not check your own oil you someday have an issue. Example, I just had a customer here 2 days ago has not been back since new 75k now siezed engine, never changed his oil or filter just topped off and wondered why I could not warranty it.

 

FOUR qts low? Equals OUT OF OIL.

 

thats was I was about to say. 4 quarts is not just "blow by". That means you are plum out of oil. take it back up there and get it fixed.

 

Hmmmm. In this post, the OP says there was a noise and took the car in and was told it was 4 quarts low. In another post, he says the shop was not interested in servicing his car (no mention of a noise), told him it was 4 quarts low and just threw in the oil to get rid of him. I think more information is needed here.

 

Morch, you are having an issue that touches a nerve with me. Please supply more information.

What year?
How may total miles on the car?
How long since your last oil change?
What is your oil change philosophy (go by the dash counter, every so many miles, or other?
Who does your oil changes?
Do you ever check you own oil level?
Did the car drop oil level before this event?

thanks

YD

 

Dealerships "usually" use bulk oil with an air or manual pump. My bet is that the last tech just turned the crank until it read 4 quarts added and never bothered to actually check. If so the bulk container was empty when they started cranking!

I make it a point to check levels monthly on all my cars. I have always had every oil leak fixed immeadiatly. I can not stand to have anything leak under my cars.

Pull the spark plugs and take a look. If the head gasket is blown you will probably know after checking the plugs.

 

Sorry to post and not get back to it immediately. The situation was that I got my oil changed 10,000 miles ago, and had the fluid checked as recently as a thousand miles ago. Somewhere in there , I managed to lose 4 quarts of oil, without seeing any leaks or smelling any burn off. Unfortunately, I didn't check the fluid levels myself (my mistake) so I'm not sure if when the loss occured exactly. I could be between the last time I got it ''checked", or it could have been a dealer mistake at the last oil service 10,000m ago. Or something else altogether....?

I typically follow the dealer schedule for oil changes, and have always gotten it service at a dealer. Unfortunately, the place I took it to as soon as it started making a noise didn't really pay attention to the info I gave it, realized it was low on oil and thought I was just really overdue for a change (despite the fact that I told him the mileage since my last change). So he never looked for any possible underlying reason for the oil loss.

I have a 05 Cooper 6 with about 60,000 miles, and have never had any other problems, oil or otherwise, even when I used to autocross the car.

 

That would be a quart every 2500 miles...Not all "That" unusual. This is assuming your Check did not get checked. Not hard to assume that with some dealers records of poor/sloppy work. Check it yourself more often. Hopefully you haven't done serious damage, but honestly 4 qts down and Noises would indicate otherwise...

 

that cant be good for the engine. is it in warranty?

 

4 quarts low!!!!

this isn't low, this is running without oil

if you are wondering about 10,000 mile oil changes cuz your oil might be dirty

compare to running with no oil

Houston, we have a problem.

 

I have a 2005 Acura RSX Type S, one of a very few current Honda engines that is designed to burn (scavenge) oil. It goes through less than 1 quart in 5-6 thousand miles.

A stock Civic or Accord engine burns virtually none, as does my 06 MC.

I have had 3 oil changes in 13,000 miles and have never even had a chance to use the spare quart of Mini Synthetic that I bought when I first drove it home.

 

4 quarts low...wouldn't the engine light be on? Is roughly half a quart enough to keep the light from turning on?

 

yeah, I was told it was just enough to keep the light off. If I can't find a leak anywhere, and the mechanics who last 'checked' the level really didn't, I could have been driving around for quite a while with low oil. What are the odds that I did some damage? She seems to run fine now, but did I just take 10,000 miles (or more) off the life of my engine?

 

I think there was some "exageration" in the 4 qts number. Your light would definitely be on if that were the case (assuming the light works). If in fact it was only a few, just before triggering the light, you're fine..

 

In all of this, I can't help wondering if the original mechanic was being wholly truthful in saying that you were four quarts low. Like others, if you were really four quarts low, I would have expected your engine to seize. And losing four quarts in 1k miles seems very extreme.

What if you were just a quart low and the mechanic just wanted to charge you for four?

In any case, if you burned/lost four quarts in 1k miles, you should have a detectable loss in as little as 50-100 miles. I'd keep a very close eye on it.

 

what you need to do here is just drive like normal, and check the oil level every couple of thousand miles. While going low is bad, and the sound could have been lots of things from lifters to bearings, there really is no way to know without a tear-down. So don't sweat it, just drive the car like normal, but if your oil consumption is up (old engine or wear from low oil), you have to keep a better eye on the level and top up every now and then.

Matt

 

uh, this whole thing sounds fishy. I dont know any engine that could operate without four quarts of oil. Or, ask any RX8 owner about oil consumption

And since BMW eventually plans to eliminate the dipstick in all of their engines (already gone in the 2006+ non-M 3-series) anyone want to hazard a guess as to when the 'stick will be eliminated in the MINIs? My hazardous guess is by 2011.

 

Kinda smells like the one member who found he had no oil in his car and the engine seized. A neighbor or someone unhappy with him or his car drained the oil at night since he parked outside.

Just a thought for those who have been on board after that event.