R50/53 Mobil 1 0W 40
1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Seattle, WA
Has anyone tried the Valvoline product?
Valvoline VV955 SynPower Motor Oil SAE 5W-30, Pack of Six 1 Quart Bottles
Amazon has a great deal on it if you sign up for regular shipments (monthly, quarterly, or six months) but I don't want to sign up for it if it isn't wonderful.
I kind of like the idea of 6 new bottles showing up every 6 months to remind me to change my oil, and at just over $6 a quart, that is really cheap for a good synthetic oil.
Valvoline VV955 SynPower Motor Oil SAE 5W-30, Pack of Six 1 Quart Bottles
Amazon has a great deal on it if you sign up for regular shipments (monthly, quarterly, or six months) but I don't want to sign up for it if it isn't wonderful.
I kind of like the idea of 6 new bottles showing up every 6 months to remind me to change my oil, and at just over $6 a quart, that is really cheap for a good synthetic oil.
I would go to 0w-40 or 5w-40 grade for Phoenix heat.
I figure since I'm in Phoenix, AZ, and it's over 90* even at like 3am, gets over 115* during the day 
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Tehachapi, CA
referring to the 0w part, the 40 part is heavier than I would have expected. It's gone about 1,000 miles on the current oil change, and by the time it's due another one the car will be back in Kentucky, so I guess I'll just have my wife put 5w30 in it then
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: Aurora, CO
I think I'll listen to the mates that made our cars and stick with 5w30.
On the other hand. . . I wonder what oil xsmini uses. Last I saw on here there was 262k miles on that 03 MINI Cooper S. We should all probly take after that guy!
On the other hand. . . I wonder what oil xsmini uses. Last I saw on here there was 262k miles on that 03 MINI Cooper S. We should all probly take after that guy!
6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,607
Likes: 315
From: Arnold, MO.
Like I said in my earlier post, (I know it was a little wordy) the -w grade only has to do with flow rate @ ambient temp. you lose that in a matter of min.
10w oils are pretty much gone and not reccomended in modern motors...
The passages are sized to let the initial pumped oil flow to the bearings quick...so 5w or even 0w is now recommended, and the second spec mini recommends either a 30 or a 40 weight....
The op's Mobil 1 0w-40 is is some ways the most common massmarket oil letting mini specs....
So nothing wrong with it...better than many other oils around imo.
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 883
Likes: 2
I'm about to reach 80k and I see the Castrol logo embedded on the supercharger plastic grille and on manual (I'll go with synthetic), so that's what I'm using, but:
What's the recommended oil weight for that mileage and California weather?
Some say it's supposed to be 10W40, is that right?
What's the recommended oil weight for that mileage and California weather?
Some say it's supposed to be 10W40, is that right?
Mobile 1's 0w40 is very good, but so is there 5w30. I've change my own oil since 2003 and found no outstanding difference.
If you have an R56 go with the Mobil 1 0w40 Euro or something equal or better. Don't Get Cheap with a Turbo, also those of you that are waiting until 15k miles or more to change your oil are going to have problems sooner than you think. Of course it depends on driving style and milage.
As for the 10w xx huh, put that in your truck! A MINI doesn't deserve that kind of neglect
(Just my $.02)
Owner's Manual (p.115)...
The correct SAE grade for your Mini is determined by the climatic conditions of the region in which you normally drive your Mini.
Approved oils feature the SAE grades 5w-40 and 5w-30.
Only use oils with a specifications of API SH or higher.
So as long as the oil meets OR exceed these specs, you're fine. API has SM specs now, which is backward compatible.
Once the ambient temp is 90*F+, X-40 grade is better. Don't worry about the winter specs of 0w-xx or 5w-xx, it's good for cold flow and helps prevent wear for the first 10-15 minutes after a cold start.
Last edited by Cadenza; Aug 29, 2011 at 12:44 AM.
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 134
Likes: 1
From: San Diego CA
Sorry for reading in the wrong forum.
Last edited by unibus_driver; Aug 28, 2011 at 10:40 PM. Reason: add disclaimer
so gen1 info...gen1 expertise....so r50,r52,r53!!
2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
My reactions is based on driving my MCS everyday. At first I was very skeptical about this. As I have never used a 0W grade before. As I was always told that it should only be used in very cold climates. 
I'm not saying I'am right, but driving my car day to day and knowing it intuitively, one can tell when there a significant enough differences. This is why sometime when we go to a mechanic to diagnose a problem, they might not be able to feel it. Because you know more about your car since you drive it in day in and day out. And this is very true if you are someone who appreciate's a car for its personality rather than treating it like something that gets you from A to B (unless one is paranoid about the smallest thing that happened in their car
).
But all this discussion has only made me curious to try M1 5W 30 next time!
I'm not saying I'am right, but driving my car day to day and knowing it intuitively, one can tell when there a significant enough differences. This is why sometime when we go to a mechanic to diagnose a problem, they might not be able to feel it. Because you know more about your car since you drive it in day in and day out. And this is very true if you are someone who appreciate's a car for its personality rather than treating it like something that gets you from A to B (unless one is paranoid about the smallest thing that happened in their car
).But all this discussion has only made me curious to try M1 5W 30 next time!
1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: south jersey
a lil nugget of info I found out was....no major brand sold in the US is a true "full synthetic", from what i was told/read most major oil brands are a synthetic blend. From what i've heard amsoil is true full synthetic--but it cost an arm and a leg..like $24/qt, now i could be misinformed but the guy at the local auto store was telling me that..i'll get the website with the info and indepedent studies from him on monday.
4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 557
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco Bay Area
Mobil 1 0W 40
Yes it's full synthetic but you were mis-informed about the price.
For my car I use the Mini branded oil.
Hope this helps...
Which oil you choose to use is you're choice, however don't go 15 K miles between changes.
5 K to 7 K is the maximum amount of miles before the oil starts to break down and I don't want to replace my motor just because Mini says to go 15 K between changes!
Just change the oil & filter as its cheaper than a new motor; and alot less work !
5 K to 7 K is the maximum amount of miles before the oil starts to break down and I don't want to replace my motor just because Mini says to go 15 K between changes!
Just change the oil & filter as its cheaper than a new motor; and alot less work !
6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,194
Likes: 2
From: Washington
Go here: http://www.amsoil.com/catalog.aspx?code=AZOQT-EA
Yes it's full synthetic but you were mis-informed about the price.
For my car I use the Mini branded oil.
Hope this helps...
Yes it's full synthetic but you were mis-informed about the price.
For my car I use the Mini branded oil.
Hope this helps...
In the US, the term "synthetic" is used loosely due to lack of clear law regulating it. Years ago Castrol began selling synthetic blend as synthetic, Mobil sued them for "misleading" advertising. Unfortunately, the court ruled in Castrol's favor because there's no national law dictating what is synthetic. To better compete, Mobil went on to make a bunch of different oil categories but only Mobil 1 is synthetic.
Simple way to tell is to call up the technical department and ask if the base stock of the oil is Group IV/V. If it's not, then the oil is of the "synthetic" blend variety.
Simple way to tell is to call up the technical department and ask if the base stock of the oil is Group IV/V. If it's not, then the oil is of the "synthetic" blend variety.
1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Central IL
For anyone thats interested in watching the wear in your engine. Caterpillar sells a oil sample kit at their parts counters. It comes with the sample bottles prepaid postage and they either email or send your results back. Its been a while since I have done it but was less than $15 dollars last time I did.
4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 557
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco Bay Area
Mobil 1 SAE 0W-40
So that would be either the BMW/MINI branded oil or those listed above.
Hope that helps...
6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,194
Likes: 2
From: Washington
113K on the Goat and I have always used the Mobil 1. I change it when the car tells me to, it has a condition based system as well similar to the Mini, and I drive that car really hard. Still runs like it was new and never had a problem. A high quality pure synthetic oil is good stuff.
2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Conte...ngineOils.aspx
For a better understanding of oil go here: http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/
Last edited by Bravo Zulu; Dec 5, 2011 at 06:18 AM. Reason: additional info
