Like most of us here probably, I don't check the oil as often as I should. Yesterday when I got home, I was out watching the dog and decided I hadn't checked it in a while. Sure enough, it was a quart low. Couldn't tell you exactly when I last checked it, but hasn't been that long ago. Had a spare quart of the "special" synth oil for my previous M3 so I put that in there. Just turned 9K miles today at lunch, got my car last November. Countdown indicator gives me 1800 more miles to service. BTW, not to flame the oil service interval flames again, I followed the factory intervals on my last two BMW's and neither had any problems, including the E46 M3 I just sold with 56K miles on the clock. That engine is under much greater stress than our MINI's and it was holding up fine with 11K oil changes.

 

My friend's bmw 3 series had a light to indicate it was low on motor oil. Does mini have a similar warning light?

 

DOG = CHECK OIL?

 

The dog told him to check his oil NOW. Good doggie!

 

Thanks for the reminder (my Saint Bernard hasn't reminded me lately), I'll try and check it this weekend. I've got a little over 8000 miles on mine, and the last time I checked the oil at 6000 miles or so, it hadn't used any noticeable amount, but I don't want to take it for granted.

-Keith

 

No I check mine every week, 13600 after the last service I had to add 1/3 quart, though some engine burn off a little every 5k or so. Also be sure to check after break in as the new engines will burn off about a quart then.

 

I've GOT to start paying more attention to my English Springer Spaniel!

 

i usually check when i check the tire pressure.

 

It's the Temp Light!

Matt

 

Hey, we talk about all kinds of things.

 

Best to not fill the oil to the absolute full mark, especially if you drive the car hard. I keep mine between the lines...

 

umm, S54 oil is different viscosity from the recommended Mini stuff as I recall?

 

Uh. Mr. Berkowitz? What else is the dog telling you?

 

I doubt if a quart of it mixed in with the other will kill the engine.

 

Is your pooch perhaps a Luberidor Retriever?

 

 

Best to add to the list of things to check: The torque on your plugs. Especially for those of us who've opted for colder plugs ie. Densos. Good luck trying to get that covered under warrante.
Do a search on "blown spark plug" or "heli-coil" and you'll find volumes. On one ocaision my no. 3 plug was able to be backed out by hand.
Make it part of your ritual. Dial the wrench into 20 ft. lbs. And if you don't own a tourque wrench... What better excuse do you need? Sears is waitin for ya.

 

The pooch is cocker spaniel not lubidor retriever.

 

that's odd . . . cocker's are not usually known to be a viscous breed

 

 

Paging Son of Sam, Son, you have a call on the white courtesy telephone.

Dang, Neil, I just spit out half of a very good beer!

 

I use a program called "Automotive Wolf" which is excellent for keeping up with the maintenance requirements of your car. You can go through the car's manual and plug in all the required maintenance intervals plus specify your own, and scan in invoices, set up multiple cars, on and on....

For example, did you know the MINI has a 12 year rust warranty? You did. But, did you also read that a requirement of that warranty is that you have the undercarriage pressure washed every 2 years? Probably missed that...

Two years is also the interval for coolant and brake fluid change.

Did you know you are recommended to rotate your two ignition keys every 6 months to keep their internal batteries charged? What is the date of your last rotation?

When did you last check your spark plug torques?
Your strut bar bolt torques?
Are you examining your JCW strut bar bolts weekly to watch for cracking there?

All of these questions can be put out of your mind with a good maintenance software program. I've been using Automotive Wolf for years, and it has my Jag, MINI, and Motorcycle maintenance schedules and records for all 3.

 

Well, there you go - dogs are distant relatives to wolves, thus he was tracking his car maint info via Automotive Dog

Good tip, is this a PC only program? Any others that are good? Another way to do it would to just plug the info into you calendar and sync it with your phone and you're set

PS: I did read about the pressure washing, figured I didnt need to worry about it since the car never sees snow or salt... Hmmm

EDIT: the Luberidor Retriever comment was very clever

 

Giving Fiona a good once over before I hit the road for AMVIV on Tuesday. I wanted to get in for my second service but the dealer said I had to wait, speedo says I have 2200 miles till service.

 

Bump.

Everyone go check your oil. The oil-service only means you need to change the oil, you'll have to fill it up between the oil-services.