I need some advice on my recent oil change. I must be doing something wrong.
My 2008 Clubman S only took 2.5 quarts of oil during my latest oil change.
This is my second DIY oil change. The first time I had a similar issue. My MINI mechanic said to loosen the oil filter housing first, to eliminate any sort of vacuum effect, to get more oil to drain. So this time I removed the entire filter, before removing the drain plug. But it only took the 2.5 quarts.
(I had driven about 20 minutes before the oil change and the car was on a level driveway.)
Shouldn't it be taking 4 quarts?

 

I would start with the simple questions: Is the car level and/or front higher than the rear? Level being gravitational level, not level with the earth. Generally, you will have ~1/2-3/4qt in the filter if you don't replace it (so you will fill with 3qts w/o filter change).

Draining oil is simply opening the oil fill cap then removing the drain plug. Give it up to a minute or two after it's "empty" to allow any drainage left. Replace the plug then fill with oil (checking after two). After you have added oil, start the car so the pump works with the oil and then shut it off (~10-20 seconds). Give the engine about a minute then wipe and re-check your dip stick. If the level hasn't dropped (and still looks the near same color as you put it in) then everything is fine. After your change, run the car around the block then let the car sit for a minute and recheck your dipstick and for leaks.

Not certain where to look outside the more complicated items (e.g. something in the oil pan like sludge or something worse). Me, I'd probably remove the oil pan after you empty it next time just to be safe.

 

Did you check the oil level BEFORE the oil change?

 

No.
How would that effect the amount of oil needed after a complete drain & filter replacement?

 

Oops, I mis-read your question.

 

your mini maybe burning oil that you have not noticed; hence, checking dipstick is relevant. when was the last oil change and how many miles has it been b4 this one? mine took about 4.25 qts. changed the mini on rhino ramps too.

 

I check the oil regularly after being " scolded" by my MINI mechanic for bringing the car in for scheduled service with really low oil. He mentioned that the S's often burn more oil than other cars. So I check it regularly.
Can you explain the Rhino ramps? I had the front wheels up about 3" on wood blocks.
Maybe it wasn't high enough to completely drain the pan?
As I mentioned in my first post, I only put in 2.5 quarts.

 

I also have a set of rhino ramps; they are great.

http://www.rhinoramps.com/

 

Rhino ramps will get you up and at a nice steep angle. I use jack stands and have it lifted to about 8-24" (depending on what else I'm doing on the car -- I generally use four jack stands at anything above 12"). And after you have it up, remember to use chock blocks (Rhino ramps or two jack stands).

 

did you make sure that you're not taking out the transmission fluid? the oil drain plug should be the one on the passenger side.

 

ah.......yea.

And I'm an idiot!

I've been trying to impress upon my teenage son that we should be able to still do work around our own house.
So I got under the car (on the driver's side) and removed the first plug I saw. I'm used to the old V8's, where everything in the drivetrain runs front to back.
Apparently I'm not the first person to do this, although most other people have kept it to themselves.

 

Hope you figured out how to refill the transmission...

 

Did you say you drove the car? Does that mean you overfilled the crankcase and drive with no tranny fluid?

 

I did drive it for a couple of days but didn't cause any damage.
I must have been low on oil because I checked the level after putting in only 2 quarts.
And I didn't end up draining the transmission fluid. The plug I removed is the "inspection" plug. Above the plug is a hollow tube extending up into the fluid reservoir. The normal service to check the fluid level, is to remove the plug and add fluid until it comes out the inspection hole. (The actual fluid level check involves a couple of steps, with shifting between gears, etc.)

So, since I had the front of the car on ramps, I must have had the transmission fluid just over the height of the tube.

BTW, I changed the real oil last weekend, without incident!

 

WOW

 

Did you open the oil cap?