I looked at my newly aquired Craven dipstick for my 2009 Mini Club S again. Here are pics of it, looks like it would read diff then the stock one. Am I not seeing something here? Looks like the GAUGE area it is diff then the stock one.

 

I just got mine today. Much easier to read. You don't really if the tips line up but you want the full lines to match up which they do.

 

Its the upper length you should worry about.. the lower part "missing" on the Craven unit might as well say "buy a new Mini"..

 

+1

 

I have the top of the dip sticks lined up evenly as they would sitting sitting in the dip stick tube. That said it looks to me the oil level read range is diff between them. I realize that the Craven doesn't have that extra tip on the end like the stocker, that is not what I mean.

 

On the craven, the end notch is below the lowest read out for the stocker.

 

That last lower notch on the Craven is bigger then the others, do I only count the oil level against just the smaller notches??

 

did you even read the owners manual?

 

For the mini? I have. What does that have to do with an aftermarket dipstick.

 

i think i see what you're saying - you actually mean it's too LONG/tall for reading a corresponding full amount correct? i.e., the top full mark in the oem one is above where the craven's even starts to measure?

 

I've annotated the picture. I'm sorry I don't see the problem.

 

^that's helpful. yeah idk what OP is exactly saying

 

Ouch....
I was wondering when somebody would point out "FULL" IS THE SAME....the only line that matters!!!
I hope the op was not trying to run his car 1-1.5 low to keep it on the BOTTOM of the stock dipstick....the so called "buy a new motor" zone.....

 

Ok with this I see it now. Still there is no where from Craven that says that bottom notch and a half is not part of the read zone based on the lines you did to the pic.
I don't and do not run my cars low on oil but just was not understanding this craven stick correctly.

 

 

Instructions for the cravenspeed dipstick directly from cravenspeed.com.

"First, make sure your MINI is sitting on a level surface and the engine is cool. If you have been driving your MINI, wait at least 15 minutes before handling the MINI Dipstick Replacement.
Next, pull the dipstick out of the oil tube. Wipe the notched sinker clean of residual oil. Put the dipstick back into the receptacle until it is inserted completely.
Remove the dipstick again, and examine the notches on the sinker.
Like the factory dipstick, the sinker on the Dipstick Replacement measures approximately 1 quart of oil.
Add more oil to your MINI based on how many notches have collected oil. If all notches are clean, add about a quart of oil. If half of the notches are clean, add about a half a quart of oil.
Once you have added more oil to your MINI, recheck the Dipstick Replacement to see the new oil level. Continue to add oil and recheck the level until the Dipstick Replacement indicates your oil level is full."

Hope this helps.

 

well,

i took a look at my craven in the light today, and the notches actually do pick up oil well - they cling to the dipstick well - however, quick question, it seems that my current oil level isn't at the max full level, but the "head" or "base" of the dipstick always picks up new oil when i wipe it on the towel - is it still not full? i can't picture how it looks in the actual tube:



red line is where the oil reads - but the circled part always picks up oil, "skipping" the full mark - is the circled part just picking up oil in the tube, and where the line is is where the oil actually is?

 

Yeah I know, it's a older thread but why add another possible useless oil level thread...lol

I have the stock dipstick still as in adjusting to the IDEA of paying $75.00 for a dipstick with already comes with my new car....lol
Specs: '14 fJCW Clubman

Every time I check the oil it's shows full, or at least that's what I'm reading.
Now this is a good thing I am sure as no one wants or dreams of having low oil levels.
So, the question is for me....could my almost new N18 engine NOT be us ring oil as posted here through out the NAM forums?
Has the issue of burning/us ring oil been better with the newer cars out there...'12 '13 '14?
I had the oil changed at 5k
Had it done again at 10k
I'm at 12k and will wait till 15k
But when reading the low level oil issues and the almost inability to read the dipstick easily, (at least for me) I have to ask if it's possible to NOT burn/use oil in these cars?

Thanks in Advance Guys-n-Gals

 

I have a 2013 S with 11,000 miles (oils changes every 5,000) and have zero perceptional oil use. I use the craven dip stick.

 

Some use oil....
Some don't


I suspect it depends both on driving style, and luck....
Hard driving burns more....
As for luck...engine machining tolerances make a huge impact on oil use...and engine makers are making motors more "loose" with bigger gaps to reduce friction to add mpg....
So if you got a motor with the right combination of parts that is "just right" and break it in well....you might not burn oil....
One word of caution....
Folks who sometimes drive lots of short trips can have oil dilution issues...moisture, etc build up cause the oil does not get hot enough to boil off moisture/excess gas....

 

It's mostly based on luck, IMO. My 09 burns off just shy of a half quart about every month or 1K mostly non-spirited miles, half of which involves stop and go traffic. Paying close attention on long weekend trips from LA to SF and back to LA (1K), the n14 engine burns maybe a quarter of a quart. Apparently this is considered within normal range, according to MINI.

Getting an accurate reading on the stock dipstick takes patience as everyone says. The Craven dipstick sounds like its worth it in my case, maybe not so much in yours; I just never got around to ordering one yet.

 

I believe the question was, are the newer engines, i.e. 2013/2014 made "better" and burn less oil. We know the older ones (2007-2011) have a propensity to.

 

Newer n18 engines..? Vs n14? Or possible changes made in production on the n18 model line? N14s have a totally different head.

There are a few small updates to the later (2013/2014) n18s. But it's small external items like the oil pump solenoid... The heat shield over the oil line next to the turbo..

I do not think any real internal changes took place.

As for the subject of oil consumption.. Where is it leaving. Rings, Valve seals, vaporization on cylinder walls, or turbo related..?