Is there an "oil icon" flashing/indicating the low level of the engine oil when the level is below the minimum?

 

No, there's no dedicated icon for low oil level. If the oil level gets low enough, it will eventually cause the low oil pressure light to illuminate, but you'd have to be *very* low for that to happen (like several quarts low), and by the time you see the low oil pressure, engine damage is probably imminent (if it hasn't happened already).

 

Nope, so be sure to check your oil regularly! If you happen to see that light blink on very quickly (possibly in a hard turn) I would bet your at least a quart low and need to top her off.

 

Its strange but that light did not turn on although the oil level was below the min mark. Actually i would say that the oil wire was completely dry when testing it! How would i know if the motor was to be irreversibly damaged?

 

that happend to me.
but no light came on i just kept hearing a "cold start chatter" noise and decided to check the oil. turns out i only had 1.5L in it, dealer changed oil etc but i didnt pay him since i said its obsurd how a new car could wast 4L of oil in less than a year.

 

That's a real good example of why the oil warning light makes a lousy oil-level indication. It's not going to come on unless the oil pump actually fails or you lose so much oil that the pump is sucking air instead of oil (more than several quarts).

 

That's why you need to check it yourself at least once a month!

I agree that using 3+ quarts in a year is very unusual, and it probably indicates a more serious problem. Did the dealer indicate why it was so low? Did they check for leaks? I'd check it weekly until you figure out what's wrong!

 

yea ive been cheking it, and it isnt low.
what i think may have happend is that they gave it to me low on oil and it went through the oil faster cuz it was low

 

On another note, I took the MCS to North Scottsdale Mini to get brakework done under warranty last month. They did not bother to even check the oil. I checked a week later and notices a quart down. Once more reason never to trust the dealer.

 

When I took in my 2008 mini to get the iPod adapter installed, my mini dealer (East Bay Mini) told me that they include an "annual oil change" as well, instead of the larger major oil change at 15k. (I think they simply flush all old oil and replace with new clean oil for your "annual oil change, but I'm not exactly sure.)

So anytime you bring it in, if it's been a while but still under the 15k oil change, request the "annual oil change" option. It's included with your warranty to take advantage of it!

 

I'm equally ticked at how there is no oil pressure guage that comes stock with the R56. I baby my car and I check my oil weekly. I think other new Mini owners should embrace the good habits of checking it themselves and checking it often like others have said. Pop that hood!

 

Is it normal or not to have lost 3/4 of oil (maybe more) in one year?

 

Hi, Zoranb. That's not unusual to loose that much oil in 12 months, particularly during break-in and if you have the turbo. All engines lose a bit of oil because that's the only way to lubricate the pistons; a slight film of oil is left on the cylinder walls as the piston moves and that oil is consumed during combustion. That consumption is higher during engine break-in and should go down after the break-in is sucessfully completed. Also, the bearing that supports the turbo relies on oil pressure to operate correctly, so there can be some loss there, too. All completely normal.

For all cars, you should be checking the oil level at least once a month.

 

did you ask them to check it?

 

I'm with Minieme. Just had 1st service on my R56 S @ Brecht Mini. Amongst other things (loose electrical connections, tires overinflated 3-5lbs, etc.), I just found out today that the oil was over filled (3/8" above top mark). This so oiled up the intake that the inlet tube slid off the turbo! Don't even want to think about the turbo and inter-cooler. They're getting a major comebacker @ 7AM tomorrow. You're right, never trust a dealer and double check EVERYTHING they do. Dwight

 

wait.... what happens if its overfilled? mine was overfilled about the 1/2" over the top marker, but i havent checked it recently.

 

Hey Topmini, get that extra oil out of there now! The PCV system starts dumping the excess oil into the entire intake system starting at the turbo inlet. This cruds up everything, all the way to the injector nozzles. If your dealer did it, make'em fix it and clean it. Dwight

 

thanks for the info il keep it in mind and tell my SA next time i see him, so he can check or do something about it.

last time i told him he said nothing happens if its a little over, but i guess they just say that to avoid doing the work.

What should i be concerned for if the oil is over the limit?
what could get damaged? and how could i know that it is damaged?
Would extra oil affect performance wise?

all this so i can make a point in getting my car fixed.

 

are you serious? do you really think 3/8" of oil would do that? STOP THE INSANITY so if its 3/8" under your motor blows up! it does not crud up everything and there is no possible way it can get to the injectors. the pcv system is for crankcase vetalation the only way it can get oil in it is if its 2-4 quarts high.

 

Tell that mechanic (?) the manufacturer puts those high/low marks on the dip stick for some pretty good reasons. Too much oil can cause the crankshaft to create an oil mist that the Positive Crankcase Ventilation system dumps into the intake system. Oil coating and build-up of the inter-cooler reduces its efficiency and lowers power over time. Normal crankcase vapors are burned during combustion, but oil mist causes carbon build up that can effect injector nozzles, valves and CAT over time. Your first indication that something is wrong is when the CE light comes on. Check with m7 and Alta on this. They don't make oil catch cans for nothing! Good Luck-Dwight

Note to joevista: Where did you think the PCV vents to? Go ahead and fill'er up!

 

yes they are there for a reason i did not dispute that i said that 3/8" would not make a difference!! the pcv vents to the air intake. do you think they make the tolerances that tight for the oil level. sorry i dont.

 

There have been many reports here of dealers over-filling oil. It seems like most, if not all, are putting 5 quarts of oil in when they do oil changes. MINI of Mountain View over-filled my 2007 MCS and I complained. My SA said they use a machine that measures out "the correct amount". I mentioned the warning about over-filling in the User Guide so he talked to the Service Manager who said it wont hurt anything.

I wonder if MINI has changed its mind about the correct oil level for the 2nd Gen engine?

 

I'd remind your SA that those automatic dispensing machines are easy to mis-set, resulting in an overfill. They are better alternatives to having the shop generate hundreds of empty oil bottles, however.

My suggestion would be to perform an inspection of the car before leaving the shop; check fluid levels, visually check for loose parts, etc. I do the same thing each and every time before I fly an airplane, so it makes sense to do it after your car's been worked on. It's really hard for the SA to claim they didn't do it if you find the problem before you've left their shop.

 

In general, I accept and believe that new generation synthetic oils really are safe to run the long intervals our cars (and others much more exotic) call for. But reading this thread made me decide to go ahead and do a "mid-term" oil change myself. Went and bought an oil extractor at Northern Tools (cool device, should have got one years ago), ridiculously priced oil filter cartridge from my local dealer, and went to town. With 8500 miles on mycar, the oil level per the dipstick was almost at the bottom marker. After extracting the oil and changing the filter, four quarts of Mobil 1 filled it back to very close to the top. It's obvious from reading the owner's manual and MINI USA website that they really don't want you changing it yourself, very mysterious about levels, etc. but it was an easy job that I will probably do every 7500 or so from now on.

 

Hey Scott, what does that oil extractor cost and how do you use it? BTW, my SA also said over fill was no big problem! Too many SA's saying the same thing sounds like corporate policy to me. Am I being paranoid enuff?
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