My Mini's service computer is showing that I need an oil change every 17k miles. I'm not comfortable with that, so I was thinking that I would change just the oil using an oil extractor once or twice between taking it to the dealership for the 17k interval.

What does everyone think about this approach?

 

Don't do just half of an oil change. Get the filter and do it all. And then get the reg service done when ready.

 

Sounds like a good approach but you should change the oil filter as well. (pretty easy to get to and not very expensive.... just get the Mini OEM filter)

I have used an extractor on my Mini and it worked well... I also changed the filter too.

 

I change my oil 5 times a year because of track usage (every 4 days on the track). But I change my filter 3 times a year only, every other oil change.

However, I do not use the Mini oil but I use the Redline 5W30 or the Castrol 0W30, both Polyol Ester full synthethics, which is supposed to be much better at high temps than the super refined mineral oil they recommend as synthetic.

I also use the oil extractor.

 

I changed my oil using a vacuum manual pump at 10K miles. Worked out fine. Some follow Mini Cooper schedule which would have me doing the oil and filter at around 19K or probably the year anniversary will come first. Changing just the oil is an in-between step but I'm fine with that. better than letting it go till Mini recommends. granted, there are others that change oil and filter much more frequently and do both all the time. Each has to make that decision for themselves.

 

The filter is so very easy to change... almost no extra work at all... just do it at the same time as the oil and be done with it. Filters cost around $20 CDN at my dealer - - pretty steep really. But the peace of mind is worth it to me.

I've heard good things about extractors, never used one myself. It's not hard to change the oil without an extractor, but it does involve crawling under the car and getting hot oil all over your hands and tools - - so I see the attraction of them.

I use Castrol Syntech 0W30 as do others here (I've used the Castrol 5W30 as well).


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Do it right and change the filter too.

I know the extractor has been debated endlessly but since I'm old school I believe in proper oil pan drainage out the plug.

 

The oil will probably last longer than the filter. I'd be inclined to change the filter more often than the oil, if I were trying to avoid doing both. However, I believe that 17,000 mile is too long for either. IIRC, an oil analysis after 12,500 miles was posted here, and it indicated that the oil had become abrasive due to high metal content.

I did my first oil and filter change at about 1,600 miles, second about 5,000 miles later. Oil analysis after the second showed that it was a reasonable time to change. I could have gone a few K more, perhaps, but not to 17K. I'll stick with somewhere around 8K miles between changes.

 

Change the oil and not the filter?

That's like taking a bath and not changing your underwear....eeeew!

 

That pretty much sums it up. I saw a Mercedes come into my oil change shop when I worked there years ago that hadn't had an oil/filter change in a while and the filter deteriorated into little pieces. Instead of pulling out the filter, I was pulling out a thick stew of filter parts mixed in with motor oil. After seeing that, I'd have offloaded the car as soon as possible if it was mine.

 

Not a fan of long change intervals, but as Robin says changing just the filter makes sense. That is where all the contaminants go.

If you are going to change the oil it is no big deal to do the filter at the same time. You paid how much $$$$$ for your MINI? An extra $10 for a filter is money well spent.

 

17K miles is just too long for me, regardless of what the computer says. Remember, free maintainence is for 50K miles, after that, you get to pay for the engine replacement. I paid about $9 at the dealer for filters, which is cheap compared to the cost of the syn-oil. Just replace the filter!

 

Oil filters, air filters including the cabin air filters and fuel filters all become more efficient at trapping finer and finer particles as they trap particles, to a point. So those replacing filters too often because it makes them feel good, are actually starting over with a less efficient filter every time. It floors me when I hear someone say they replace the oil filter twice as often as the oil.

But the problem is you do not know when the filter is done, so it only makes sense to change the filter and the oil together. I went 5,000 miles at 5 months for the 1st oil & oil filter change myself. Way too early per MINI, but made me feel good. Will probably stay on a 6 month change schedule, as the car is a grocery getter and sees many short trips.