Right, the dipstick and guide tube design are surprisingly lame.

One "solution" might be to rig up a flexy wire with a little loop on the end, then stuff a bit of rag into the loop and run it down the guide to clean out any residual oil before checking the level; rather like a gun cleaning rod, but flexible.

Maybe you could even figure out a way of fitting a "scraper" of some sort onto the dipstick itself, just above the plastic bit at the end.

Spridget

 

Dealer performed an oil change about 3k miles ago on my 09 MCS. I have checked the oil a couple times since and the oil level has always been at the top of the orange nubbin thing - above the upper lump, right where it meets the metal stick.

So, recently I tried a couple of the methods listed here to see if I could get a lower (more accurate?) reading. All methods - including removing the dipstick and letting ii sit overnight - yielded the exact same level: right at the top of the orange lump.

Is it overfilled? Enough to be a concern? The uselessness of this dipstick is blowing my mind.

Thanks.

 

I just have a routine. Friday when I park, I put the hood up and pull the dipstick out 2-3 inches. Saturday AM I check tire pressure, top off washer fluid, and get a clear reading on the factory dipstick. It is nice that I have a garage, and that many dont, but that is my routine. I leave the hood up in case I forget that the dipstick is out.

Mike

Edit: Oh yeah, I check/empty the OCC every week as well.

 

This method appears to work if you do it long enough. If you want to check a second time you have to start over and repeat the process.

 

When I spoke to my local dealer's SA I asked him what the oil capacity is in a Mini Cooper S motor. He told me he thought it was between 4.6 and 4.9 quarts. I asked him to do better than guess. He called one the techs and asked. He said it was between 4.7 and 4.9. Hmmm I know the exact oil capacity of all my other cars.

I looked at all the printed materials that I had on the Mini and I could not find anything that had the oil capacity. I am not sure if your dealer knows exactly how much oil goes in the Mini motor but I bet he can't check the level without it taking about an hour.

I spoke to six mini owners this weekend. None of them could successfully check the oil level in the Mini they own, love and drive. All six try to check it and know that the motor can be damaged if the oil level gets too low. They all had the dealer do the latest oil change and all six believe the oil level is too high. If I can't check the oil in my Mini in less than an hour (with an acceptable degree of tolerance) I am 100% sure that no person on this planet can or will do it in less time.

I suspect that at near $100 an hour (dealer rates) the cost to set the oil level in your Mini correctly is not important enough to the bottom line and work turnover rate to make a dealership profitable. I am sure the techs try but the design of the dipstick and the path it takes makes it very difficult.

Edit: I found the MINI technical service document that lists oil capacity by motor.. 4.2L is what is listed for my Mini. Thanks!! Note that all Minis do not hold the same amount of oil so be careful when asking or reading answers on message boards.

R50, R52 and R53
W10 (2006 MINI Cooper) – 4.50 liters / 4.7551 quarts
W11 (2006 MINI Cooper S)– 4.80 liters / 5.0721 quarts

R55, R56, R57 and R60
N12 (2007+ MINI Cooper) and N16 – 4.20 liters / 4.4381 quarts
N14 (2007+ MINI Cooper S) and N18 – 4.20 liters / 4.4381 quarts

 

The Bentely Manual says it holds approximately 4.4 quarts, including oil filter.

Dave

 

OceanMini2: Thanks for the illustrations
Sure makes what I wrote simpler to comprehend when you can see it as well.

 

New 2011 convertible.... 6,500 mi ..... cannot see oil level on dipstick, either..... check it per manual, w/ engine warm... live 60 mi from dealership, so shakes my confidence..... is there a better dipstick? Dealer doesn't offer any.....

 

Has anyone taken a belt sander to the OEM dip stick to flatten one side of it?
I have no idea if it would actually work, but it might allow the excess oil in the tube to not coat the flat portion of the dip stick. Perhaps someone who has bought an aftermarket stick could give it a shot? I don't dare given I am still in warranty...
E

 

 

Great art work! I doubt that many other dipstick designs would warrant so much time and attention by so many people. If MINI spent as much time as people on this forum have in depicting how stupid the design is, they could have actually made one that could be read without as much in and out action as a frat party.

 

And this is why BMW and many others have probably done away with dipsticks. From my experience, dipsticks which take a bendy path are always difficult to read, vs straight up and down (like my lawn tractor).

 

It seems it would not be that difficult to have a system, what ever it is to check the oil. If getting too low can cause damage ( as with all engines) and overfilling can cause damage as well, paying the dealer to top off the oil may not be dumb.

That way if overfilled , not your fault. If the engine needs oil too frequently then you have it documented.

I would gladly buy a third party dipstick to know just where the oil is. Should not have to but better than the alternative.

I also don't mind adding my own oil but want to be sure enough and not too much.

I really think everyone reading this post should call Mini Customer relations and let them know how we feel. There has got to be a reasonable solution.

 

I never thought I'd be glad to have dirty oil.....that's the only way I eventually saw any.... and my manual shows a dipstick with a 'Max' & 'Min' designation..... but my stick is like those on this forum: no markings at all...and dark orange.....amazing....

 

Great thought, Boxcar.....-> a little cut & paste to Mini Customer Service ......hmmm, so far don't find their Customer Service e-mail address.....so far.......

 

Has anybody taken their MINI to the dealer and asked, "Please show me how to check the oil."?

Because in my case, either mine was overfilled by them at last service, or the dipstick is inaccurate (well, I know it is). And I'm very curious what they would do, assuming they use the factory method and yield the same over-filled result that I get.

Oh, and OceanMini2: Thanks for outlining that last method - great illustrations. I'll try that next. (I just gotta remember to pack a lunch and use the bathroom first. )

 

Ghimivee.......-> good suggestion....i cut & pasted some of these forum responses to my Mini dealer rep.... bought my Mini in September, 60 mi away from dealer in Annapolis, but I am new/ mechanically stooopid enough to have no ego about showing up at their door for a class on dipsticks.... so early in ownership (6,500 mi) I want them to do all the work, under warranty....if I could just figure if I have enough oil to make it to Annapolis!! :-/

 

Yes......

I am sharing the oil checking results as tested on a 2012 Mini Copper S from dealer stock (not my car). This is a new car with nearly no miles on it. We (the Dealer SA, Dealer Salesman and myself) tested the oil level cold and warm. Each test documents the first three checks (check level, clean stick and recheck....) The 4th and 5th checks were not usable because oil had attached itself to the inside of the tube.

Cold oil check method: Orange = saturated oil on the stick, Red or orange dots = light oil with stick texture showing, Solid red = no oil.

1) Remove the dipstick and clean it. Do not put the dipstick back in the tube.
2) Let the car sit so the oil can drain out of the tube. (we waited 20 min on this test at the dealership) It is best to wait 2 hours or more.
3) Insert the dipstick into the tube and remove after 10 sec.
4) Inspect the oil on the stick. (check 1)
5) Clean it and insert the dipstick into the tube and remove after 10 sec.
6) Inspect the oil on the stick. (check 2)
7) Clean it and insert the dipstick into the tube and remove after 10 sec.
8) Inspect the oil on the stick. (check 3)



Warm oil check method: Orange = saturated oil on the stick, Red or orange dots = light oil with stick texture showing, Solid red = no oil.

1) Run car up to normal temperature. (note the lack of any temp gauge for oil or coolant)
2) Shut of the motor and open the hood.
3) Wait 5 min.
4) Pull out the dipstick, and then wipe the oil off the dopstick.
5) Put the stick back in without rotating the stick.
6) Wait 10 sec.
7) Then pull the stick out (check 1). look at the tip that is full of oil including the top ball (with the original oil set from the factory).
8) Clean it and insert the dipstick into the tube and remove after 10 sec.
9) Inspect the oil on the stick. (check 2) Look at the false negative and at the same time a false overfill reading.
10) Clean it and insert the dipstick into the tube and remove after 10 sec.
11) Inspect the oil on the stick. (check 3) Look at the false overfill reading.

Notice that in each set of tests the reading is slightly different. In some cases the reading shows a false over fill condition. The only repeatable way to check the oil (if the dipstick is used to check) is to check the oil cold as outlined in the cold method. Unfortunately only the first check will provide usable results. Any attempts after the first check are tainted from oil transfer from the tube.

 

BMW and AUdi went to digital dipdticks for emissions reasons.

 

Explain? Where vapors leaking out?

 

Basically, yes. Because the dipstick seal will never be perfect. If there's no dipstick or dipstick tube, there is no place for vapor to escape. It has to do with the new European emissions standards.

 

You know if they really wanted to keep the dipstick the engineers could come up with a solution. I am not saying that it will be approved by the various EPAs however.

It is possible to put a screw on cap on the top of the dipstick to prevent oil vapor loss. Then they could put a sensor on the cap and make it impossible to start the motor if the dipstick is missing (not that I want this). I can't believe that crankcase evaporative oil emission from a missing dipstick accounts for that much of the overall destruction of the world but every particle does add up. I have seen many broken dipsticks and many broken dipstick tubes (plastic guides). I can see how most "non car people" would just keep driving and never think about fixing the broken or missing dipstick parts. But what about designing the dipstick so it does not self destruct? I never thought that using thermal plastic for large portions of the dipstick was a good idea. Another bad idea is making plastic coolant couples that attach to the head out of plastic that fail due to heat cycles. I suppose you can call me retro but I would like to have some way of seeing the oil level in the motor and use a tool that works.

 

They could also develop some sort of site bubble in a sealed system. That way there would be no emission problem. Motorcycles have had site bubbles for 2 stroke oil for years.

 

As long as it gets the job done, I am for it.

 

Have you ever wondered how different the oil level reading is if your Mini is not parked on level ground? Most streets are sloped for water drainage. If you park your Mini on a typical street and check the oil level you could be tricking yourself.

First picture shows a clean stick.
Second picture shows an oil reading with a Mini parked on a 4 degree slope (US driver's side low).
Third picture shows the oil reading with the Mini parked on a level surface (in this case I used a jack and a bubble level).



If you check your oil with the passenger side on the low side of a slope you will see an oil level reading that looks much higher than the real oil level is (as long as you are not checking the oil on a RHD Mini). None of this may surprise you but note that more than half of the oil zone is dry in the test (or would be wet if the car was tilting to the other side).