Yes, thank you! This was all I was looking for, I will be going home and trying this...

One other question. What is the oil capacity I keep seeing 4.4 US Liters for my '08 Clubman S.

Has anyone heard differently?

Thanks guys.

 

Hi, Everyone.

I emailed Cravenspeed after checking my oil and finding that I was down by two notches (all but two notches were covered with oil). Tarin replied to me and, with his permission, I am sharing the info below in an effort to reduce confusion.

1. For the second generation MINI (I have a 2009 MINI
Cooper S), each notch on the Craven dipstick = 0.1 quart of oil:

Each notch is equal to about 1/10th of a quart, so if you’re down 2 notches, you need to add about 1/5th quart of oil.

Just to clarify, the 1 notch= .1 qt only applies to the second generation dipstick. For first generation, pre-2007 Minis, the dipstick has a different sinker with less notches. The bottom notch still indicates you need about a quart, and the top notch means full, and mid-way means about a half a quart.

2. I then asked Tarin to confirm that NO oil reading on the dipstick could mean that I'm down a quart or MORE. In other words, the entire dipstick length is equivalent to one quart of oil:

That is correct, if your oil is not even to the bottom rung, add about a quart more and keep rechecking it until it's full.

Huge thanks to Tarin. He and Cravenspeed are top notch in my book. Always willing to help and they honestly represent their products. Thanks to them, I can actually see the oil on this stick and now have a clear understanding of how much oil to add.

 

Heysus,

4.4 quarts (4.2 liters) is the correct amount of oil for a oil and fillter change on all 2nd genertion MINI's (2007+).

Morris, 2011 MC, PW/B

 

I believe that it takes responsible drivers to keep a car working properly. You need to learn what your car needs and how it asks you for help. I think some people get in trouble with the Mini because the Mini is not an average car. Using the dipstick on a R56 is difficult but if the motor has more or less oil in than spec the reading is more likely to be false if not done with care.




Most people don't expect a new car to use much oil but some R56 Minis do use up to a quart of oil per 1500 miles. Many Mini R56s don't use much oil at all. You need to know your oil level ether way."The Dipstick can TRICK you into thinking your car is overfilled when it is low on oil." This is a major problem (sorry but this is not the average consumer's fault). MINI tells you check your oil in a way that is very likely to trick you into thinking you have more oil in the motor than it does. Mini does not tell you how to interpret the reading on the dipstick so when you see oil mist on the recessed part of the tip of the dipstick with WET oil on the top mark and WET oil on the cone at the bottom it may trick you into thinking that you are good to go when you are just about to damage your motor.

Before you check your oil in a R56 you must make sure your Mini is on level ground.



Real measurements shown below done by changing the car from left of level to right of level using a jack. The first picture shows a clean dry stick.


It is helpful to use a bubble level when checking or adding oil. If you don't have a level road or driveway move the car or use a jack to level the car.



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.

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.




Cold oil check method: Orange = saturated oil on the stick, Red or orange dots = light oil with stick texture showing, Solid red = no oil.
(same car from dealer stock on the same day as shown in the warm method test)

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)


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.

Mini does not recommend the cold check method and stated the stick is not calibrated for cold checking. I think it is best to use the steps outlined in the cold method even if the oil is warm from driving.

Grinding, sanding and drilling the stick does not 100% overcome the miss readings that occur from the curve in the dipstick tube.

 

That is sooo mucked up!

 

So is the cravenspeed dipstick still the best way of making it easier to read oil level???

 

Either buy the Cravenspeed one, or do Blackice's mod to the OEM stick, see post #151 above. The main thing is to eliminate that lower bulb which drags oil up the channel, and to make a flat, notched surface which makes the oil easier to see.
Just a reminder, if your oil is overfilled, you will be frustrated when trying to find the level. You can see it well only if it is at or under the high mark. So if you can't figure your level out, suspect overfilling.

 

An old thread but I ordered a Craven and it will not seat in the tube. The oring is too big. Without the oring it fits. I will be calling Craven on Monday!

 

They will replace it with no fuss. They had trouble with a few having too much powder coating, that make the o ring too big for the hole. Just let them know. They are super for customer service!

 

Just ordered mine off Amazon a couple of days ago. Works like a champ. You have to catch the light just right to read it with a fresh Mobile 1 0W40 change. No problems with fit or finish.

 

Agree. I have always had great customer support with them in the past.