Today I learned that something is wrong with my JCW and low. Was driving to work and took a quick acute curve and my oil light came on halfway through it like the sensor was noticing low oil.

So immediately I went and took it to MINI and had them fill oil since that was all I had time for and they had no loaners, but it was two and a half quarts low from what the tech said.

What exactly could it be? There is no leaks from everything I can tell and if it is burning that much oils since October of last year should I be severely worried? I have heard MINIs burn oil but I know it can't be that much oil.

Any advice is helpful just concerned that something else could be wrong. Also, I haven't been noticing the oil getting low but the dipstick is almost impossible to read on my 09 JCW

 

Many second gen owners have reported averaging a quart of oil burned for every thousand miles driven. As unbelievable as that sounds the shocking part to me is Mini's response that those numbers are " within spec ". If this is true the only advice is to keep a couple of quarts in the boot and check your oil every other fill up.

Randy

 

Nissan, Toyota, VW, BMW, Dodge, Chevrolet and many others say using a quart of oil every 1000-1200 miles is with in acceptable limits. And ALL recommend checking your oil every time you fill up with gas. So that should be about every 200-500 miles depending on driving habits and how low you let your tank go.

As for MINI's there can be a wide variance on how much is used. some people report a quart every 1000 miles and others report getting 4-5K before having to add any.

But also remember this is a turbo charge engine the OP is talking about and they tend to use more oil than the Justa's do.

A google search will turn up many people complaining about the oil usage in the MINI and there will also be some advise on how to make it use less, many of those advise write ups block tubes in the car and thus do not allow crank case ventilation which "may" also reduce the carbon build up problems.

I just make sure I check my oil every time I get gas or once a week which ever is more frequent.

And i also find that my car varies from as much as a quart every 1200 mile to being able to go 2500 mile before needing oil, and that all depends on how hard i drive the car. Not sure why this is the case but after 96+k miles this is the case.

So Axiom how many miles do you have on your car now?

 

Sounds like you've got an oil sucker. Max is spot on with his advice. Shame on MINI for saying this is normal, but also shame on you for not checking your oil level more often.

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-and-more.html

 

Interesting.....maybe that's where all the crap on the valves is coming from too?

So, replacing the valve cover and therefore the PCV valve could maybe cure both problems?

Maybe it could also explain why some people have so much problem with their intake valves getting oil and carbon buildup, and others have none in a similar car under similar driving conditions?

 

yep ,thats what the manual alludes too ,and thats what I'm saying

 

Axion, if you are having trouble reading your stock dipstick, you'd better figure out a solution! The Cravenspeed dipstick is much easier to use, but if you don't want to spend the money, at least search the forum for OceanMini's great write up on how to use the OEM dipstick. Two quarts low wouldn't even SHOW on the OEM dipstick, would it?? Unless what you were seeing when you checked was the oil already in the channel, not the actual level?
If you check it weekly, you will be a lot safer. I opted for the $70 Cravenspeed dipstick because it is a heckuva lot cheaper than a new engine.

 

Good advice from many.

Generally some MINIs do suck a bit of oil, check at least every week and/or everytime you fill your tank.

Safe is better, engines and/or turbos dead because of oil starvation are expensive.

I find I can read the standard dipstick on my 07 and 2011 CM by laying it on a light towel or light oil cloth. Right after an oil change it is hard to see, but you can see it.

If you see no oil or cannot feel any oil on the stick, add recommended oil I keep a bottle of MINI oil in the boot.

Don

 

Happened to me the other day. My dumb *** for not checking it. But It has started consuming more since adding a OCC and doing the PCV block off.

 

I understand and accept that many cars can use a quart of oil every 1000 miles. I also understand and accept that turbo cars typically use more oil and that I should check my oil regularly.

What I do not accept and find completely absurd is that one of the most advanced automakers on the planet can not manufacture a dip stick that allows me to check my oil easily. It us unbelievable to me that they put the worst dipstick I have ever had out of 32 vehicles that I have owned in a car that regularly burns oil and needs to be checked regularly.

 

Slight thread hijack here.....

So is it typical to consume more oil after OCC install? Or does it vary from can to can, car to car?

 

Remember to lay the blame on the proper Mfg., Peugeot .

 

Not sure just happening to me.

 

^This^
It blows my mind.

While I will probably buy the new Craven dipstick because I know it's better for my car, and therefore me, I can't bring myself to do it just yet.

Working on just getting over it and moving on...

 

HAS BMW/MINI no veto power over shoddy work that they farm out?
Whose brand name is on the car?

 

The engine was designed by both BMW and Peugeot. The engines in our MINIs are assembled in the UK.

Dave

 

I know but the ridiculous dipstick just infuriates me.
I try to check my oil regularly, but usually end up shrugging and guessing that it's OK.
That's not good enough.

 

Take a look, it may help you,
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-my-oil-2.html

 

Thank you!
I will give it a go tomorrow.

 

One other way that works:

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...08080561_n.jpg
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...65631416_n.jpg
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...98789521_n.jpg
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...01514188_n.jpg

And make sure you are parked on level ground:
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...06537160_n.jpg

 

real BMW's don't have dip sticks

 

Not even the E30 M3, the E36 M3 or the M1?

real Overly luxuriousness heavy BMW's that isolate the owner from the motor don't have dip sticks

So the Mini does not qualify.

 

I should have said "real new BMWs don't have dip sticks"

(but it had a better ring without the "new" )

 

Wouldn't buy a car without a dipstick. Gauges and sensors can go bad. We should have MORE ways to physically check things, not less.