Castrol European formual 0-30.

 

My dealer was doing $59 oil/filter service, so I took it in (not having to mess with disposal was worth the extra $10 to me over buying the Mobil 1 plus OEM filter and doing it myself). The MINI oil showed up on the invoice at $6 a quart.

So while I was there, I wandered over to the parts counter to buy a half case for my DIY changes. The parts guy wanted $99 for six quarts!!!

After nearly blowing my stack (and showing him the service department invoice) he lowered the price to $8 a quart. I bought six (knowing WallyWorld sells the Mobil 1 for $7.25).

But I did get the nice MINI shopping bag. ;-)

Now that the warranty has expired, I'll be using Euro spec Mobil 1 0-40.

 

Good info.
Mobil 1 for Jacob.

 

I've tried a few on my car. For the best results in gas mileage and engine running smooth I noticed Royal Purple and Mobil1 were the best options. I've tried Pennzoil and Castrol and they were giving me bad gas mileage and engine was running weird RPMs. But also depends on what you've used and gave you the best experience from past usage.

 

Change(s)?? The mini takes 4.2. You can only do one. And why did u pay eight when it was six bucks? I wouldn't of bought that bs

 

It's actually 4.4 for those who don't know exactly.

 

Mini of Orlando uses Castrol 5w 30. Had that in my mini since 34k miles when I got it. Seems to work just fine. I change the oil about every 10k. No issues to date! Car runs like a top.

 

I like to have extra oil on hand to top off oil levels between changes (the MINI S has been known to burn oil). The capacity according to MINI, with filter, is 4.5 quarts IIRC (some say 4.6, others say 5.1).

I drove 60 miles for the oil change and to pick up some OEM parts. Time is money (even for us semi-retired guys). The explanation was the Parts Department and the Service Department set their own rates for oil and the service department pumps their oil out of a tank, not individual bottles. Good explanation for the $6 or $8 discrepancy.

That doesn't excuse the attempted $18 charge for a quart (and it's why that parts department lost my future business... and for quoting me $24 for the dummy 12V socket plug/cover). $8 a quart for MINI 5W-30 was reasonable, and I wanted to keep everything OEM while the car was under factory warranty.

 

Use the 0W40 Mobil 1.

Its the 40 end you'll want an need for FL.

 

Oh you mean the stuff they sell at parts stores that does not meet specs?

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...trol_8020075-p

Or the stuff you have to import from Europe that does.. that you don't find here in the US?

http://www.castrol.com/castrol/secti...tentId=7043925

 

My manual states 4.4 quarts(but you can put as much as you want as long as you don't OVERFILL) but I top it off at 5 quartz.

 

yea guys i will be going with mobil1 0w40 this time lets give it a shot

 

Mobil1 0w 40 works well. We have a great write-up on oil changes to your MINI and some brief notes about oil as well:

MINI Oil Change DIY

Mark / Pelican Parts

 

Mark, I want to thank you, you have a great website. I've done a LOT of DIY web pages in the past. I know what it entails (and the never ending e-mails..)

http://faculty.ccp.edu/faculty/dreed...tech/index.htm

Thanks again, once I get my Mini I plan to use your site a lot.

 

"Add about 4 quarts to the engine, and check the dipstick. Continue to add about a half a quart at a time and keep checking the dipstick. Fill it up until it reaches the top mark of the dipstick - the engine oil level will automatically lower when the oil filter fills up with oil."

Bingo!

 

All oils will do well especially Synthetics, it's my thought that recommended change intervals are too long for a Direct Injected engine and is much of the deposit issues found on many Minis with 30k miles and so on. In hotter climates it would be beneficial to use a higher weight such as a 10w-40 or even 15w-50/40 just pick a brand and stick with it and you should be happy for a long time. Unless your in freezing climates the 0w weight oils are just plain too thin especially when temps get near 95+ in many states, besides many of us aren't easy on our cars when driven as intended!!!

 

but am not sure that good our cars to get 15w40 or 10w40 thats just to much

 

That whole "use thicker oil in warmer climates" thing is old school.

15W40 does a turbo no favors even when its hot out.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-e...estion1641.htm

Just use the oil Mini calls for, you will be fine.

0w40 poses no problems in hotter weather. It gets plenty hot in NJ. I see oil temps at 250 daily..

And I quoteth the Mini owners guide.

"When selecting a motor oil, make sure that it belongs to one of the SAE viscosity classes 0W-40, 0W-30, 5W-40 and 5W-30; otherwise, malfunctions or damage to the engine may result.

The engine oil quality is critical for the life of the engine.

Some types of oil may not be available in every country.
Approved oil types
Gasoline engines
BMW High Performance SAE 5W-30
BMW Longlife-01
BMW Longlife-01 FE"

 

yea i will be sticking to the 0w-40 mobil1 it meet's the mini specifications in every way lol

 

Just change it and drive often!!

 

There's not any oil that outperforms Royal Purple, not even Mobil1!

 

Looking at changing oil soon. Guess I will call the local mini dealer and see what they are using. I'm comfortable with 5-30, every vehicle but my expedition has always used it.

 

I'm not a fan of Royal Purple. For starters try to find what certifications they actually have on their oil.. you can't. They don't even list the data on the website.

http://speedtalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30483

Independent testing shows its a poor product. Frankly the levels of zink they claim to add are absurd. Zink will nuke your converter and cause a nice big P0420 converter failure code by 60,000 miles.

If you want some good education about zink levels in oil.. and racing oils..

http://www.enginebuildermag.com/Arti...continues.aspx

And before you throw out that Royal Purple "proof test" with the rotating cam/wheel "pressure test".. explain to me what part of your engine runs like that..

http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/..._Strength.aspx


The test is for EP additives; stuff that is found and necessary in a GEAR LUBE or a GREASE. Not an engine oil.

Engine bearings are pressure oiled. There is no value in this test. And that is the reason it isn't a spec'd test for engine oil in the first place.


BTW, you could run Head and Shoulders in an engine.. it has zink... LOL.


That pretty much explains "why Royal Purple" wins that test rig.

 

Just FYI (because it's not in your Owners Manual).

 

I have been using Castrol Edge with Titanium 5w30. Does anyone have any thoughts on that oil? Should i stick with it? it seems to be working out great so far. i change my oil about every 5000 miles and i top it up about every 1000 miles. i used to use redline 5w30 and it burned the same amount as the Castrol but the Castrol is way easier to find where i live then the redline.