R56 What type of Oil is the question
#27
I went to my dealer to buy oil to do my next oil change and asked them how much to buy the oil. Parts guy said super expensive and then he packed the bottles in a nice reusable mini bag and said no charge! I couldn't believe it, definitely much better experience then when I had my Chevy
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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.
Last edited by pmsummer; 05-12-2013 at 04:19 AM.
#29
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.
#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.
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.
#31
#32
#33
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.
Last edited by pmsummer; 05-14-2013 at 05:57 AM.
#34
#35
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
#36
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, with filter, is 4.8 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.
#38
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
MINI Oil Change DIY
Mark / Pelican Parts
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#39
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
MINI Oil Change DIY
Mark / Pelican Parts
http://faculty.ccp.edu/faculty/dreed...tech/index.htm
Thanks again, once I get my Mini I plan to use your site a lot.
#40
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
MINI Oil Change DIY
Mark / Pelican Parts
Bingo!
#41
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!!!
#43
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"
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"
#44
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"
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"
#46
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.
There's not any oil that outperforms Royal Purple, not even Mobil1!
#47
#48
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.
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.
#50
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.