I failed to mention I only used a different oil when I couldn't find the dinos I usually used. I would grab whatever dino was handy and wring out the oil. It's a lot easier now that the oil containers don't run away or bite.

Kevin

 

A symptom of it being valve stem seals may commonly be smoke upon startup the next day but with my 72 Pinto, it being new at the time, i had no visible smoke. Yet, the valve stem seals was the culprit. I had no leaks, no visible smoke exiting the exhaust but when the valve stem seals were replaced, I no longer was using a quart of oil between 750-1000 miles of driving.

If the compression was good on your MINI (which you indicated it was) then doubtful it's the rings and no visible leak or smoke, I can't think of anything other than the stem seals. Anyone else have suggestions ?

 

After MINI quit giving me oil changes, I went to regular (non synthetic) and change about every 5000 miles. Our Cooper S now has close to 90,000 miles. We drive pretty hard and never add oil between changes. In fact we just drove 2200 miles from Illinois to Mexico & the oil level is still at the full mark.

In my 50 years of driving & maintaining cars (mostly small - off beat), I have found that some brands of oil tend to "disappear" more than others. I have never subscribed to the "use the same brand all the time" idea. There is no compatibility problem - just a myth pushed by the lube oil companies. Use the correct viscosity & a good name brand with the proper certification. If you oil disappears, try a different brand next change.

I just had the valve cover off of my 99 Miata - 145,000 miles - clean as a whistle.

Bob

 

In my 50 years of experience with cars, I have found that some oils are consumed faster than others. Try a different brand of oil - even try non synthic, but change sooner 3 - 5000 miles. It does not pay to spend money on repairs to reduce your oil consumption from 1 qt/ 1000 miles to 1 qt/ 10,000 miles. Do the math

Bob

 

savilrg.....with all due respect, I would NEVER use non-synthetic oil on a MINI S. A non-aspirated MAYBE, but definitely NOT an S.