I changed my oil yesterday on my 2008 Cooper s R 56 and when I took off the drain plug only about 2.5 quarts emptied. I thought it might be because I had only one sided raised I lowered it to the ground and left it for about 45 mins. I came back and still the same thing. I thought maybe I never realized I was running so low. I put the plug back on and filled it with 4.5 quarts checked the dipstick and noticed I over filled it by about a quart.

I went to drain out the oil and hardly anything came out only little drips. I ran it for about 20 mins tried it again and same thing nothing came out. I opened the oil cap and noticed a small amount of smoke coming out. Also when driving I can feel the transmission not catch 1st gear. I have no idea what to do can someone help. I checked the dipstick now and it shows about half an inch over the maximum and tried to drain and nothing came out. Can someone help?

 

Is the oil fill cap off when you are draining? You need a way for air to enter the crankcase as the oil comes out., otherwise you create a partial vacuum. Ususally, though, leaving the fill cap on will slow that rate that the oil drains, not stop it completely.

 

Thank you for your reply. I removed the cap both times and not one drop came out ... I know oil is in there I put 4.5 quarts in. I'm so freaking out.

 

Sounds to me like you may have drained the transmission fluid. Are you sure you drained the oil?

 

It was on the black oil pan next to the sticker that said lifetime oil. The fluid also came out black like oil. At first that was my first thought that I accidently drained the trans fluid but then trans fluid isn't black like oil and through the various posts with pics here I see that its on the black oil pan next to the sticker not on the metal ... that would explain it all. Where do I add trans fluid and or where is the dip stick for the trans fluid?

 

here's the plug I removed http://www.robincasady.com/MINI/MINIoilDrain.jpg

 

Per the picture, that is the oil drain plug. It is a T25 torque head.
Was the oil warm when you drained it? I always run mine awhile before
draining the make sure all the old oil comes out. PDFlint said it also,
you have to remove the filler cap to release the pressure so the oil
will flow out.

 

thanks again for responding I really appreciate it. Yeah I had the filler cap off, after I removed the plug I thought that would help but it didn't. I did run it for a few mins before trying to drain it to warm up the oil. Its weird because I clearly see the oil is too high on the dipstick but nothing drains out.

 

If you drained the pan that says "lifetime oil" you drained the wrong one. If you're standing in front of the car facing it, it's the drain plug on the left side. Did you poke your finger or screwdriver in the drain, maybe there's something in there clogging the drain.

 

Step 1
Have the car towed
Step 2
Show the mechanic exactly what you did, where you added the oil, etc.

Sounds like you messed it up..first oil change?! Crap happens, and the fact it will not "find first gear" kinda makes me say "stop".
The fact many gen2 cars run very low on oil is common..so to get limited oil out is not unusual...
But if you the think you are overfilled after added a couple quarts, and the tranny acts like it is low on fluid...

 

Oil "failing to gravity drain" is higly unusual....so someting else is going on..if drained, it should not be overfilled with so little oil added.

 

I'm starting to feel that you guys are right and I drained the trans fluid ... I'll get under my car in a few when the sun rises ... anyone know where the plug is to refill the trans fluid and what oil it takes? its an 2008 Cooper s R56 automatic

 

Since it is a lifetime fluid, and may have a "procedure" to fill, (in gear warm, etc), and it is a sealed unit, eith...er...lifetime fluid, i would defer to the local dealer. Changing it may be a good idea...we all know how badly the lifetime fluid in the cvt gen1 coopers did...but since it was never ment to be drained/filled, changing it is very hard.....

 

a couple of points come up here so I'm gonna take one more try at clearing up a booboo or two

If you look under the car, at the motor you'll find that there is a big pipe running right down the middle of the motor front to back. On the passenger side of this divide you'll find the oil pan, on my car it is BLACK. On the driver side (US cars here, driver is on the left) you find a silver component - this is the transmission.

The bottom of the oil pan is flat and in it resides the oil drain. Now this is a poor picture but as you hopefully see the oil drain plug on this 07S is a HEX - 8mm to be exact.


a better pic I hijacked:


Funny thing about an 8mm hex hole, a T-50 Torx wrench does fit in the hole, but as you see that is not the shape of the hole and an 8mm hex would not fit in a T-50 hole. Since the torque involved is little you won't mess anything up using the torx in all probability but unless MINI sometimes uses one and other times the other in their oil pan drains - the T is the wrong tool . . . (yes I know there is a DIY that says it is a T but what can I say? maybe someone with a Bentley will share that wisdom with us..)

another hijacked pic:


over on the tranny side you find this

well you do on my 6 speed anyway. Notice the bottom is not flat and working without lifting the front end I didn't even find the drain bolt but I know it is down there someplace. . .

 

I want to thank all of you for your help I was freaking out last night. I got under the car again this morning and sure enough I look at the passengers side and there was another black oil pan on the other side of the cat con.

After working for about an hour to get off the fill plug for the transmission fluid I was able to fill it up with 2 quarts. Got under the car and released the oil drain, on the other side, and sure enough it was dying to come out. I've never seen so much oil come out of a pan before. I put new oil in and I was off and running ... all though I did spill antifreeze and atf all over the place tha I now have to clean up :(

This was my first encounter with this forum and I want to thank all of you for being so helpful and courteous. I will definitely pay it forward. Thanks everyone!!!!

 

yikes, it seems like you drained the transmission oil - 'lifetime oil'

 

You're not the first to accidentally drain the transmission fluid as others on this forum have done that. It's all good!

 

It's all part of the Learning Process. Stuff happens. Like the time I installed my Ireland Engineering Fixed Camber plates on the wrong sides. Ended up with mucho positive camber! Ooops!! Then I took it all apart again. And ended up putting them back THE SAME WAY!! D'OH!!!
I am now an EXPERT at MINI front strut installation!
Glad you sussed it all out!

Happy Motoring!
Jim

 

For God's sakes people... Just break down and BUY the BENTLEY Repair Manual if you are going to try to work on your own car...