Hi,
I have a 2003 MCS with 80,000 miles. Everytime I check the oil it seems to be low. I am using Mobil 1 synthetic oil. Could it be burning a quart every oil change? (8,000 miles) What is the oil capacity? I have found varing information.

Will the ceramic brakes work on stock rotors.


Thanks

 

That would be considered normal consumption if you asked a dealer. My 2002 consumed at least that much, probably more. I had at least three different mechanics look for leaks ANYWHERE and could find none. The 2003 I owned did not leak oil at all. As they say, YMMV.

 

Yeah, mine seems to consume/loose a quart every 5k without any evident leaks. It slows as the oil get's gets farther into the change interval I notice.

Ceramic pads are for standard metal brake rotors, yes.

 

A quart every 8000 miles? That is excellent. My 2003, Artoo, burns a quart every 2000 miles. Maybe even a bit more. And mind you he runs perfectly and has the oil changed every 5000 miles since new. Now I am approaching 120,000.

I have changed my oil pan gasket, crank sensor seal and this week when I replace the dampener, the dampener seal will be new. But I am not expecting that will make a big difference as this really has been the norm for Artoo since he was young.

Rich

 

Normal oil consumption for gasoline engines is 1 quart for every 4,000 miles. The cause is either a normally functioning PCV system, or the normal operation of the oil rings on the piston.

The PCV system uses engine vacuum to suck out blowby fumes and oil vapors within the crankcase and then sends it to the combustion chamber to be burned. The oil is burned without smoke and the rest of the blowby and vapors are either inert or combust in the combustion chamber or the catalytic converter.

A very tiny amount can make it past the oil rings of the piston and is burned without any trace of blue smoke.

If your car doesn't make blue smoke at wide open throttle, during deceleration, or at start up, then don't worry about it.

 

For an car with 80K miles, this rate of consumption is probably less than average. Keep in mind that BMW consides a qt every 1K mile acceptable for a new car! This is about 10x higher than yours.

You are worrying about nothing.

- Mark

 

Guess I'm lucky, or my car is still young (06S < 41K) doesn't burn any oil that can be measured between changes (5-8k depending on time)

 

That is VERY LOW OIL CONSUMPTION for a mini...
It holds about 5 quarts....but getting more than 1 low is asking for trouble...check the oil more often...
it is possible/likely some is getting burnt, but some is leaking from the oil pan gasket, crank sensor, etc, and getting blown back....some of these leaks can worsen suddenly...leading to 3 or 4 times the oil vonsumption you are seeing....leading to oil starvation and the red lite...solution, new motor....(if driven any distance with the oil light on).

 

PS
"Ceramic brakes" are technically high end things on a PORSHE...ceramic rotors...very neat things...terrific heat resistance...but cost more than a mini as an option...
If you are asking about "ceramic" pads vs semi metalic vs organic...yes, they can be used on the stock/aftermarket rotors.

 

My 06 MCS with 127,000 burns about 1 quart every 8-10,000 miles. I am now changing oil every 10,000 miles and I get one extra quart to hold me over between changes.