Hi everyone. In February 04, I had my MINIs oil analyzed by Blackstone Labs. It was the original oil that came with the car upon delivery in June '03. The oil had 8,932 miles on it when I got it tested (this was a few weeks before my first complementary oil change).

The first test results were great...showing nothing unusual except the silicon was rather high, but they said this was probably due to the silicon residue left in the engine from sandblasting when new.

So I got the oil changed by the dealer, and now, 7,721 miles later (16,653 total miles on the engine), I had the oil tested once again. The results were much better. This is what the lab said:

"Your engine shows some nice improvements in wear and silicon levels, especially since this is only the second oil change. Your wear is only slightly higher than universal averages, which are based on an average oil use of 4,000 miles (remember, you have put 7,721 miles on this oil). The viscosity was high, possibly from extended oil use. The TBN read 2.8, showing some (not a lot) of active additive remaining. A TBN of 1.0 is low. We would recommend changing out this oil to keep wear levels low. Try running 8,500 miles for your next sample. Viscosity was 68.2, values should be between 57 and 63 for a 5W-30 oil. Flashpoint was excellent, at 420 F. Fuel in the oil was <0.5%, with 0.0% antifreeze, 0.0% water, and 0.3% insolubles."


Anyway, just thought I'd share the results. Do any of you oil experts think they are correct, that I should change the oil now? The MINI computer says another 7,900 miles until the next oil change. That would be about 15,000 miles on the oil. I'm just worried about their TBN being low comment, and the viscosity comment... would the oil hold up another 8,000 miles? I know many people have gone the full 15K miles without a problem.

Rock On,

-MB

 

Blackstone does good work. Personally, I was shocked when they recommended such long maintenance intervals. I don't know why they are doing this, but in our MC, I'll be doing oil changes every 5k with OEM filters and Mobil-1 5W30. Unfortunately I think due to the maintenance intervals, high-mileage Mini's are going to have some serious wear issues.

It's all speculation, but there's something that doesn't sit right (with me) when a manufacturer places 10,000 and 15,000 intervals between oil changes. If Blackstone is recommending you shorten up your oil change intervals and have done thorough examination showing the oil is starting to lose its additives, etc. then it's certainly not going to hurt your car to change your oil a few thousand miles sooner.

 

Snip: "Your engine shows some nice improvements in wear and silicon levels, especially since this is only the second oil change. Your wear is only slightly higher than universal averages, which are based on an average oil use of 4,000 miles (remember, you have put 7,721 miles on this oil). The viscosity was high, possibly from extended oil use. The TBN read 2.8, showing some (not a lot) of active additive remaining. A TBN of 1.0 is low. We would recommend changing out this oil to keep wear levels low. Try running 8,500 miles for your next sample. Viscosity was 68.2, values should be between 57 and 63 for a 5W-30 oil. Flashpoint was excellent, at 420 F. Fuel in the oil was <0.5%, with 0.0% antifreeze, 0.0% water, and 0.3% insolubles."

Anyway, just thought I'd share the results. Do any of you oil experts think they are correct, that I should change the oil now? The MINI computer says another 7,900 miles until the next oil change. That would be about 15,000 miles on the oil. I'm just worried about their TBN being low comment, and the viscosity comment... would the oil hold up another 8,000 miles? I know many people have gone the full 15K miles without a problem.

Snip: It's all speculation, but there's something that doesn't sit right (with me) when a manufacturer places 10,000 and 15,000 intervals between oil changes. If Blackstone is recommending you shorten up your oil change intervals and have done thorough examination showing the oil is starting to lose its additives, etc. then it's certainly not going to hurt your car to change your oil a few thousand miles sooner.


For what its worth I would not exceed 7,500 miles. The results at 7,721 were showing that it is time to change the oil. Oil is cheap in comparison to engine repair.

Re-read your report where it says that your wear is only slightly above average, (useing 4,000 miles as base reference) that means "time to change".

Again, oil is cheap!

Hope this helps...

 

How would one contact Blackstone Labs and how much does this type of test cost? I would like to have the oil in my VW tested.

 

Try
http://www.blackstone-labs.com/
Or
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/terry.html
$35 for kit prepaid.

 

Being the Mini is so new its hard to tell, but I am curious at such long intervals what type of sludge build up there might be over time.
Now cars that have had longer than average oil change intervals from the 90's are showing lots of sludge in certain engines Toyota was first, then Dodge, Audi, Volkswagen.

 

I have been keeping with the MINI recomended oil changes.25k+ miles now.I think I,m going to get oil changes done sooner now from here on.

 

Yesterday, I had my first oil change in 14,000 miles. I have discovered that
Mini's love fresh oil. Everything feels better. I will change it every 7,500
miles from here on in.

 

I've been following MINI recommended oil changes and had my first oil service (10,500 miles) a couple of weeks ago. Now I notice that PEP is a bit more...peppy.

 

It would be interesting to have an oil analysis done after 15,000 miles on the oil (2nd oil change interval). As I've mentioned before, I've had them done with ~8K on the oil and the results were decent.

But I'd love to see the results of an anaylsis of the OEM oil after 15,000 miles of use. Guess no one here has done that?

 

I'd suspect that the "standard" Mini intervals would be ok IF you drove all highway, kept it under 4,500RPMs, didn't live in a sandy environment that wasn't too hot or cold (say around 50-70F consistently?) and we're easy on the accelerator. I would think the Supercharged MCS puts a tad more stress on the oil as well (due to the extra heat)???

For the remainder of the world, we need more regular changes :smile: My plan is 3,000MI (just did), ~10,000MI service, 17,500ish (personal) and the 25,000ish serivce. Will follow 7,500MI intervals after that... Considering I'm driving the Mini roughly 12,000MI a year with all of my traveling and having a winter beater December thru March, the tab shouldn't be too bad...

 

Since my MCS was new, I've changed the oil after every 4,000 - 5,000 miles of use. Not yet done an oil analysis, but at only $30 per change ($7 for a filter and $23 for a case of Mobil 1) why would anybody not do more frequent oil changes? This is the life-blood of your engine: when in doubt throw it out and replace it with new oil.

Think I'll try a Blackstone Labs analysis sometime. I'm curious as to what type of wear (contaminants) they will find in my oil, and at only $20 bucks, periodic checks won't break the bank either. Still what would they recommend if they find something? More frequent changes, I'd bet.