Who's car eats oil like mine?
 

For some reason, my car just loves to eat oil, I don't know. When I went to one of my track days, I checked the oil levels, and it was low, alright Just add 2 quarts and its good. A few months down the road, I start to hear a knocking sound....hmmm, I always use premium, I checked the engine to see if anything is loose, and nothing. I would hear the knocking sound every so often. A friend suggested maybe my engine is oil starved. I check the oil, and yea, its low...again. So I add 2 more quarts. Knocking sound goes away. It's back again.

Any ideas why my engine is consuming so much oil? Maybe its due to the fact that I have a s/c pulley on and I drive it like I stole it everywhere?

oil usage
 

I have an 03 MCS with the following mods:


ALTA PULLEY, ALTA INTAKE, THROTTLE BODY, PLUGS, WIRES, COIL PACK, SSR COMP WHEELS, MILLTECK SPORT CATBACK, H-SPORT LOWERING SPRINGS, P/S FAN COVER, H-SPORT REAR SWAY BAR, H-SPORT CONTROL ARMS, UNICHIP ECU, WEBB’s STAGE ONE BRAKES, AUTO UP WINDOWS, VOICE OPERATED GPS SYSTEM, M7 OIL CATCH CAN, UPPER AND MID GRILLS, ALTA SHORT SHIFTER,WHALEN SHIFT KNOB, DRIVER’S KNEE PAD, ALTA INTERCOOLER DIVERTER, ESCORT PASSPORT 8500 X50 BLUE, RACING DYNAMICS STRUT BRACE (that's all I can think of)

And I drive it like I stole it...(Last ticket.. Officer, "That's some pretty aggressive driving there").

Have done regular changes and have only added a total of one quart (a little here and there) in over 70,000 miles.

Earl

:lol::thumbsup:

Hmm, maybe I should have it checked out by my dealer when I bring it in for its first oil service?

Oh yea, btw, my car only has 16,500km on it....

First off why do you add to quarts? Secondly...yeah if it's losing/burning oil you should have gone for service sooner than this. What are you waiting for?

I've had mine a little over a year and check it every week. So far it's used zero oil.

I'd take it back to the dealer and have it checked.

Well, every engine uses some oil. It is unavoidable or the rings would grind into the cylinder walls and seize the engine.


Over the first couple of months and 3000 miles or so, mine used maybe 3/4 of a quart. After that it settled down and the amount used is negligible (I check every couple of weeks and have only had to add a few ounces a couple of times). I'm at 19k now.

2 quarts low is pretty low. You might have a leak as that much oil would be noticable in teh exhaust I think.

Also, if you heard the valves knocking, I would be worried about that engine.

Did you observe the break-in procedure, or did you drive it like you stole it right off the lot?

Vehicle maintenance is one of the most important parts of MINI ownership. Ya gotta check your oil level weekly, period. You can do serious damage to your engine by running it with too little oil. This is especially true if you 1) track your vehicle and 2) you drive it enthusiastically every time you get in it, as you are indicating. So, if you want your MCS to last and take care of you, take proper care of it.

oil use
 

some of the "catch cans" people have plumbed in, are not plumbed in correctly, perhaps there is an issue there?

I used 8 oz in the first 5,000 miles, and have not had to add since.

John

2 quarts?! wow, considering the mini has a 4.7 quart capacity, you are losing 43% of your oil...umm.. that knocking is not a good thing...its your engine grabbing on for dear life!

Get it checked out while you have still have the warranty!

Get your car in for an inspection/service. Consuming that much oil is not 'normal' by any means.

My MCS used 1.5 quarts in it's first 5,000 miles but has not used any since then. I attributed it to break-in, which I did "by the book".

I followed break-in until 2000kms.

2 quarts/litres sounds like a lot to have to add:eek::confused:. The engine holds 5.

My 03 MC has 95k+ kms(60k miles) change the oil 1/2 way between regular oil changes, and I have only added a little more than a quart/litre in total:thumbsup:.

I sort of followed break-in, rarely shift below 4500rpm, and go to bounce on a regular basis.

I think a trip to your dealer is in order, NOW
:cool:

Well the oil must be either burning up in the engine from a bad seal or from a loose oil filter/plug.

Do you see any oil stains on the ground at all from where you park the Mini?

Never. My car seems to be not eating oil anymore. I'm not sure whats the deal now. Last time before I added oil it was low. Now its good.:confused: Still going to have the dealer check it out.

Just wondering, do you let it get up to temp before pushing it hard, such as over 3000 rpms? Its just something I have always done to let everything in the engine expand to the proper tollerances.

The highest I'll take the engine up to is 4k if the engine is cool. I wait til the engine is warmed up before driving it like I normally do.