I feel so much better now. Wasn't too difficult, just the usual few scratches and cuts on my hands. Filter drained just fine after cracking it and letting it sit. No leaks, didn't like the fit of the new o-ring, so kept the original on. No need to lift the car and don't understand why anyone would even go to the trouble. Don't seem to understand all the concern with filter case torque as it just seems to bottom out on the engine case and stopped. Any more effort there and something would have busted. 0W-40, the BMW long life, Euro spec oil. Did I mention I feel so much better now that the engine is past break in and the Dyno blend Castrol is OUT OF THERE...?

 

It's even easier with one of these from Moss:



I haven't had any trouble wih the o rings on the filter. Just can't bring myself to leave oil in for a year . . . Mobil 1 is good stuff. BTW, do you feel better now that the castrol blend is gone?

 

I know you don't think reaching underneath with a 13mm wrench and loosening the oil plug is all that hard. You just like the gadget, I am old school and see just something else that could break. YEA. MOBIL 1 IN...

 

I love the stuff. I put it in all my lawn equipment also. The sound of the engine changes and sounds better. The oil also holds up much better then the stand cheap natural stuff. Go Mobil One.

 

What are you going to do when the oil change interval is up and it is time for the dealer to do the oil change? My biggest problem with putting in Mobil 1 was the issue with mixing oils. If I am not mistaken, the Castrol oil that is sold by the MINI dealer is a full synthetic not a blend.

 

Depends on what you call full synthetic

From Car and Driver a few years ago - "Late in 1997, Castrol changed the formula of its Syntec "full synthetic motor oil", eliminating the polyalphaolefin (PAO) base stock (that's the "synthetic" part, which makes up about 70% by volume of what's in the bottle) and replacing it with a "hydroisomerized" petroleum base stock.

Mobil Oil Corporation, maker of Mobil 1, "Worlds Leading Synthetic Motor Oil," said no fair and took its complaint to the National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Council of Better Business Bureaus. NAD often arbitrates between feuding advertisers on their conflicting claims."

Mobil Oil Corp lost. That's the Reader's Digest version. Google Mobil 1 vs Castrol and there are lots of hits . . . That's why I don't like Castrol anymore. They "redefined" Synthetic, to take the cheap way out. The product MAY be as good, I just dislike that attitude in a corporation.

 

Interesting. I wonder if that is still the circumstance. A lot can happen in 8 years. My basic issue (and I am a real fan of Mobil 1 - it is in all of my non-MINI cars and trucks) is not wanting to get into any kind of conflict between Castrol oil chemistry and the Mobil 1 oil chemistry. The dealer does the oil and filter change under the full maintenance program, so if you have been using Mobil 1 between the dealer changes, there is some potential for chemical conflict. I am personally more concerned with getting the metal particles out of the engine than with squeezing the most miles out of the oil and filter; but I also do not want to get into any conflict between the oil chemistry of Castrol and Mobil 1.

 

They really should be perfectly compatible with each other...the dregs of
Castrol "synthetic" left after draining won't poison the Mobil 1, nor vice versa.
It's not rocket science.







It's Pocket Rocket Science!

 

The Castrol oil from the Mini dealership is not a full synthetic. The oil that is in the crankcase of all new Mini's when they land at the dealerships is a full synthetic however(or at least was).

Yes, I know it's confusing but here's why. The oil from the dealership is Castrol Syntec. Castrol Syntec can't be sold outside the US so a different oil has to be used when the car(engine) is built. That oil was Castrol SLX Longlife II. This oil is a full synthetic. It's also somewhat expensive. If it was sold here it would cost approx $11.00 a litre.

It get's a little more confusing however. Castrol SLX longlife II has been replaced by Castrol EDGE. I have no idea the composition of this stuff. Information from the UK Castrol web site (www.castrol.co.uk) would indicate that it is some type of synthetic blend.

Which gentle reader brings us back to where we started. The dealership oil is not a full synthetic, the new oil in the cars once were, but now there not. Maybe.

Just to screw things up even more than they already are, Mobil 1 is no longer a fully synthetic oil either. Hasn't been since 2000 maybe 2001. Blame Exxon not Mobil. When Exxon bought out Mobil in 1999 Exxon wanted to cut cost and Mobil 1 took it on the chin.

Bottom line, as long as it's a good quality labled synthetic and it's either 5W30 or 5W40, you will be fine.

Steven

 

First time I have seen it said Mobil 1 is not a full synthetic - where did you see that? Not that I'm an expert in any way.

If you want Mobil 1, what is wrong with taking that to the MINI dealership and asking them to use your oil during service?

 

The "extended performance" formulation of Mobil 1 is fully synthetic. It can be identified by the gold colored cap and statements that it is good for 15k miles. The lesser formulations are no longer fully synthetic. . .

 

My dealer carries royal purple synthetic in the assesory dept., I don't know if this is what they use for there standard oil service but I was wondering how it compared to mobil and castrol.

 

Royal Purple is really good high end and expensive stuff. Your dealer definitely does not use it for their standard oil changes.

It is 2-3x as expensive as Mobil 1 and people who use it swear by it. I just can't justify the cost since I have had such good results from using Mobil 1 for over 10 years in all my vehicles . . . .

 

Thank you, I definetly notice that it was not cheap but had not heard anything about how it preformed, I keep one quart in the car on road trips in case a leak ever develops (habit from driving used cars) so I was wondering how it would match up, though I have always had good luck w/ Mobil 1.

 

Someone mention rocket science? You just take in your oil and say HERE, use this. Dealer doesn't have a problem with that.

 

Good thing I like to change every few thousand miles or so. I'll go for the Extended Performance in about 3500 miles or so, I feel like doing it again TODAY. DARN...
:impatient

 

Our resident guru suggests using Amsoil. Any extended use of this oil and what are your thoughts?

 

Yep. That's my approach with running RedLine. I just take the 5 quarts in with me. Say use this, they shake their heads wondering why I am passing up a "free" oil change, but do it. They also wonder about the 10W40 weight, but running track and Autocross in southern Arizona, 5 weight is pretty thin!

 

I never liked Amsoil because of all their blatantly self serving self promotion throughout the media and internet often masquerading as independent reporting or expert testimony. It's obvious they set up most of the web pages themselves that show how superior they are. Their distribution schemes also remind be of Amway and the other pyramids where signing up distributors makes someone at the top a lot of money. That is my impression. I also like using an oil I don't have to special order and can pick up in most stores.

 

Using Froogle.com found Royal Purple here for $4.99/qt;
http://stores.channeladvisor.com/tir...itemid=2998113

$5.39/qt here;
http://www.coximports.com/store/prod...ic=ROY-RP01530

will have to see how that compares to the gold cap Mobil1 locally.

 

Red Line vs Royal Purple....any opinions?

 

Royal Purple web site's FAQ says extended oil change intervals (12k miles) with filter changes every 3-4k. That seems like a big bother on the filters.
I want to change the oil/filter after break-in, then just when going to the dealer for usual changes, so I too would like to hear more about Red Line vs. Royal Purple. vs. Mobil 1 extended life now that Mobil one has moved near the same $$$ range as the other ones.

 

There are two versions of Castrol Syntec - at least at the auto store where I got mine. One version is blended and says so on the container. The other is a full synthetic and also says so, but you have to be careful because the packaging is similar.

I can't dispute which oil the dealers would put in, haven't had it done there yet, but why would they put in an inferior grade when full synthetic is called for?

 

Royal Purple, Amsoil are Group IV Oils
Castrol Syntec is Group III
Redline is Group V
Group V is a full syn. oil.

 

Alls I know is that a case of the right Mobil 1 can be had for a good price at Costco

Amazing how disgusting the oil is after 4-5k... I think the tendency to run super rich rich has an effect.