...and I use Mobil 1 Extended Performance 15K mile all-synthetic oil with "Advanced SuperSyn". It just is so darn easy and we are going on the road next weekend for a wedding in Tallahassee. If I can pack everything in comfortably we'll take this car. If not it's the wifey's Passat SW. I'll bet you could eat off the interior metal parts on this motor with the fresh oil I keep running though it. I'll try and wait for the 10K MINI service interval for the next one, but I'll bet I don't make it until then. I guess I just get bored, but I did it in Dockers and only spilled a couple of drops of the new oil on them when I re-filled the engine. They're dark pants so it shouldn't show after a wash.

Change your own oil, it is very up-lifting, better than a wash and wax, really...

 

I have the same problem, can't leave the oil alone.
I change my MINI oil every 5,000 even though I know it is good for much longer. Habit and liking to work on the car will probably cause me to continue (other than mods I don't get to do much because nothing needs fixing).

 

I just turned 1K miles on my new "S". I already had the oil and a new filter and plug and socket from MiniMania on hand. For those of you who look at the oil on the dipstick and think the oil is clean and clear.... My dipstick looked clean also, but my oil came out dark, dark brown, like coffee color. The filter was also very dark brown. I surely am glad I decided to change it now. Some of you may laugh and say I'm wasting my money.... so go ahead. I plan to change it again in 4 more K at 5K. I carefully drained the oil into a clean disposable aluminum turkey pan. I'm planning on filtering the oil and see what I get. Probably nothing but a stained filter, but what the hey. I think I'll cut the filter apart and see whats in there also. I know all of this has been done before..... but not by me... hehe.

YD

 

Don't forget to change your plugs at 15,000 miles. I know the book says they're good to 100K but come on they're only saying that so they don't have to change them during the free maintenance period.

While you're at it, the drive belt can be changed out every 10K (yup good to 60K, but why wait) Let's pull all the inspections early too

Sorry folks I don't see the logic. I remember when Mobil 1 first came out and the selling point back then was............25,000 miles between changes If you're going to change oil that often, then at least switch to Dino based stuff, don't screw with the S/D chain and make our costs go up

YD - do you have an oil lab nearby? Might be worth it to see what their analysis shows, i.e. break down, ppm data etc

I'm at 115,000+ in my 02 and have completed every service and inspection at computer determined (OBC) values. I "use" less then 1/2 quart between changes

 

You really think its good to change the plugs at 15K? Thats not overkill. Dunno

As to the oil, I agree. Thats not overkill. Thats using a nuke to take out an ant hill Its a total waster of money on the good stuff. I agree, send a sample to someplace like http://youroil.net/

The days of changing oil every 3K miles when using synthetics is long over. (Except I would and did do that for the FIRST change only).

 

Smokey,

I'm really happy for you and your mini experience. My post did not suggest that everyone should do what I did, nor was it intended to cause an oil change interval argument.

I was merely stating what I did. Every car in my previous fleet had 400K- to over 500K on the original engines. I must be really lucky to get that number of miles.


YD

 

IMO, it's not a good idea. Guess I needed to add in a smilie or 2

YD - please don't take my previous comments as an attack or what's to follow, as one either. But you see, threads like these are viewed by other owners and somehow become bible.

Here we've got 3 owners promoting the idea of doing oil changes at unbelievably low intervals for synthetic oil (the name of the thread says 2916 miles). It is my personal opinion that 3000 is too soon for Dino Blend too, but that is another thread

I hope you will re-look my comments and see them in a less critical and more comical fashion as I tried to present my viewpoint and offer a dissenting opinion.

Now about your fleet, I commend you on your ability to extend the longevity of a motor vehicle! Do you think it's because you change the oil at 3000 mile intervals or is it that you understand the value of preventative maintenance and take care of things before they caused additional damage? I too enjoy wrenching on my cars, other peoples and on the aircraft I fly - It's my work with the aircraft that makes me question pulling something early, everything (well almost) have TBO (Time Before Overhaul) and/or serviceability limits. I've also had hundreds of oil samples sent off to the oil labs for tracking of wear components. We sampled all engines and gearboxes every 25 hours of operation, and yes some of them required replacement based on wear or contaminants - but I've never received a report back saying drain the oil, it's lost it's lubricating and cooling properties.

Here is some additional info from a quick search for oil lab results.

 

I know that it was meant as a joke about changing the plugs at 15K miles, but I DID change mine at 20K miles. The car ran MUCH better, idled better and picked up 2-3 mpg. My plugs were black as coal and coated with carbon buildup. Although you meant it as a joke, it's actually good advice.

Rawhyde

 

How many miles since you did them? Have you had a chance to look at them since? Sounds like you're way too rich on the mixture.

I also changed mine, but closer to 60K when I did the pulley install. I also did them at 100K for the scheduled inspection.

 

CDMINI i'm glad that you enjoy working on your car and take care of it as good as you do.

Some people think that changing the oil before "it's needed" is a waste of money or a hassle but to me(MY opinion) is that if you like doing it, and enjoy knowing that your engine has fresh/clean oil, then more power to you.

I personally changed my oil(regular) on my car(not a mini) every 3k mles until i got to 15k when i changed to synthetic. now i'll be doing it every 5k miles.

Plus is special time that you get to have with your car. I always check for wear items, damaged wires(rodents) or anything else that may cause a problem down the line.

So keep having fun...

 

Joey - what's the difficulty level for changing the oil on the MINI? We're a few days away from taking delivery of our MCSs and I've always enjoyed doing that type of maintenance myself.

 

On the wrench scale, I'd say 1 or 2 at the most. The oil filter is a canister style top mount unit that requires a 36 mm socket and a bit of care and time. A 13mm drain plug is located on the underside and since the car sits about 4.5" off the ground a pair of ramps will make it easier.

I picked up my 36mm from Sears for about $5 and then cut it down with a Dremel and a few cut off blades. This lets me use my 1/2" torque wrench to do the reinstall. There are a lot of DIY threads about how to do it, so more info is avail there.

 

im running the 15k Mobil1 gold cap in my legacy right now running a
M110 filter. I expect to run it all 15k miles before changing the
oil and filter to see if the car can maintain without issue.

i check the oil level every other week. wife's putting in about 2.5k to 3k
miles a month. im not about to change the oil every other month...!

 

For all the naysayers to frequent oil changes, what is 40 bucks and a half hour of time? Look at everyone here out waxing their cars every week, if not every day. What's the difference? I don't believe all the high mileage oil claims anyhow, it's just a sales pitch to sell a product that is more expensive to make than Dino oil, IMO.

Don't get me started on the Amsoil sales BS, that's another story.

IF we really were doing it the right way we would NOT be counting mileage anyhow, we'd have an engine-hour meter and change it every 100 or 200 operating hours or so. I'd probably change it at 50 to 100 hours...

Combustion is a pretty powerful process several hundred thousand times an hour, does anyone think it's hurting a motor to freshen up the oil cooling and lubrication system frequently?

What's 40 bucks compared to clean, clear oil and that wonderful feeling in your right foot after the change?

 

I did the change at 20K miles, but now I have 42K miles. I am due for another set of plugs because it has the same intermittent miss at idle that inspired me to swap plugs the first time. I agree that the mixture seems too rich. I didn't mention it in my earlier post, but I have an otherwise stock (driveline wise) 05 MCS/JCW. That car is a spark plug (and tire) eating sunuvagun!

Actually, I take an "old school" view of this... If I had a 350 Chevy engine putting out 758 HP and it used up a set of plugs in 20K miles, I'd happily overlook it. (97 cubic inches making 210 HP)

I realize that I "overdo" my maintenance on my car, but in real life I'm a Maintenance Manager in a plant where a lot of the equipment has been neglected for years....

Rawhyde

 

That's how the service counter works, well sort of. It goes by fuel usage, not mileage. The more heavy footed you are with the MINI, the sooner it alerts you it needs the oil changed. One more reason to follow the recommended service intervals. A good running engine is still very possible with $40 in your pocket and 5 less quarts of used motor oil in the recycling system.

As for cleaning the MINI, don't get me started on excessive waxing!

 

 

I'm right there with you , I have over 122,000 miles, have only changed the oil when the OBC told me to, and also "use" less than 1/2 quart between changes. The changes have been on intervals of 15,000 to 21,000. Like kenchan stated, I don't want to be changing the oil ever other month either. Did that with my last car. Bleah........


Nik

 

My Toyota mechanic, whose opinions I fully trust, told me that even under heavy driving or racing in the most extreme conditions that any top-tier fully synthetic oil can do well excess of 8-10,000 miles before a change is needed. My MINI SA concurs.

I agree with the above post, it's nice not having to mess with oil changes every 3-5,000 miles. With the synthetics, it's just not neccessary, and a waste of perfectly good oil. I change mine every 7500 miles; seems like a good balance between anality and reality.

 

^^ plus you're doing a huge favor for the environment!

 

That is what the recycling centers are for. Most used oil goes either into a combustion device to fuel heaters or into paving materials for the road. We used to buy it at $.50/gallon for exactly those uses, and I still think it's viable today. I don't think anyone is just dumping it back into the earth anymore, not for several decades at least.

 

still, dumping perfectly good synthetic oil with many useful miles left into a recycler is a waste.

 

^^ +1 that's right. it's like throwing out good batteries just because you
used it in your flash light one night for a few hours and now paranoia
kicks in and you think you need to put new batteries in.

 

Its $40 out the window and a half hour of your life. If you dont believe the claims, have fun ... its your money and time.

The difference is ... $40

I will throw this in. The recommended time to change oil in new Porsches is 20K miles. Yup 20K. Do ppl go that long? Well consider that the vast majority of owners are older, don't do their own maintenance (and you would need a lift to do it anyway and it takes about two hours) ... yeah, they wait or do it every year ... meaning about every 10K miles on average.

If you think the cars don't "last long", consider that 95% of all Porsches ever sold in the US are still registered (those not totalled).

Time to move on, IMO, to the 21st century ... it started 6 years ago ... but that is just my opinion.

To each their own.

 

my post above edited for content.