Mini Cooper 2007-2013: Why is My Mini Burning Oil?

This article applies to the Mini Cooper (2007-2013).

With the sleek styling and handling capability a Mini Cooper provides, it's a bit disheartening to know a common problem with their engines stems from oil loss. Most BMW/MINI dealerships sell the vehicles with a disclaimer acknowledging that N14 engines have potential to burn up to one quart of oil every 1,000 miles. Although this problem only affects some cars, others are able to run perfectly fine. So this begs the question, "why does your car in particular suffer from a loss of oil?" The answer roots back to how the engine itself was treated, before it hit its first thousand miles.

Step 1 – Perform the proper break-in procedure

Avoid causing too much stress on a new engine.

The best cure for burning oil is to avoid it in its entirety. So if you are already dealing with the issue, move on to the next part. But, if you are looking to purchase a new Mini Cooper, continue reading. If you browse around the internet, I'm sure you will see the popular debate on engine break-ins. Some believe it to be a problem of the past, while others swear on it. However, BMW has marked it in the Mini Cooper manual that a break-in procedure must be done. What a break-in procedure does is allows all of the engine's internal components to properly "seat" and "sync" together. If the engine is pushed too aggressively, the piston walls can get too scratched up, leading to oil burning issues in the future.

The break-in procedure is very simple. Just make sure to keep the first 1,200 miles under 100mph and 4,500 RPM. Then be sure to change the oil at 2,000 miles. From then on, gradually increase the RPM limit.

Step 2 – Check for leaks

You may have a leak.

Mini Cooper owners have sort of created a stigma associated with their engines, and if they check their oil only to find it low, automatically assume their engine is burning oil. The truth is, all engines burn oil. Although the amount differs, oil loss should not automatically be contributed to burning. You can be leaking oil from any of the gaskets found on the engine. So with the engine running, grab a flashlight and begin searching for any traces of residue. If a leak is found, repair it.

A common weak spot on these hot-running, turbocharged engines is the valve cover gasket. The valve cover gasket is a rubber/composite gasket that mates the valve cover to the head of the motor. The gasket can become brittle due to age and heat, and result in oil loss as well as an oil leak. This is commonly noted if your ignition coils or spark plugs have excess oil on them.

Step 3 – Change the oil

Different oil weight might help.

When you are dealing with an oil burning engine, the best repair is to either replace or rebuild the engine. However, some Mini owners have had success in changing the weight of the oil used and thus limiting the amount burned. Mini owners using Mobil1 0w-40 have reported decreases in oil consumption as well as increases in MPG. This oil is BMW/MINI approved, and will not void your warranty if used.

Additionally, shorten your oil change service intervals! MINI still promotes a 10,000 mile service interval, which is an unrealistic demand when it comes to the turbocharged N14 and N18 engines. Try throwing in an extra oil change at the 5,000 mile mark. Your engine will thank you for it.

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