[faster,Tobias!]

I get a number of people asking me, with some incredulity apparent, if I'm sure it is ok to go the recommended 16,000Km before changing the oil. Here is an interesting article (with interesting comments after) on 'The Truth About Cars' relating to oil changes and the intervals required and/or imagined to be required;

The Truth About Cars | Peek Oil?

Cheers!

[heli_guy]

Thanks for the article, what I thought all along. With my Mini cooper (non-S), I tried all three octane of gas. I get the best mileage, and I don't notice any difference in performance, using regular gas.

So I would say this guy knows his stuff :-).

[xtremepsionic]

I too, cannot detect any difference in gas mileage through carefully logging every fill up for 1.5 year. Can't say I can feel any performance difference either to be honest, if there are any differences in the Cooper (non-s) it has to be really minor.

[MINImeat]

Frequent oil changes = cheap insurance, although 3K is alittle bit of overkill.
Also, gives me an excuse to poke around and make sure all's well under the bonnet.

[beken]

I tend to rely on my car to tell me when to change oil even though my dealer insists it should be every 10,000 kms. My car usually runs up somewhere between 12000 and 16000kms between changes.

But I have noticed a difference in gas mileage using different octanes. Possibly because coastal BC has lots of hills to climb. So I shall stick to 91 or higher octane.

But I do agree with the TTAC article regarding oil changes.

[heli_guy]

I get approximately 1 - 3 L/100km WORSE mileage running premium them regular gas in my Mini. Could be the high altitude, but certainly doesn't make it worth while to me (the extra cleaning additives are nice though).

[MINNOW]

Just had an "Inspection1" done by the local dealer, and after the reset the service interval suggests approx. 25,000 km to go till the next "oil service".
I will probably do what I have been doing to date, that is, change the oil myself at about the 1/2 way point. Maybe it's not necessary, but I plan on keeping the car a long time, and this can not hurt.
As for fuel octane I have only ever run premium in the Cooper. The 10 year old Volvo sedan does eke out maybe 3 mpg better fuel economy when fed premium, but it's diet is typically regular.

[Nospinbuck]

Hi everyone
New member here , with 06 Mini S. My question is if I want to change my oil before 12000 miles, what should I use? Should I use full synthetic? What weight should I use? How to know if the oil I use when changing will be compatible with what the dealer uses at 12K interval. What weight will the dealer use? Tks Nospinbuck

[xtremepsionic]

Quote: Originally Posted by Nospinbuck (original)

Hi everyone
New member here , with 06 Mini S. My question is if I want to change my oil before 12000 miles, what should I use? Should I use full synthetic? What weight should I use? How to know if the oil I use when changing will be compatible with what the dealer uses at 12K interval. What weight will the dealer use? Tks Nospinbuck

Full synthetic 5W-30. Or just get the oil and filter from the dealership if you're worried about having different oil. It really won't hurt the engine one bit as long as the new oil you get meets the car's requirement (listed in owner's manual)

[Nospinbuck]

Ok thanks, I did not know if one synthetic might have a different base from another, therefore being uncompatible. Very much appreciate the info. Nospinbuck

[LFC UK]

Hey Beken,

It sounds like your dealer needs some MINI training, you're doing the right thing and listening to your car and not him. If you're going to do less than 16,000km a year, then get the oil changed annually. Otherwise you may as well stick to the car's normal intervals, ie. 16,25,16 & so on. These are strictly guidelines with the car assessing the actual need to change the oil, 16k could actually be anywhere between 15k & 19k depending on how the car is driven. Every 10,000km whatever the driving conditions seems a little excessive for a dealer to recommend, I would understand if you wanted to do that for your own peace of mind but the dealer may have ulterior motives in recommending that.

Bear in mind that most European cars are designed to have their oil changed every 10-12,000 miles and this has never been an issue. The average annual mileage in the UK is now 14-16,000 miles or more so don't try using 'we do more mileage' as an excuse to need to change it every 3-10k... Basically I'm not likely to throw $200 oil changes at my car when it doesn't need them.

[beken]

I have 6000kms before inspection 1. The MINI dealer has been sending notices regarding my car needing service. They can wait. However, I am planning on driving to AMVIV next month and there is no way I'm going to use up 6000kms in the next month. However, the trip to Las Vegas and back will definitely put me over, so I booked in for Inspection 1 at the beginning of March. But I agree with you, LFC. Oil changes at least once a year regardless of mileage.

The "Oil Service" is $200. Just an oil change is less than $100. I was quoted $327 for Inspection 1, taxes included so I figure that's a fair (though still expensive) price.

[Vizilo]

I live on a small Gulf Island and rarely take the S Convertible off the island. So, the car has only 6000 km in the 2 years since purchase. I am about to get a first oil change in 2 years even though the counter still says 9500 km to go. Because of the dealer being 125 km and 2 hours away, I plan to get the oil change in Nanaimo.

I am going to get full synthetic. Any brand or specification required? Given the 3000 or less km driven per year, is the 2 year change interval adequate? Anything else that I should be checking or replacing after the first 2 years

[LFC UK]

Hey Vizilo,

If I were you I would be making the trip to the dealership annually just to get some more enjoyment out of your car, it sounds like you're starved of mileage! Really in your situation it's more down to personal preference and peace of mind, it shouldn't hurt the car to go the extra year but I would give it a run quite regularly and check the oil just for the sake of it. Your MINI dealership will have the right synthetic oil for you and it may be worthwhile to pick up one of their 1ltr bottles in a bag in case you ever need it, seeing as you live quite a way from the dealership. There isn't much else to check on as the car pretty much looks after itself but get yourself a spare set of wiper blades and maybe a MINI trickle charger if it's standing for months at a time.

Make sure you get out there and enjoy it whenever you can, take care.