Inspection II Help

[burns863]

Done a search and I'm not getting the info i need so please dont flame me if there is a post with this in somewhere

My 02 MC is due for its inspection 2. Do i need fully synthetic 0/40, 0.30, or 5/30 oil? Also, do i need a branded oil (castol etc?)or is a cheaper fully synthetic just as good?

Also, with the spark plugs, NGK BKR6EQUP or NGK BKR6EIX?

**edit**
found this thread http://www.mini2.com/forum/mini-coop...per-s-oil.html

so i guess this is the best oil to use in my cooper? still as asked above though, are cheaper ones really that bad/any different?

[MINIAC]

It's only 5 quarts of oil ... why go cheap

[MINIMANIAUK]

fully synthetic oil required as previous,the cheaper synthetic oils are NOT synthetic,and semi-synth pointless, its a minefield with oil and what is or is not synthetic , if non synthetic oil is used previously,and then it is changed to a proper synthetic oil ,the new oil cleans the internal oilways and all the crap gets into the new filter,so another oil and filter change required .
there was a court case in the states over what is synthetic oil and the outcome was that manufacturers could legally call their oil synthetic despite it not being so !!!! hence what is semi synth then? god knows!! you would think50% and you would be wrong!!!
proper synth is ester/pao combinations different companies use different mixes but they are genuine synthetics. If its £10 for 4 lts and in a silver container no matter what it says on the container it is not synthetic oil!! there are only 6 or 7 genuine synthetics
use a genuine bmw filter as some aftermarket ones have the incorrect seal and leak!!

[burns863]

thanks for the replies! i willo go for the decent stuff then.

Problem being, a couple of weeka ago i topped up my oil with semi synthetic

I didnt realise the MINI engine needed fully synth. So it will be getting a full change in the next couple of weeks. So from what you are saying i am going to need to now change the oil, then run the car, then change it again after a while?

Any advice on the spark plugs?

[MINIMANIAUK]

The engine does not need fully synth oil but without it you lose the benefits of the synth oil ,the longer time between changes,etc
the problem with semi synthetic is what is it ? mobil semi is I believe 50% synth oil, but the legal requirement is not that clear and other companies not so honest -so it could be 2% synthetic and that 2% not a real synthetic oil!!!
true synthetic oil is expensive compared with mineral oil , and as always you get what you pay for,but it would be nice to know what it is you are paying for!! they do not state on the containers,only API SPEC etc
the eix plugs are iridium and they also have benefits over stock
If you change to synthetic from non synth,yes you will have to change again the filter.
cheap oil never works out cheap in the end,I guess we all knew that deep down, how many are now wondering what oil the garage used on my last service ? BMW always use fully synthetic castrol or mobil , independants who knows!

[frylock]

>>>Any advice on the spark plugs?
During Inspection II, it's only required to check the spark plugs. If they are ok (should be a light brown color with no physical damage), there's no need to change.

Spark plugs are changed at 100,000 miles (which you may be at in an 02 MC), along with the radiator coolant.

This is in accordance with the Bentley manual.

[burns863]

Quote: Originally Posted by frylock (original)

>>>Any advice on the spark plugs?
During Inspection II, it's only required to check the spark plugs. If they are ok (should be a light brown color with no physical damage), there's no need to change.

Spark plugs are changed at 100,000 miles (which you may be at in an 02 MC), along with the radiator coolant.

This is in accordance with the Bentley manual.

thanks for the advice frylock! I am only at 60k mileage wise. After they have been checked if for any reason they do need changing, would be a far better move to go with the iridium plugs (EIX)?

[frylock]

My personal opinion would be to stick with OEM (or similar) plugs, as long as the rest of the engine is stock.