Changing Oil - when to put the oil cap on after filling

[iddrew]

Hi Guys,

This is probably a really noobie question and all of you are going to laugh, but since i am no mecchanic and never conducted an engine oil change in my life i need all your guy's help

i have a 2004 Mini Cooper S R53 and want to change the oil since the genius i bought the car from starved the engine from oil (not even showing on dipstick) and now i realised

So from the info i gathered on the internet this is what i'm making out the procedure to be:

1) put MCS on Ramp
2) take off engine oil cap
3) unscreew bleed screw and drain all the oil
4) unscrew oil filter
5) take out old filter
6) take off old O-Ring
7) put new O-Ring on
8) Put new Filter in (apply abit of force so it hunkers down or snapps in place)
9) apply abit of the old oil around the O-Ring to lubricate
10) screw oil filter cap back in
11) screw in bleed screw with new washer (i got one of those magnetic ones)
12) fill the engine with oil

**Now here is where i am still confused from the info i read**
after you filled it up, do you screw the engine oil cap back in start the engine, run it abit and then check the dip stick? Or do you leave the cap unscrewed, start the engine, let it run and THEN screw the oil cap back in?

**Question No.2 - how will i know how much oil i have put in (as in if i over filled it or no) since the oil dip-stick is so freaking hard to read and the oil is clear!

Thanks for all your help guys, really appreciate it, and sorry if it's a dumb question, i'm a total 100% noobie and this is my first car

Reagrds,
Andrew

[iain cooper]

Andrew, first thing is the car needs to be sitting level ( don''t know which type of ramps you are using )

pour in the new oil slowly until at mark on the dipstick.

best to check dipstick level after each litre has went in, giving it time to run down into the sump and so that you do not overfill.

once the mark has been reached on the dipstick put the oil cap back on, start the engine and check for leaks, etc.

after a few minutes turn it off and check level on dipstick again.

with new oil it is hard to see and sometimes using a piece of white kitchen roll to find the level on the dipstick helps.

never start the engine with the oil cap off as oil will splash out and all over the engine bay !!

Iain

[iddrew]

Thanks Iain,

This is EXACTLY what i needed. I just want to rest assured that i'm doing it correctly. And thanks for telling me that the car has to be level. I was going to use small ramps as i saw on some youtube vids because since i am a newbie, i dont really know how to jack up a car. However i will now crawl under the car to release the bleed screw instead of elevating the front.

Thanks a bunch.
Regards,
Andrew

[iain cooper]

no problem Andrew, another couple of oil changing tips since your a newbie !!

always give the oil time to run down into the sump before checking ( can take a good few minutes )

and never overtighten anything, sump plug/oil filter, etc

Iain

[mab01uk]

This link may also help you:
Oil & Filter Change on a Mk1 (R50/52/53) MINI - Forums

[iddrew]

Thanks Iain, i'll be sure to keep all these things in mind when doing this job.

and @mab01uk, thanks for the links, they were very helpful

Regards,
Andrew