I have 2012 mini cooper hardtop with 1000 miles. Today I changed the motor oil for first time. 4 quarts came out and 4 quarts went in. But I read in some posts that it should have been 4.4 quarts. I drove the car and the level is 3/4 up between the two bulges on the oil dip stick, after waiting 5min per the manual.

I can't find the oil capacity in the manual, any ideas?

thanks

 

I've got the N14 which is 4.4 quarts and I believe you have the N18 which is still 4.4 quarts.
Did you change out the filter as well. If not, there's your other .4 quarts. And, if you didn't, shame on you. You always change out the filter.
3/4 up the bulges would be about 1/2 quart.

 

I changed the oil filter.

When I measured the original 4 quarts that came out of the car via the drain plug, I didn't account for the little bit that came out with the oil filter. So its more like 4.2 quarts came out of the car.

I went back and added .25 quarts (so now we are up to 4.25 quarts in total) and I'm right at the top bulge. I'm on flat surface, and checked with the procedure in the owners manual.

I'll check again in a week, but perhaps oil capacity is 4.4 quarts from dry and 4.2 quarts should be changed with oil filter change. I know my LR truck is like this, 6.9 quarts from dry and 6.1 quarts with oil filter change.

The owners manual really should have better info.

 

I have a 2012 Hard top too. My oil level is 3/4 of the way up between the two buldges too. I haven't changed it yet. I even added about 1/4 quart and the level didn't change??? I wouldn't worry about it, it is in the safe zone. I have had the same reading on the dipstick since I bought the car 2 months ago. I have 1800 miles now. I check the oil every week.

 

Here is what I did

Parts:
Mini oil filter p/n: 11 42 7 622 446
Castrol 0w-30 Edge SPT European Formula - bought 6 quarts, could have only bought 5
brake clean

Procedure:
Drove front wheels up 2 plastic ramps
Used 8mm stubby hex socket driver for drain plug
Used small hook to pull off old copper crush washer that was stuck to bottom of oil pan.
Used 10mm 6 point to move the coolant expansion tank and pushed to side , gives better access to oil filter area
Used 27mm 6 point to remove oil filter
Replaced o-ring with light oil coat, filter, drain plug with copper crush washer
Refilled motor oil
Cleaned up oil filter area with rag with brake clean on it
Checked oil level on level ground after driving more than 6 miles and waiting 5min after driving

 

It is nearly impossible to get Mini to tell you how much oil to put in the car. I even called Mini USA and they could not/ would not tell me. After hunting all over the place I found MINI's internal technical service document that lists oil capacity by motor.

N12 (2007+ MINI Cooper) and N16 (latest motor) – 4.20 liters / 4.4381 quarts
N14 (2007+ MINI Cooper S) and N18 (latest motor) – 4.20 liters / 4.4381 quarts

Don't overfill it and don't let it get low.

 

Sounds like you did everything correctly. Glad you changed the filter.
You are most likely OK at the level you are at. I know the manual says to check oil at operating temp. but try checking it in the morning for the heck of it. Pull it out, wipe it off, reinsert it, pull it out and read. If hard to see, lay it on a paper towel.
As long as you are within the bulges you are OK. I try and keep mine at the top bulge.
I would also recommend checking oil level once a week.
Ditto on the DO NOT OVERFILL. That can be as bad as running it low.
Good job.

 

Thanks for the info.
I checked the TSBs I have and see the capacities above. The TSBs don't provide info on dry or with filter, but I'm close enough and will monitor.

 

The manuals they supply with the cars are pretty worthless IMO.
They aren't like the old manuals that shows one how to do certain things.
I guess because they figure most owners will have the dealerships work on
them.
I've figured out NAM is a pretty good manual. LOL

 

You're off to a great start by changing the oil before the OBC tells you to, that could be 13,000 to 15,000 miles before the first oil change! I did my first one at 1,500 miles and then every 5,000 and/or when the OBC says it's time. I don't burn any oil like many do so I must have done something right.

 

5000 is a little on the low side, 7500 is what Blackstone Labs and I have setteled on... In fact I could probably push it to 8500, and not have any oil breakdown issues.

But 15K is out of the question...

 

I like to do my changes at 4500-5000 or 3 times a year.

 

It's your money... But you are wasting it...

 

So should I panic that they put 5 qts into my car? I looked here and I saw that a few peeps said that is fine?

 

Not panic, but there shouldn't be any excessive oil.
You want to drain out any excess as overfilling the engine oil can create sloshing / foaming of the oil which leads to less protection.

That's incorrect; remove the excess oil immediately.

- Erik

 

4.4 quarts max.
Just curious, was it a dealership that changed it or
independent?
Overfilling is not a good idea at all.
You can place a container under the drain plug and
loosen it up enough to have it leaking until you figure
about a 1/2 qt. is out then tighten it up again. Clean up
around the plug and snug it. Don't over tighten it.

 

It is the great independent that I have taken all my cars to for 10 years. They added 5qts of Mobile1. Looks like I need to go drain a little oil out of my car.

 

If you have some ramps it's makes it really easy. A couple of pieces of cut up 2x4's will also work. Just drive up on them part ways. Enough to get a pan under the plug and room to work. The plug isn't too far back from the bumper so you don't have to really get way under the car. After draining a little recheck the level. Also, even though you have someone do the changes it's a good idea to check it once a week especially if it's an S.
Good luck. The plug is a 25 mm torque drive but I believe you can substitute an allen.

**Before doing anything, I have a question. Are you sure they put 5 qts. in? Are you saying that because you
can see they charged you for 5 quarts or is the level way over the upper bulge on the dip stick?

 

r56 mini from what I can tell is 8mm stubby hex socket, this is what my 2012 mc hardtop had. See pic below from outmotoring website.

 

Correct. Also a 25mm torque fits.

 

True. We have a local mechanic (in our local club) that truly believes that changing MCS oil intervals need to be 4500. They have seen several premature failures on R56 turbos and chain guides on Minis that extend the change intervals. So for now we are doing them early.

 

I do mine at 6K and feel it's money well spent. I do it myself
so it's only about $45. and 40 minutes. Not bad for piece of mind.

 

I drive my Mini just over 5k a year (my Jeep gets the other 5-6k a year) so I mainly do it that early to get that year old oil out of there.

 

DIY

The only way to get good service is to DIY.

 

Great information here. I just did the oil change in my wife's convertible S and it was a piece of cake.I used 5w-30 Mobil 1 synthetic and a filter from Minimania. Thanks for all the information.