Mini Cooper R56 oil consumption
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![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
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Good to know, thanks!
Apart from services, I haven't added a single drop to my MINI.
Most we see burn around half a litre every 1000 miles some a touch higher. The ones that don't use much oil tend to get moisture trapped inside the engine and cause top end and chain corrosion. Not sure why but it seems the ones that burn a bit more oil are much happier engines!
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Hmm it seems to be a split opinion, is it a crapshoot if you get one that uses oil or not I wonder, maybe owners not sticking to the engine breaking in procedure or the oil is to thin?
She says the car drives fine but the oil consumption just rang alarm bells with me.
Will certainly have to keep an eye on it though.
She says the car drives fine but the oil consumption just rang alarm bells with me.
Will certainly have to keep an eye on it though.
Nobody seems to have clarified that they are not talking about the Cooper S yet and I've no idea what dalin80 does but if he's a mechanic then people are hardly going to book Mini's in and say 'Hi, my Mini doesn't use any oil can you look at it' 
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[TW]Fox;28880908 said:Nobody seems to have clarified that they are not talking about the Cooper S yet and I've no idea what dalin80 does but if he's a mechanic then people are hardly going to book Mini's in and say 'Hi, my Mini doesn't use any oil can you look at it'
That is a good point, the Cooper S does certainly appear to be an oil drinker from the searching I have done, but being a higher tuned engine with a turbo I guess that's not surprising, but when it comes to the Cooper I can find almost nothing regarding oil consumption.
That is a good point, the Cooper S does certainly appear to be an oil drinker from the searching I have done, but being a higher tuned engine with a turbo I guess that's not surprising, but when it comes to the Cooper I can find almost nothing regarding oil consumption.
Which I think is because ordinarily there is no discernible oil consumption from the Cooper.
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[TW]Fox;28881015 said:
That is certainly how it appears!
[TW]Fox;28880908 said:Nobody seems to have clarified that they are not talking about the Cooper S yet and I've no idea what dalin80 does but if he's a mechanic then people are hardly going to book Mini's in and say 'Hi, my Mini doesn't use any oil can you look at it'
People don't book in saying 'hi my mini uses oil' either, we do oil top ups as part of checks etc. and often talk to customers about how they use the cars, oil usage and type topped up with has become a large subject (read as ball-ache) for garages. Edit- as you say the dipsticks on many of them might as well have the confused face smiley printed on them for how much use they are so quite a few people pop in for a level check.
We do see a fair few coopers, and cooper S's come in with chain and top end rattles with drivers saying 'It has never used any oil!, only for you to pull the cam cover off and find it full of fresh water with the associated corrosion and pitting.
Exactly the same issue with the Peugeots using that oddball BMW-ish engine as well.
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A Car that uses that much oil is IMO BROKEN.
Was it made to use that much Oil? No. if it was they would have told customers to keep 5l in the boot at all times. Oh and no one would have bought them.
Bunch of muppets, the people who says its "normal". LOL
Was it made to use that much Oil? No. if it was they would have told customers to keep 5l in the boot at all times. Oh and no one would have bought them.
Bunch of muppets, the people who says its "normal". LOL
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The Wife's 1.6 NA 308 likes the oil as well. Never have found a leak but we're topping it up i guess a litre every 1500 miles or so. I'm assuming the dipstick is the same since it's comically bad on her car as well.
A lot of manufactures say thats acceptable oil usage in their cars.
BMW, Audi, Vauxhall, VW etc.
LOL, what muppets they are.
If course they do, it's an arse covering exercise. BMW claim the acceptable oil usage for the M54 for example is up to a litre per 600 miles - clearly ridiculous.
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Thank you all for your input. 
I think I will tell her to get it looked at to be on the safe side.
I have seen the '1L per 1000 miles is acceptable' mentioned about BMW engines before but I agree with Fox that it is most likely to cover themselves and a heathy engine shouldn't be using that much oil.
I think I will tell her to get it looked at to be on the safe side.
I have seen the '1L per 1000 miles is acceptable' mentioned about BMW engines before but I agree with Fox that it is most likely to cover themselves and a heathy engine shouldn't be using that much oil.
If you want a fun one to explain to customers check the mazda diesels that have rising oil levels.
Diesel from the injectors spills into the oil and the dipstick has 'min', 'max' and 'even more max' levels to let you know when it needs draining out. Carbon from the injector seals also comes out and blocks the oil pick up for even more hilarity.
Diesel from the injectors spills into the oil and the dipstick has 'min', 'max' and 'even more max' levels to let you know when it needs draining out. Carbon from the injector seals also comes out and blocks the oil pick up for even more hilarity.
Nobody designs a mass market consumer hatchback to guzzle oil at a litre every other time you put fuel in it. Everyone puts a disclaimer in the handbook just in case something is out of spec and an issue arises.
Most people never bother to check - there would have Mini's with seized engines all over Watchdog by now if it was normal for them to guzzle oil at up to a litre per 600 miles, just there is with the Audi 2.0TFSI engine. Especially as it doesn't have a low oil level warning indicator as many other cars do!
I'm aware that some engines have a tendancy to use oil - I have an M54B30 that enjoys a litre every 2000 miles (And has a warning system to tell you when to add oil) - but the 1.6 normally aspirated engine in the Mini isn't one of them IME. If it's drinking oil like its drinking petrol then something is wrong with it. I suspect even the M54 - which everyone knows uses oil - does so because of some sort of issue that develops with most of them rather than because it was intended to have to keep filling it with oil every 30 seconds.
I've no idea about the Cooper S, which you have, but the OP doesn't have a Cooper S anyway so quite why this thread keeps filling with Cooper S information when it's a different engine I've no idea.
Most people never bother to check - there would have Mini's with seized engines all over Watchdog by now if it was normal for them to guzzle oil at up to a litre per 600 miles, just there is with the Audi 2.0TFSI engine. Especially as it doesn't have a low oil level warning indicator as many other cars do!
I'm aware that some engines have a tendancy to use oil - I have an M54B30 that enjoys a litre every 2000 miles (And has a warning system to tell you when to add oil) - but the 1.6 normally aspirated engine in the Mini isn't one of them IME. If it's drinking oil like its drinking petrol then something is wrong with it. I suspect even the M54 - which everyone knows uses oil - does so because of some sort of issue that develops with most of them rather than because it was intended to have to keep filling it with oil every 30 seconds.
I've no idea about the Cooper S, which you have, but the OP doesn't have a Cooper S anyway so quite why this thread keeps filling with Cooper S information when it's a different engine I've no idea.
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A litre of oil under 1k miles is ridiculous, the non-s cooper doesn't use oil, the OPs one is broken