Oil question

[Rockster]

markbigears said:

Just got this from BMW mini:

Good afternoon Mark

Thanks for your further email.

We recommend that you use our preferred partner Shell for topping up your engine oil. Please click here to find the most suitable engine oil for your car.

If there’s anything else I can help with please get in touch.

Kind regards

Thomas

BMW Group
United Kingdom

Good job. You went directly to the source.

I like to point out that the only authority of which oil to use in an engine is the maker of the engine. One should go with the oil or oils the engine maker recommends.

As a auto enthusiast with some experience over the years I might recommend a more frequent oil/filter service schedule -- sometimes the engine maker/auto maker does this too by classifying driving in a region as being "severe" duty -- but that is all.

It is kind of hard, in a way, to have just given up -- sold -- two cars for which 0w-40 even 5w-50 oil was approved and in both engines I ran 5w-50 oil to with my new 2018 JCW to use 0w-20 oil. I have to resist the urge to use a "heavier" oil. But my info is 0w-20 is the oil Mini says to use with this engine and that is the oil I am using, and will use going forward. It will be changed every 5K miles though.

[roygarth]

mon the fish said:

Oil is oil. As long as it's fully synthetic and to Mini specs I wouldn't be buying oil from a dealer. Try someone like Opie.

I've tried a few brands, some seem to burn off more than others but my engine is still working after 13 years and 80k miles. I'm using Castrol at the moment

Which Castrol would you recommend for an R53 JCW with 35k miles?
Thanks

Edited by roygarth on Monday 15th January 13:56

[mon the fish]

roygarth said:

Which Castrol would you recommend for an R53 JCW with 35k miles?
Thanks

Edited by roygarth on Monday 15th January 13:56

I think it's Castrol Edge I'm using on mine, I'm using 5w-40 but mine has 80k miles on it.

For yours I would stick to 5w-30, the OEM spec. I changed to 5w-40 as mine started using a bit of oil, which I suspect is due to age/wear, and doesn't use any with the thicker spec.

[roygarth]

mon the fish said:

I think it's Castrol Edge I'm using on mine, I'm using 5w-40 but mine has 80k miles on it.

For yours I would stick to 5w-30, the OEM spec. I changed to 5w-40 as mine started using a bit of oil, which I suspect is due to age/wear, and doesn't use any with the thicker spec.

Many thanks.

[rdb85]

5W30 is the oil my Mini uses its a 2006 plate. You need about 4.7 litres

This is the oil I use: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5W-30-GENUINE-GM-VAUXHAL...