How To Maintenance :: Cooper Oil Change with Pictures
#51
My steel ramps used to slide with rear-wheel-drive cars (had to place on old inner tube rubber), but have never moved with front-wheel-drive cars.
For the MINI, had to lead with 2x8's to prevent mashing the air-dams, my last oil drain, just used the 2x8's alone and believe it could be done with nothing under front tyres.
For the MINI, had to lead with 2x8's to prevent mashing the air-dams, my last oil drain, just used the 2x8's alone and believe it could be done with nothing under front tyres.
#52
Thanks for this write-up mikpatj! I changed my wife's oil today since she was at the 2500 mile mark and I don't want any metal flakes to prematurly weir on her engine.
My question though is about the copper crush washer that comes with the new OEM filter. Am I supposed to remove the old copper ring off of the drain plug and replace it with the new copper washer? My concern is because the copper washer that was on the plug was completely flat and of course the new one isn't. It's kind of round-ish. Thanks!!!!
My question though is about the copper crush washer that comes with the new OEM filter. Am I supposed to remove the old copper ring off of the drain plug and replace it with the new copper washer? My concern is because the copper washer that was on the plug was completely flat and of course the new one isn't. It's kind of round-ish. Thanks!!!!
Last edited by DWright; 03-20-2010 at 11:39 PM.
#54
Yeah, but mine didn't seem to flatten very much. At least not completely flat like the OEM ring that I removed. The new one might have squeezed a little bit but not flat.
Edit: Okay, I found my torque wrench and torqued the plug down to 22 ft/lbs. I'm pretty secure now in the crush washer. It does seem to have flattened out a bit.
Edit: Okay, I found my torque wrench and torqued the plug down to 22 ft/lbs. I'm pretty secure now in the crush washer. It does seem to have flattened out a bit.
Last edited by DWright; 03-21-2010 at 12:08 AM.
#55
Resetting the oil change indicator
My apologies in advance if this has been covered, but I've searched all over this site looking for an answer and haven't found it.
Does anyone know how to reset the oil change indicator? I have an '08 Clubman with Nav. Until now, I've had the dealer do the scheduled oil changes (and reset the indicator) and changed it myself between visits. Now that my 36K is up, I'm on my own for oil changes, unless I want to drive 3 hours and pay them to it.
Does anyone know how to reset the oil change indicator? I have an '08 Clubman with Nav. Until now, I've had the dealer do the scheduled oil changes (and reset the indicator) and changed it myself between visits. Now that my 36K is up, I'm on my own for oil changes, unless I want to drive 3 hours and pay them to it.
#56
My apologies in advance if this has been covered, but I've searched all over this site looking for an answer and haven't found it.
Does anyone know how to reset the oil change indicator? I have an '08 Clubman with Nav. Until now, I've had the dealer do the scheduled oil changes (and reset the indicator) and changed it myself between visits. Now that my 36K is up, I'm on my own for oil changes, unless I want to drive 3 hours and pay them to it.
Does anyone know how to reset the oil change indicator? I have an '08 Clubman with Nav. Until now, I've had the dealer do the scheduled oil changes (and reset the indicator) and changed it myself between visits. Now that my 36K is up, I'm on my own for oil changes, unless I want to drive 3 hours and pay them to it.
#57
#58
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...063-post1.html
#59
#60
#61
Here's a pic with the old crush washer removed and the new one sitting in it's place on the drain plug:
#62
#64
#66
Recycle Centers in your Area
A lot of members have asked where to recycle their motor oil. Here is a link for a great site that lists local recycle centers and tells you if they take it for free or if there is a small charge:
http://earth911.com/
You can search for other fluids as well (ex. coolant, brake, transmission, etc)
http://earth911.com/
You can search for other fluids as well (ex. coolant, brake, transmission, etc)
#67
#69
Excellent DIY write up. I'm getting close to 5k and I'm trying to decide what to do. I read that mostly everyone in this threath change their oil at 5k. Where my dealer tell me that I should just take it when service is due. I'm a bit confuses here guys. Can some one please help me decide when is best to do and oil change. If it help I have a 11MCS and I pull around 100 miles a day(is very painfull to see so many mile be wasted just to go to work... But heck... Is awsome that is always in my MINI) when should I do my first oil change?
Thank a lot guys!
Thank a lot guys!
#70
First of all I am not a mechanic but kept the link to this procedure. I've changed oil in other cars so I thought I could do this one also. The pictures were great as well as the procedures. I used a 27mm 6pt for the filter and an 8mm for the drain plug, both sockets bought at the local Pep Boys. I did have to remove the tank with the one 8mm bolt to have room to get to the filter.
This might be a valuable story for those that are doing their first oil change. I didn't pay attention and it cost me.
It was a day that makes you wonder.
I bought this mini a few weeks ago from a local car lot, well respected in the area and always nice used cars. This is a 2009 MCS, one owner, clean carfax with it showing maintenance was done at their local BMW dealership at recommended intervals. I have yet to receive a reply from that out of state dealership nor my local BMW dealership for my request of a printout or an emailed pdf file of services done since the birth of the car.
Why did this day make me wonder? When I looked at the dip stick at the lot before test driving it, it was normal level, kind of "honey brow" in color I guess. I couldn't tell but I didn't feel like they had changed the oil before they sold it. Fine, doesn't matter I thought, I will do it myself so I know for sure what kind of oil is going in and what the filter looks like coming out.
Old filter was BLACK ... not sure if it had been changed recently. When I was dumping my used oil into the local garage's drum....used oil was BLACK!!!
Made me wonder.
The engine now has 4 qts of Mobil 1 synthetic and 1/2 way between the 2 bumps on the stock dip stick.
I checked for drips after running the engine for 5 minutes. Ran a white paper towel over the drain plug and the edge of the filter...no leaks.
I take it on a 65mph run for 4 mile round trip and when I pull into my drive, a small leak somewhere...the burning oil smoke.
Check my drain plug ... no leaking. Around the filter I can't see anything major that would produce that much smoke. I had tightened the filter hand tight and then a 1/4 turn with the socket before the test drive.
Then it came to me when I rubbed my finger around the edge of the filter to feel metal against the cap ... I felt rubber!! Even though it was tight I could feel a little rubber between the metal and the cap. I knew what I had did incorrectly.
I took the filter off, looked at the o-ring. I had slide the o-ring down to the bottom of the cap, so it was preventing the cap from being flush with metal. I then put the o-ring in the proper slot, hand tightened the filter and then a 1/4 turn with the socket.
Did my test drive of 4 miles and came back to no leaks anywhere. All is good.
Thanks to the mikpatj for his pictured procedure....you saved me a lot of money today and in the future.
This might be a valuable story for those that are doing their first oil change. I didn't pay attention and it cost me.
It was a day that makes you wonder.
I bought this mini a few weeks ago from a local car lot, well respected in the area and always nice used cars. This is a 2009 MCS, one owner, clean carfax with it showing maintenance was done at their local BMW dealership at recommended intervals. I have yet to receive a reply from that out of state dealership nor my local BMW dealership for my request of a printout or an emailed pdf file of services done since the birth of the car.
Why did this day make me wonder? When I looked at the dip stick at the lot before test driving it, it was normal level, kind of "honey brow" in color I guess. I couldn't tell but I didn't feel like they had changed the oil before they sold it. Fine, doesn't matter I thought, I will do it myself so I know for sure what kind of oil is going in and what the filter looks like coming out.
Old filter was BLACK ... not sure if it had been changed recently. When I was dumping my used oil into the local garage's drum....used oil was BLACK!!!
Made me wonder.
The engine now has 4 qts of Mobil 1 synthetic and 1/2 way between the 2 bumps on the stock dip stick.
I checked for drips after running the engine for 5 minutes. Ran a white paper towel over the drain plug and the edge of the filter...no leaks.
I take it on a 65mph run for 4 mile round trip and when I pull into my drive, a small leak somewhere...the burning oil smoke.
Check my drain plug ... no leaking. Around the filter I can't see anything major that would produce that much smoke. I had tightened the filter hand tight and then a 1/4 turn with the socket before the test drive.
Then it came to me when I rubbed my finger around the edge of the filter to feel metal against the cap ... I felt rubber!! Even though it was tight I could feel a little rubber between the metal and the cap. I knew what I had did incorrectly.
I took the filter off, looked at the o-ring. I had slide the o-ring down to the bottom of the cap, so it was preventing the cap from being flush with metal. I then put the o-ring in the proper slot, hand tightened the filter and then a 1/4 turn with the socket.
Did my test drive of 4 miles and came back to no leaks anywhere. All is good.
Thanks to the mikpatj for his pictured procedure....you saved me a lot of money today and in the future.
Last edited by CosmicBlue15; 05-05-2012 at 04:46 PM. Reason: updated story
#71
Correct amount of oil for oil + filter change
Because of the difficulty in reading the dipstick on the 2011+ MINI, I searched for the correct amount for a oil + filter change. The Bentley manual gives 4.4 quarts. This appears to be correct since adding 4 quarts gives a dipstick reading approximately in the middle of the correct range. For some reason the dealers overfill the oil. I have read some are adding as much as 5 quarts. My dealer said they add 4.7 quarts by setting the amount that is pumped from the oil drum. I asked how much they added after getting dipstick readings above the upper mark. Reading the dipstick is a whole other story and I suggest you read the threads on reading the 2011+ dipstick in the 'how to' section. Since some dealers are adding extra oil, I would keep the oil near the upper limit. When I change my oil and filter I will buy 5 quarts. Pour in 4 quarts and then top off to the upper level with the 5th quart. The remaining oil will be used to keep the oil near the upper limit.
2011 MC PW/B
2011 MC PW/B
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