Why should I change my MINIs engine oil?
It's easy to take your engine oil for granted because it does so much more than most people expect it to. Not only does it lubricate every moving part to prevent wear but it acts as a cushion between high-pressure areas to prevent damage by absorbing and redistributing impact forces. It helps to cool the engine components by taking heat away from the pistons and crankshaft for example and it cleans your engine by picking up any particles or deposits and transporting them away to the oil filter. These are all essential for your engine to run without damaging itself.
The list of benefits don't stop there though. The oil helps form a seal between piston rings and the cylinder walls improving compression and preventing exhaust gasses escaping into the crankcase. Modern engine oil products also contain additives that prevent metal surfaces from corroding. If you leave your oil in for too long it clogs up preventing the flow of oil and limiting its ability to protect your engine putting your components at risk.
When do I need to change my oil?
NORMAL ROAD USE: Every 5000-7500 miles
It's easy to MOT your car every year but then skip servicing it. Is this you? Well now is the time to be smart and know that regular servicing will keep your car in better shape for longer saving you money overall. Taking care of your engine (and turbo) with regular oil changes can prevent expensive repairs down the line so put fresh quality oil in your MINI now and you'll thank yourself later!
SPIRITED ROAD USE: Every 3000-6000 miles
If you're driving your MINI with extra enthusiasm you'll need to change your oil more frequently. Accelerating hard is going to cause greater wear on your engine components (especially if you're full gas straight off the driveway on a cold morning) so your oil and oil filter are getting worked harder to protect them. Changing your oil regularly will keep your engine in good shape for longer particularly if you have performance mods that are increasing its power capabilities.
TRACK USE: It's complicated!
Ok so you push your MINI hard. Let's assume you've made performance modifications and have remapped the ECU to demand more power from the engine. Your oil will be working as hard as your engine is and high-powered high-revving engines need to be taken care of to perform well on track without damage. If you're doing long sessions on hot days we'd recommend an oil change after every weekend at the track to keep the engine cranking out the power and running trouble-free. Consider using premium oil like Motul's 300V or alternatively a slightly thicker oil such as Motul's X-Clean+ 5W40 as it's less likely to thin out at high running temperatures. If it's a bit of road and light track use only you'll probably want to consider changing the oil in your MINI every three or four track days or after a couple of thousand miles on the road. (Here's our MINI preparation guide if you're new to the track).
Below is a service guide for each generation of MINI.
GEN1 - W10 / W11
Road: Every 5000 to 7500 miles (8000–12,000 km) or once a year.
Spirited Road: 3000 to 5000 miles (5000 to 8000 km)
Track: Every 2000 to 3000 miles (3000 to 5000 km) at least.
The W11 engine runs hot and requires frequent oil changes to help prevent carbon buildup and prolong the engine life. Prone to leaking oil so check your oil levels with your dipstick often.
Oil spec:
W10 & W11 (One, Cooper, Cooper S, JCW and GP)
Requires: 5L
Road: MILLERS or MOTUL
Track: MOTUL 300V
GEN2 - N12/ N14 / N16 / N18 / N47
Road: Every 5000 to 7500 miles (8000–12,000 km) or once a year.
Spirited Road: 3000 to 5000 miles (5000 to 8000 km)
Track: Every 1500 to 2500 miles (2500 to 4000 km) at least.
MINI got their original recommendation wrong. 15,000 miles wasn't often enough. They underestimated the carbon build-up and timing chain problems with the N14 and N18 engines. More regular oil changes are needed to help mitigate these common issues, especially with track use. New engine oil is needed to protect these more vulnerable components under demanding conditions.
Oil spec:
N12, N14, N16 & N18 (One, Cooper, Cooper S, JCW and GP)
Requires: 4.2L
N47 (Cooper D & Cooper SD)
Requires: 5.2L
Road: MILLERS or MOTUL
Track: MOTUL 300V
GEN3 - B38 / B48
Road: Every 7500 miles (12,000 km) or once a year.
Spirited Road: 4000 to 6000 miles (6500 to 9500 km)
Track: Every 2000 to 3000 miles (3000 to 5000 km) at least.
Direct injection turbo engines can be hard on oil. MINI recommend every 10,000 miles but shorter interval helps protect the turbo and engine components.
Oil spec:
B38 1.5L (One and Cooper)
requires: 4.3L
B48 2.0L (Cooper S, JCW & GP)
Requires: 5.3L
Road: MILLERS or MOTUL
Track: MOTUL 300V
GEN4 - B38 / B48 (revised)
Road: Every 7500 miles (12,000 km) or once a year.
Spirited road: 4000 to 6000 miles (6500 to 9500 km)
Track: Every 2000 to 3000 miles (3000 to 5000 km) at least.
Again MINI recommends 10,000 miles (16,000 km) however we feel this is over-optimistic for a turbocharged engine and changing more regularly will only be beneficial for your engine's lifespan.
Oil Spec:
B38 1.5L (One and Cooper)
Requires: 4.3L
B48 2.0L (Cooper S, JCW & GP)
Requires: 5.3L
Road: MILLERS or MOTUL
Track: MOTUL 300V
