3rd Gen F56 Cooper Most liked posts in thread: 2013 Mini low oil pressure light on

I have seen this twice recently

on N18 engines-and-both had been hit on the oilpan right below the oilpump pickup, closing the space between pickup and bottom of pan, causing oil starvation. In both cases, removing the oil pan and whacking it flat with a hammer and a 2x4 cleaning and reinstalling it fixed them. I have heard, but have not yet seen, the electronic pressure solenoid inside the oil pump (serviced seperately from the pump) can go bad and cause this as well, another easy fix. DO NOT replace the engine, find another shop-they do not know what they are doing.

 

There is no 'indicator' light for oil level, that is handled by the checked once a week dip stick. A lot of folks change oil every 5K regardless. The low oil pressure indicator indicates parking the car and not running the engine until the problem is resolved.
Ditto on finding another shop. Maybe this will help:
http://www.minirepairshops.com/
Independent shops tend be be problem solvers unlike dealerships whose standard response is the remove the hood ornament and and attach a new car to it.

 

Best post of the Day ..... :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

 

Aftermarket oil filter?

 

Find a better MINI dealer. I am 99-percent sure the MINI dealer I use, Sewell MINI of Plano, would find a way to get that engine repaired and charge it to MINI.

Some car dealers look at customers as cows to be milked, while others see them as potential lifetime customers. I bought my 2007 MCS from a Mazda dealership with 80,000 miles on it, and Sewell MINI has treated me like their best customer. In return, they get first shot at selling me my next car -- and the one after that -- and potentially the one after that.

So, again, find another MINI dealer -- one that wants your long term business. 23,000 miles? Seriously? I get better service from Sewell at my current 102,000 miles.

CD

 

There is a basic "Service" light that comes on when it is time to change the oil. I have always changed mine before the service light came on, although not 5,000 miles before it came on.

But, on your daughter's MINI, the big risk is letting the oil level get too low, as all MINIs lose oil between changes. Even if the oil had never been changed, as long as the oil level remained sufficiently full, today's synthetic oils would survive 23,000 miles. Not to say that's a good idea, but it shouldn't kill the engine.

Your best practice is to keep track of your maintenance on paper, and not count on the car's computer to tell you what to do. There is also something to be said for paying extra to have the OEM dealer do your basic maintenance. It costs more, but the service goes into a permanent record, so you never have to "prove" you did it.

CD

 

MINI's LOVE OIL. Check it and Change it often. Most change at 5k.

 

This. 100% this.

Don't listen to the factory recommended 10k+ OCI BS.

 

That's not true.

ACEA A-1 b-1 synthetics should be changed every 3k miles in a turbocharged car. A-3 b-4 synthetics can make it 5k miles before they start shearing viscosity. Small displacement motors/turbos thrash oil. I wouldn't take it past 5k oil changes or you won't make it past 100k...

The guides are chintsy low friction brass, just change the oil...