German Castrol 0W-30, MINI Cooper S, 3,899 miles

[mph]

This was the second oil change on the car, still breaking in.

The first oil change was shortly after the end of the break-in period, during which time I kept the engine under 4,500 rpm. Since then, I've made good use of the high end and the supercharger.

Next planned oil change is the first "official" oil change at the dealer, when the computer tells me to go in. Right now, it's looking like that will be about 11,250 on the odometer.

code:

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2006 MINI Cooper S (1.6L SOHC supercharged)

Oil capacity: 5.1 quarts



Date 6/3/2006 4/29/2006 Universal Avg

Mi on car 5,423 1,524

Mi on oil 3,899 1,524 6,300

Lab Blackstone Blackstone Blackstone

Oil brand Castrol Factory

Oil type Syntec (German)

Oil grade 0W-30 5W-30

Filter MINI Factory



Per Per Per

Actual 10,000 mi Actual 10,000 mi Actual 10,000 mi

Aluminum 2 5 6 39 4 6

Chromium 2 5 1 7 1 2

Iron 18 46 14 92 13 21

Copper 3 8 6 39 8 13

Lead 1 3 3 20 2 3

Tin 0 0 1 7 1 2

Molybdenum 24 243 107

Nickel 1 0 1

Manganese 1 5 1

Silver 0 0 0

Titanium 0 0 0

Potassium 2 5 1

Boron 0 5 54

Silicon 7 18 38 249 7 11

Sodium 9 10 5

Calcium 1878 2233 2572

Magnesium 463 16 53

Phosphorus 765 753 703

Zinc 978 848 835

Barium 1 12 1



SUS @ 210F 63.9 [58-65] 53.6 [55,62]

Flashpoint F 420 >365 405 >365

Fuel %
Antifreeze % 0 0 0 0

Water % 0
Insolubles % 0.3 pre>

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edited: For some reason, the "normal" viscosity for SAE 30 changed from 55-63 to 58-65 between the last analysis and this one. Updated table to reflect this change, which I hadn't noticed when I posted.



[ June 07, 2006, 11:28 PM: Message edited by: mph ]

 

[mph]

Oh, I just wanted to say that I got incredibly fast turnaround time from the USPS and Blackstone this time around. My last two samples took 2 or 3 weeks from the time I mailed them (surely the fault of USPS, not Blackstone).

This time, I mailed the sample from home on a Saturday, same way I always do, and got the results by email the following Wednesday. I'm located in the Los Angeles area, so that's really fast!

 

[Highroller]

everything looks fine. engine is still breaking-in. I'd try to give it more "romp" on the pedal going up a hill and decelerating down a hill at least once a week.

 

[lindermant]

Are you planning to run a 10k OCI after your first "official" oil change at the dealer?

I'd be interested to see how close your "per 10k mile" guesstimates are, as I thought wear metal accumulation is non-linear.

 

[mph]

Highroller, I assure you that since the break-in period ended at 1,250 miles, the car sees plenty of romp!

lindermant, not right away. Mostly because I'm curious to send in oil samples to monitor the trend, and I'd rather not ask the dealer to collect the samples.

Just so everyone knows the deal, the MINI comes with 36,000 mile free maintenance (which will last me about a year). You go in when the computer tells you, about every 10-12,000 miles. So your free maintenance includes an oil change at ~10,000; a larger inspection at ~20,000; and another oil change at ~30,000.

I'll probably do an oil change myself between 10,000 and 20,000 and send a sample to Blackstone. That may determine whether I go straight from 20,000 to 30,000 or not. I don't necessarily have a problem with 10,000 mile OCIs--I did some that long on my last car, with analysis--but I'll be more comfortable once the break-in wear metals come down. I also don't know if the dealer's BMW/MINI oil will do as well as GC has for me in longer OCIs.

 

[lindermant]

Funny thing about the MINI - the driver never has a frown on his/her face

Do you know what oil they'll put in at the dealer service? Wonder if they'd allow the use GC so you can get accurate trending (assuming that's what you plan to use over the life of the unit).