Great Video ... It never occurred to me that starting a mini in gear with the clutch pedal depressed can wear the thrust bearings in the motor. great tip.

There's something so therapeutic about changing oil. Dipping the finger into oil and lubing the filter gasket, one of my favorite parts of an oil change haha.

It's May 2024, and I'm about to buy a classic mini. Seeing this cleared up my questions. Thanks.

Your videos are so simple and well produced. Thank you!

Well, I was just about to wonder how I should proceed to do my first oil change on the Mini and here you are! Thanks!

Classic Minis are great little cars. I’d love to own one of these wee gems one day. Thanks for posting.

Sweet video, love the production!

Just ordered!! Thank you for the quick response and informative videos!!

Another great video, thanks for the upload. Another alternative to the magnetic sump plug is to place a few (3-5) strong magnets on the oil filter a week before changing the oil as all of the oil has to pass through the filter sooner or later. This will trap all the swarf from the oil in the filter which you can then throw away remembering to rescue the magnets first.

I know this is a very old video but I just got my mini this last Friday (1/7/22) so I'm learning as much as possible. The first thing I've ordered is your drain plug. Living in the states and having no connections yet. Maintenance and oil changes are absolutely critical! Although my mini probably won't see but maybe a couple thousand miles a year. It'll probably get charged two or three times a year. Along with searching for "what's that rattling?" 😆 😎👍

Regarding the magnet it also makes sense to stick these strong magnets on/around the oil filter. There you can put a lot more magnets. This way the small pieces stay in the filter.

So easy to follow DYI,thank you!

Beautiful video, thanks

I don't even own a classic mini but I still enjoyed watching this!

Thanks for this great video chaps. Just a word of note for automatic Mini owners (which I've discovered as a relatively new owner doing loads of research) - you'll want to use 10W40 MA2 JASO oil as the gearboxes on these prefer the different viscosity. The oil filter is also completely different to the spin-on type that you've got on these manual cars, and is held on with a bolt and some washers (part no MSF104 for the filter). Happy motoring!

great series of videos, reminds of the continual maintenance I had to do when rallying minis in the 70s and 80s.When I used to do an oil change, I used to pre-fill the filter before fitting and then remove the spark plug leads to build up oil pressure first.Thanks for the videos

Hey from the UK. Just finished restoring my girlfriends mini with her and had the issue of changing the filter after breaking the engine in. Not wanting to take the front grille back off I bought an awesome tool that gets the filter off on the mini with out taking out the grille. It goes on the end of a 3/8 socket wrench and has three arms on gears that as the wrench is turned grip onto the filter. If the filter is on tight as more force is applied the tighter it grips so I can’t ever see it not working, even if it’s really stuck. On a 3/8 extension bar it’s perfect for the mini and clears the front subframe no issue with no need to jack up the car if you don’t want to. Then the new filter can of course be put back on from underneath hand tight as always. I got ours from the UK store halfords but I’m sure an equivalent version will be available at any automotive store. Could be a cool addition to your online shop perhaps? Matt

Great video thank you.

Great video. I used to work as a lube tech, but never got to do an oil change on a mini. And, as with the rest of your videos. I pick up a few little tidbits along the way. My only thing to add, is that you need to make sure that there is not a gasket stuck to the oil filter mounting surface. Even if one came off with the oil filter make sure nobody else has done an oil change and not checked to make sure it came off. Double gasketing and oil filter can cause it to blow out when your oil pressure is high. I'm sure you know that as a mechanic, but some of the people watching your video may not realize that can happen.

Great video

That drain plug looks really nice. Question: does anyone remember the extended magnet drain plugs that were the upgrade some years back? Seem like everyone switched to super strong rare earth magnets now (which is awesome) BUT what about combining the two? So, you extend a rare-earth magnet further in (like the old upgrades) so that it lives closer to the oil pickup? Best of both worlds. A good idea when changing the oil is to remove the oil filler cap. It will help the oil flow out better. Something else I tend to do when changing the oil is to lift the rear of the car a bit. The diff hangs off the back of the trans and I like to make sure all the oil from that area if making its way towards the front right, where the drain plug is. Your grill mount is very nice and clean as well. Keep up the clever ideas and amazing videos.

Good Video! A thought passed on by my late father, who was an engine re conditioner, and built race engines, is to fill the oil filter before screwing back on. This puts a little more oil in the engine, and helps all the moving parts on that first start. The filter will soak up the oil on the first fill, so a quick half fill and the screw it on. It shouldn't spill. You will notice the oil pressure light goes out quicker on the first start.

Great video! Thanks. Do you have a video on how to change the original oil filter?

thanks very good video, very informative

Love 💕 you’re video.👍

Thanks! I guess i‘ll do it myself next year ;)!

I love your videos. And I need a couple of drain plugs. We do things a little different during the oil change. We add a product call CamShield for a greater amount of zinc. We also fill the filter as full as we can before installing it. This makes sure you don’t have a lag of pressure before pressure is reached.

Great job...🤔👍

Very helpful did it totally by myself any videos about clutch not being enough?

What kind of dashboard do you have in the little intro clip?? Looks amazing :D

Thanks for the great video!! Why is it important to always change the washer? (mentioned at 5m 20s)

your workshop is the MINI living room !!!!!!!!!!!!

Great video,I have a 67 998 with oil cooler.When changing oil does all the oil come out of the cooler when draining,also do you have to add more oil when filling.

So great to see DIY maintenance videos produced in such a simple, high quality format. Hopefully, you can film additional videos like this for beginner garages mechanics. FYI, your drain plug link is broken.

Hi SMCO! Great video. Big fan of all of your products here ! Is it okay to stick to 10W40 in a warmer climate? (i.e. California)

I like the way you instal the front grill, can you make a video about that, I'm totally in it

Do a video on how and were you source your parts. How to deal with the shipping, import tax, etc. Do from the Canadian perspective. Please

Hi. very good video, I would like to know where you bought the mini air conditioner? . Thank you

With the oil filter off you can disconnect a coil wire and crank the engine for a few seconds to get the last dregs of the old oil out through the oil filter bracket. Catch it if you can!

New subscriber here :)

You guy do really great job! Perfect explained! I have a question, what if oil filter is horizontally? My mini is a 98' 1275cc MPI.

Thanks for the great and informative video! Just changed the oil on my 1980 classic 1275cc with the 4 speed manual. I used the 5 gallon jug size of Valvoline VR1 20w-50. One jug perfectly filled my engine to in between the min/max lines on the dipstick, after I let the engine run and circulate. Kept the second container in the back as a spare. I used an STP Extended Life S3614XL, which by the way. For anyone wondering, the STP and I believe Fram 3614 part number filters are the right size for these Minis. If you're using an auto part store website or in store, put in "1985 Dodge Omni" with the 2.2 liter engine, this will cross reference to the exact filter size you need. Or cross reference an STP S3614. I do have one question, do you know the best places to purchase a replacement grille for these cars? Mine came with some funky aftermarket one and it's a pain to remove with 3 separate pieces. I'm definitely going to be picking up the rare earth magnet drain plug from your website for my next oil change, hoping to get my classic tuned up and happy with the rest of your videos as well. Again, thanks, good stuff man!

On gearboxes with central oil pick up, I prefere to put the longer sump plug with the spring load magnet on it. This way, The magnet sit just next the oil pick up. For every Mini I fill the oil filter before install, it takes less time to the oil pump to build pressure and avoid any damage. A good thing went you rebuild a gearbox , is to put a second magnet on the back of the gearbox where the oil pick up meets the engine. @Miniolic (instagram)

Nice video man. Okay, I'm curious. Do you check the oil reading after the oil settles back on the pan or immediately after you just run the car?

Well done mate great job from Australia. But some time ,s the oil filter rubber comes off & staying on the engine . Check it . Love 💓 you’re sump plug. Can I buy it in Melbourne Australia 🇦🇺 .

I own a '76 Mini and for the past 20'ish years I've used Castrol grand-prix 20w50 4-stroke motorcycle oil because 4-stroke motorcycles share Engine and transmission oil in the same way the A-series engines in Minis do. I also installed racing knock-off pins so the grille is removed by undoing two threaded bits. 10/10 would recommend.

Hi can u do video about engine mounting for auto and how to change..

A small word of warning. Depending if you have a sump guard when the last of the oil is coming out it might hit the guard. With the car jacked up only in the front this bit of oil can flow back down the guard and come out the back edge...and if you don’t have your catch tray far enough back then... ask me how I know🤔. Thank goodness I always have a bit of cardboard down as a “diaper “

Your videos are incredibly informative! They're extremely helpful as I prepare to purchase my first classic mini. Just throwing this out there, could you make a video covering things to know when buying your first mini? Maybe common issues to watch out for with different models. A buyer's guide so to speak. Thanks!

🔥

Hey there, Do you check the oil level directly after you stop the engine? Or can you also check it before starting it (cold)?

Hi isn't VR1 synthetic, thanks by the way videos are great. I own 1998 Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works

How often would you recommend doing this? about to buy my first mini - doing all the research I can and your channel is such a help.

Hey Phil, could you please show us one day how to fix the most common issues with leaking oil from a classic mini?

Sorry if its already been asked, what is your fave spark plug to use? New to your vids but they are great. 👍

Hi, bro! What type of oil and filter should be used for the classic mini with automatic transmission in 1998? thank you very much!

Hi stevestonmotorco, I've subscrived you some time agora, and i love to see youre videos, they are very helpfull, however i cant understand what is the size of the drain plug that you make. Does it feats for more cars?? Keep with the good work and keep doing more great videos.

Please make a tutorial of how you converted your hood latch to an in car hood latch

You ever put a big magnet on the oil filter?

So you recommend to change the drain plug with every oil change? Love the design of the one you guys made! 🙂 Also, you mentioned 4.5 liters, would that also be 4.8 quarts?

Anything different on a 1300 MPi with an auto transmission? It’s in a Moke, FWIW.

you don't check the oil level straight after turning the engine off ,you should wait at least 10 mins, other wise you'll end up over filling !

Almost none of this is applicable to a Clubman. You round nose guys have it rough. This is great ad for your drain plugs. I’m totally going to order 1.

why does rover mini say 10w -40 for the oil.... the shop put this in and lucky I checked as I changed it back to 20-50, or even 20-60 (added zinc)

👍

You didnt put oil in the filter ?

What oil filter should we use?

Do you 1.3 mini full wiring diagram ..?

how to change manual gear oil for this model

How can i order that drain plug?

Hi Guys I live in Australia and would like to know how I can get some of your magnetic sump plugs. Thanks

Hi my name is Panos and i am a classic-mini spare parts dealer here in Athens Greece. I am very impressed by your magnetic oil plug and i would like to buy some of them for my shop. Are you selling them overseas ?

Is this a 1275cc? I noticed it's a newer fuel injected one. Did they make the 1000cc FI as well?

Holy... Wow that's a lot of metal floating around in that crankcase. How long do these engines typically last with the stock drain plug if properly maintained?

Do you ever fill the filter with oil before installing it? I use that same oil. seem to work well

On my 1.4 TSI (VW) I think I am supposed to start it with the clutch in. What do you say about that?

hey I noticed your oil filter is from MiniSpares. But can I use any screw-on filter?

I'm new to the classic mini world. I have an 83 with manual gearbox so that should take 4.8 liters of oil. Looking at getting my wife an early 90s with a automatic transmission. I would assume that the auto doesn't share oil with the engine. What capacity would that have?

hi can you give some idia about how to adjust clutch? for classic mini

What oil filter do you recommend for a 998?

mines an auto 1.3i ive been hearing 10w40 is recommended, bike oil ?

Which oil would recommend for a 1987 with a 998cc? If it was yours what would you use? Thanks

where can i buy that upgraded magnetic oil drain plug

Question on oil? I understand why you suggest high zinc, but why not synthetic. They off high zinc synthetic grades ?

set up another link to the drain plug ty

What is the correct oil filter for the 1275 cc engine? Local sources in BC?

Is it possible to remove the engine gearbox sump without taking out the engine in a classic mini

About the amount of oil: does it matter whether the car has a manual or automatic transmission/gearbox? Do both versions need 4.8 liters of oil?

Where do we buy these drain plugs of yours? Can you post to the Uk

So you always start your mini without clutch?

Where I can get the magnetic plug?

Such a shame the shipping to the uk is $52 id love one of these plugs but cant justify the cost

An American teaching a Brit about classic Minis now that’s funny 😂

What can be making my front wheels stuck ? They won’t spin . The car is complete and is a 1969 and has been sitting for 17 years.