8 replies to this topic

[MINI 1]

hi , most of you are aware that i have just built a new engine 1380 , i did have alot of troubles getting timing and fueling right but i have got it running correct now. when i dip the dipstick the oil looks alot thinner than when i put it in and alot darker . the oil i used was millers 20w 50 mineral oil . i havent been out on the road with the car just yet , just up and down a lane outside our house. so the engine wont have properlly beded it's self in.

my question is , because i have had all the troubles with fueling and timing. The engine has been cranked alot and not started , my only issuse is that the oil may have contaminated with the petrol due to overfueling. the oil doesent smell like petrol.

It may be me paniking ...

would their be any harm in putting fresh new oil inside the engine? , now its running correctly not overfueling
just to be on the safe side.!

the oil i would be replacing it with is , milllers running in oil . The oil i have been using is 20 w 50 millers mineral which i have been told is fine.

thanks

ash

[L400RAS]

Hi Ash,

Regarding consistency & colour of the oil, i would say this is normal, when you put new oil in, you can barely see it on the dip-stick, but after a few months, it changes colour to golden (syrup colour) then eventually to black. People say change every 3000 miles, and yes you are using one of the best oils for the mini.

Regarding possible petrol in the oil, over-fuelling from the carb would not do this. Petrol will only get into the oil if you have a mechanical fuel pump, and the gasket is broken? - if you have fitted an electic pump then dont worry !

If you are worried, then an oil & filter change never hurts ! (and relatively cheap for your piece of mind).

HTH
Ryan

[Jordie]

If its not been running and overfueling, the oil on the bores would be washed off by the excess fuel.

Id drop the oil just to be safe. On a new engine i use cheap supermarket oil. And i drive it like normal (like i stole it) during the bedding in period. Once im happy with the oil changes and tone of the engine, i start to do the oil changes less often and use a better oil.

I normally do 100miles after build, then drop oil and filter.
Then around 300 miles, 500miles and 1000miles. Then just service the car like normal.

I do the oil changes just to make sure any swarf is out of the engine, means i can check the magnetic sump plug etc and peace of mind.

[ANON]

Regarding possible petrol in the oil, over-fuelling from the carb would not do this. Petrol will only get into the oil if you have a mechanical fuel pump, and the gasket is broken? - if you have fitted an electic pump then dont worry !

ever heard of borewash ??

i saw a saab engine that was killed within a couple of hundred miles because of borewashing

[ANON]

my question is , because i have had all the troubles with fueling and timing. The engine has been cranked alot and not started , my only issuse is that the oil may have contaminated with the petrol due to overfueling. the oil doesent smell like petrol.

if you have raised the concern of contamination for your own peace of mind and for the cost of oil + filter you might as well just change them.

[MINI 1]

ok thank you for your help , i think i am going to buy some millers running in oil and put that in just to put my mind at ease, then i will put normall oil in when it has been run in .


like i sed the engine has only been run for around a hour just reving and ticking over then a drive up and down the street a couple of times.

ash

[Jordie]

Just use supermarket oil, 20w50 or 10w50 from asda is like £4-5. Many people who build engines on here and turbominis etc just use cheap oil for running in.

[MINI 1]

so just go to asda then and buy some 20w 50 engine oil and put that in?

[Jordie]

Yeah, as you are only going to drop it in x amount of miles anyway. Cheap clean oil is better then dearer less frequent oil in my book. Espically when its been changed regularly such as running in