hi,

I've just bought a 76 mini about a month and didn't know much about cars.

The car doesn't always start at the first go.

then I got a wire melt down and I changed the wire. At the first time the dashboard lights come on but afterwards it doesn't light up at all

recently the oil light lights up when I'm waiting at the traffic lights *idle* and when I move from 3rd gear to 4th gear.

I've been searching in the forum and find this

http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic ... =oil+light


There's a few things I want to ask.

How can I change the oil? hopefully that will be the problem then I don't need to spend much fixing it. and which oil will I be using?
I'm around sydney area which is the best mechanic I can have a thorough check of my car.

Thanks in advance

Where in Sydney and I will pm you and point you towards a mechanic that i know of.

I'm in Lilyfield

btw I want to know more about mini what kind of mini repair book should I get? Thanks all

You're best off using any oil that has a rating on it of "SF". you may have to hunt for this on the packaging though. A few people believe that oils with a higher rating "SL" for example, are a better oil, but that really only applies to newer cars. These oils, while they may be good for your engine, are not good for your gearbox, as a mini engine and gearbox share the same oil.

Mini's can actually run on the cheap stuff you buy in a supermarket, as it is usually rated SF, but most people feel uncomfortable putting cheap stuff in their car. But dont expect to pay a lot even for the good SF oils..

If you need to, the mini runs well on SG ones, but they were ultimatly designed to run on SE, which is obsolete and therefore not for sale anymore.


I'm sure other members will answer the rest of your questions, and maybe even mention a specific brand to use.


(o and guys, this is adeee posting. I dont just spam, y'know!)

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Introducing 'LITE'. The new way to spell 'light' with 20% less letters!

I don't know my name anymore.

The bible.

Its big, its black, it has MINI written on the front. Best one for Aus minis.

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Introducing 'LITE'. The new way to spell 'light' with 20% less letters!

I don't know my name anymore.

Any mineral based 20W50 will be fine. I've run Valvoline XLD Premium 20W50 and had ok results. The best that I've used so far is Castrol Formula R 25W50 (best price for this is $27 at Canley Vale auto spares Canley Vale Road).

While you're at it, change the filter. If it's a clubman that you have it's a Ryco size Z418 filter. Also $4 at Canley Vale (no i don't work there, it's just cheapest there )

Search on here for how to change your oil, it's been posted many times I'm sure.

If you have problems, let me know, I live in strathfield...

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Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

A Haynes manual or similar can be picked up for $10 on Ebay etc and is well worthwhile. (I have one for 'good' and one for the garage ).

After than, it depends on what you need or want to do. Lindsay Porter's Mini Restoration Manual (Published by Haynes) is quite good, for performance join a club* and buy a copy of Vizards How to Modify Your Mini. Also good is the Haynes Mini Peformance Manual from the guy who writes for Mini magazine. PM me if you want ISDN numbers.

*It's pretty hard to do tune your car with little experience and reading from a book. Makes for good reading but much easier with someone to show you.

If it's an Oz made car, I'd forget the Haynes- it's biased to UK built cars.. Any of the others here are better (I have about 6 now).

If you want to buy NEW, the official Leyland Mini Comprehensive Workshop Manual is still available, as Adee says. Printed in 1976, it covers most Oz models pretty well, including the emissions crap fitted to later models.
see www.pitstop.net.au

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

i got two of the official bmc books for sale one is issue one and the other is issue 6 plus updates .......
i just procured a issue 2 still in the original packageing from bmc ....
makka

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Anonymous moderation means the agro that is built up towards the mods isn't aimed at an individual (fewer "Makk" attacks). Less stress for mods means less moderator "retirements".

wow thanks for all the reply.

I'm not sure if its an australian built or UK I better take a photo on the engine bay later on.

I'll post it here when I got a nude pic of it.

Thanks

UPDATE

it seems like I've ran out of engine oil~ its weird but I fill my car with some engine oil its alrite now. I still suspect there's something wrong but I guess I can due with that later on. Thanks all for the time being

Keep an eye on it. Minis have an "auto-drain" oil system

Always check the fuel when you fill the oil

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Too many cars, and too little time.

did you end up changing your oil and filter? or did you just fill it up?

i just fill it with oil at the moment. I should get the filter changed as well?