I very much doubt you will find a Mini engine that doesn't leave metal shavings on the sump plug! Strangely enough, back when I was running my old gearbox where the idler gear bearings had disintegrated (read: lots of metal shavings throughout gearbox), there wasn't much more metal on the sump plug than usual. Hmmm.

I'll hazard a guess though that on an auto Mini metal shaving might be more cause for alarm, is that why you have to do such frequent oil changes?

yeh mate anto
the doc says change it every 1500 miles
im guessing so coz ive heard of clutch plates and friction discs in the gear box for the matic

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The weakest part of MiniMatics is the material on the forward clutch plates. It's pretty much like paper and pretty thin. When they go, you have 1 reverse gear and no forwards..
These days people fit the same kevlar plates from the top & reverse clutch- more durable.

Actually there is less swarf in an auto box than a manual. No sliding gears, no synchros or chipped gear dogs, and any debris from the clutch facings gets picked up in the huge filter.

Duc, is it the auto you put the Castrol Formula R 25W/50 in, or the Moke?

I wouldn't use it in the auto- they go best on Castrol GTX or Valvoline 20W/50....

<edit> BTW since I put super strong magnets on the oil filter canister, I get hardly any stuff on the sump magnet in 1500 miles..

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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.

wow ive never had that explained to me, thanks doc

the matic uses penrite classic light
the moke was gunna have penrite classic medium, but i couldnt get it on saturday, so castrol form R 20w-50 went into it.

can i ask: why do people who usually dont use Penrite say Castrol is good, and one of the best,
and people who use Penrite, or have used it, say Castrol is a complete piece of crap blended in with a 9pints of piss?

the first time i used Penrite in the matic i was surprised and amazed
maybe it took me a whole day and a few interstate calls to find out where a penrite classic outlet was near me
and couldnt admit to myself there were just average results
nah, the sound was much quiter and smoother, orgasmic

_________________
Inconspicuously Conspicuous
Appreciation without Depreciation
forever chasing clearer skies...

Nothing wrong with Penrite- I used HPR30 & 40 in Minis for years. But it kept getting dearer and dearer and harder to find.

So I switched to Castrol Formula R 25W/50 (same oil as the old Castrol GP50) as Graham Russell and others reckoned it was good. Bit cheaper than Penrite, too.

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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.