mini oil mixing

[harley munky]

hey guys just found out later tonight i need to drive from swansea to somerset (about 100 miles)i know the oil level in my 850 automatic mini is near to the minimum recomended limit and i was going to go to halfords tomorrow and get some 20w50 to top it back up.
as i now have to do the drive tonight and the local petrol stations dont sell 20w50 is it ok to mix a litre or so of 15w40 or 10w40 to get me to somerset tonight? or is it totally out of the question?
i would then do a full oil change tomorrow morning.

cheers guys

[Cooperman]

If you can get a mineral oil then it will be OK. If you can only get a synthetic-based oil it 'should' be OK, but what it would do in an automatic is another matter.
How low is your oil? If it is just on 'min', then you should be OK for that short journey.

[GingerWizard]

Do it. It will not be fatal, but give the car a full oil change and filter asap as a peace offering.

[harley munky]

i did it, it was all fine untill the return trip to swansea today.... the thermostat decided it didnt want to open anymore.. after waiting on the side of the m4 for it to cool down enough to make it to magor services a guy (gareth) and his partner pulled up in there vauxhall to lend a hand and followed me to the services to make sure i made it ok . turns out they have a mini in its building phase at home... what a great couple there wer to stop and help out by giving me water and an escort.
once in the services i checked the rad and it was still full. so i removed the thermostat and with some assistance by a group of lads on there way back from jap fest at castlecombe in there cooper and an ex military mechanic in his landy (i was parked next to him) we got a temp gasket made up and made it back to port talbot (just outside swansea) when i felt a splutter, cough, splutter and came to a stop........ ran out of fuel.... sigh....

all back now and have a list of jobs to get on with tomorrow