6 replies to this topic

[andy_187]

Hi Guys

I'm new on the Mini owning scene and to the site. I'm sure this question has been answered else where but any help on the matter would be great.

I have a 1967 Morris Mini Deluxe, and I have noticed that the temperature guage is indicating a pretty high temperature but only after the engine has been idle for some time (in traffic) or after I have used lower gears etc.

I have a tacho fitted and I have made sure the engine isn't being over rev'd in the lower gears, but the weird part is when I'm cruising in 4th gear at about 70-80kmh (40-50mph) and even faster the temperature seems to go right down, even though the engine is doing higher revs than what is making the temperature go up.

Now, I am pretty sure it is the guage at fault because on numerous times, I have stopped the car and opened the bonnet to check what disaster is going on only to find the engine not even that hot, at times I'm even able to comfortably touch the radiator cap.

Has anyone else expereinced this? And if so how can it be fixed? It doesn't seem to be a major problem at the moment but I'd rather have a working guage just in case something does at some point go wrong.

Much appreciated.

Andy

[Ryang556]

How high is pretty high mate?

[Cooperman]

A very common problem. The solution is to get the capilliary type gauge kit from Mini Spares and then have a correct temp. reading in degrees C.

[andy_187]

Hi Ryan

The highest it has gone is all the way to H, however I checked under the bonnet and I there was in my opinion no cause for concern as the engine, radiator etc, wasn't overly hot.

Thanks Cooperman, I'll look into this. I live in Australia and I use a very good Mini Spares supplier who I'm sure will be able to send me one. As I'm new to the game, is this a pretty easy installation? Or should I get a more experienced Mechanic/Mini enthusiast on it?

Thanks guys.

[Ryang556]

I had the same problem with my mini I had before, kept slowly creeping up to red in slow moving traffic but when it was going along it started to go back down again, I just decided that eventually I needed to flush my radiator and started to think whether my water pump was starting to fail and or have you checked all of your pipes to see if there are any cold spots? Could be being caused by blockages And I figured it'd get cooler when going along anyway due to the wind cooling the car opposed to just the fan But getting a capillary type gauge is a good shout from cooperman

[dklawson]

Before investing in a new gauge, invest in an infrared thermometer. Once you have the thermometer, put pieces of black electrical tape on the thermostat housing and on the header tank of the radiator where the top hose connects. When your engine says it is hot, stop and use the thermometer to check the temperature on both pieces of tape. The "H" band on Smiths temperature gauges is supposed to start around 212oF (100oC) and obviously goes up from there. If your infrared measurements come in lower, you have either a sending unit or gauge issue.

Also keep in mind during your temperature measurements that the temperature of the thermostat housing should match fairly closely to the temperature rating of the thermostat installed in the engine.

The capillary tube gauge will certainly provide a good solution to an electrical temp gauge problem. However, you do NOT have to buy one from Smiths or one sold by a Mini parts supplier. Smiths gauges sell for a premium. All that is important is that the gauge have a 5/8" UNF thread on the expansion bulb mounting bolt/nut (most do). Be aware that what you MAY need from a Mini specialist is an adapter fitting for that expansion bulb. The adapter does not change the thread size/type, it moves the bulb on the mechanical gauge's sender "out" so it does not bottom out inside the cylinder head casting (some castings are too shallow to use the mechanical gauges directly). The adapter is Mini Spares part TE5. Other vendors may sell it as part 11K2486.

[andy_187]

Thanks Guys.

Some really useful suggestions. I will be sorting this out soon and I'll let you know what the official diagnosis is.

Thanks

Andy