11 replies to this topic

[minilee94]

Just wondering is it worth fitting a oil temp gauge on my fast road / race spec 1380 will be using millers oil once run in , got an oil cooler too

[Curley]

Given the above I'd say yes.

 

You may find you don't need the oil cooler. Do you know where you're going to fit the temp sender?

[IainStallard]

On our elan, we use a sandwich plate that goes between the oil filter housing and the oil filter. Sender screws into that so is in direct flow of oil for accurate reading

[Steve220]

I'd fit the oil temp gauge before considering a cooler. Don't fit it into the sump plug, this will always give the coolest temp in the engine and you ideally need the hottest as a pre warning. In a sandwich plate isn't a bad idea!

[Carlos W]

I'd consider a pressure gauge before a temperature gauge

[dklawson]

The choice of whether to fit the temperature gauge is largely one of personal preference.  In my case, I installed one years ago on a non-Mini and found it to be a waste of money as it did not provide much useful information.  However, to each his own.

 

There are at least four ways I have heard of people adding oil temperature gauges to A-series engines.  I have no information on which is best but I'll put them all out there for you to consider.

Make/modify the diamond plate on the back of the gearbox to accept a temperature gauge sending unit.  Don't block the oil flow path excessively.

Buy or make/modify a new sump drain plug to accept a temperature sending unit.  (You will be sacrificing the magnetic drain plug).

Buy the filter head sandwich plate that allows mounting the sending.  (You have to look at the space required around the filter head and subframe).

Buy an inline sending unit housing/fitting and install it in a hose between the filter head and block to support (This replaces the factory pipe).

 

As for the oil cooler, that again is up to you and how you will use the car.  I wouldn't think you needed the cooler in the U.K with today's motor oils.  You want the oil to get hot enough to boil off any water/condensation in the engine.

[ANON]

if you're still planning on running the cooler without a stat i doubt you'll see a temp gauge move much anyway  

[Tamworthbay]

I like them as an addition to a coolant temp gauge. Oil warms up and cools down slower so they are useful to see when the engine is properly warmed up (takes a while after the coolant is up to temp) and is a useful indicator for the engine getting seriously hot.

[minilee94]

I have a oil pressure gauge and I was recommended a oil cooler by nearly every engine builder so iv fitted one (med, swiftune , bill Richards etc

And again I was advised not to run a stat with my engine. What it's going to be used for

[fikasteve]

I'm also going to add one of these temperature gauges for the oil to see what effect putting a sump guard on will make, so thank you dklawson for that information. I think i'll add mine to the back of the gearbox as that seems least obtrusive in the scheme of things. Is that diamond plate the little one in line with the speedo drive but on the flywheel end?

[Curley]

Flywheel end. Make sure you insulate the wires from the heat of the exhaust.

[nicklouse]

Personally I would not put it in the plate for the oil pick up as this is a suction side of the pump you will not see any leak issues before your engine goes pop. Put it on the pressure side then you might spot the leak of oil.

You mention no stat. Oil or water? If water I hope the said fit a sleeve instead of the stat.

If oil stat. I would fit the temp guage into that.

But I would not bother with one myself.