7 replies to this topic

[Vinay-RS]

Hi all, 

 

I gave it a quick google and I think a few folks might have asked something similar before. 

 

Yesterday I drove my Mini out to the winelands. On the way out there it got quite warm (I should probably fit a temp gauge with actual numbers rather than the one in the Clubman cluster). When I slowed down to an idle the oil pressure light started flickering. This was rather worrying so I quickly pulled over at a petrol station, gave the car some time to cool down and checked the oil levels. The oil was close to the max mark on the dipstick and the radiator and expansion bottle were still full. 

 

I drove to the destination and then back home but it was still running a little hot. 

 

I figure, the best course of action would be to fit an oil pressure gauge to get a sense of what the actual oil pressure is. Change out the oil and filter to check if there are any metal shavings on the sump and in the oil. and the change the thermostat and flush the radiator to see if that resolves the heating issues. 

 

Does this seem reasonable? Also, it's an SA block with the upward facing oil filter. Does anyone know if the block can accept an oil pressure gauge and switch combination? and is this something that is fairly easy to do? 

 

Thanks, 

 

Vinay

[Aly-g]

Probably nothing to worry about if the light only flickers on idle, I would change the oil pressure switch just to be sure its not that.you should be able to fit an adapter where the oil pressure switch is to fit a oil pressure gauge.

Allan

[coopertaz]

def fit oil pressure gauge even at idle the low presssure they gauges operate at will do engine harm. also check release valve in block and do oil service asap. some small debris on plug will be normal though

[Vinay-RS]

Probably nothing to worry about if the light only flickers on idle, I would change the oil pressure switch just to be sure its not that.you should be able to fit an adapter where the oil pressure switch is to fit a oil pressure gauge.

Allan

 

Thank you! I will get an adaptor and fit an oil pressure gauge. Most motor spares places here sell them too. 

 

def fit oil pressure gauge even at idle the low presssure they gauges operate at will do engine harm. also check release valve in block and do oil service asap. some small debris on plug will be normal though

 

Thank you! I need to do some googling to find the release valve. Going to pick up oil and a filter this week to do the service over the weekend. Thankfully, I don't need to drive the car during the week. 

[coopertaz]

on our uk spec blocks its hex nut below oil outlet pipe on top left of block, if this helps! dont know if same place on SA units.

[Spider]

Check the Oil Pressure Relief Valve isn't jammed at all.

 

You might need to get inventive to fit a Tee on that type of block for both a gauge and a switch. The switch is under the Oil Filter and the drilling of memory serves is sorta 'flat' with the block, I don't think there's really space to get a Tee in there, so you may have to mount it remotely from the block.

[Vinay-RS]

on our uk spec blocks its hex nut below oil outlet pipe on top left of block, if this helps! dont know if same place on SA units.

 

Thanks! yeah, it looks to be in the same space on the local blocks. 

 

Check the Oil Pressure Relief Valve isn't jammed at all.

 

You might need to get inventive to fit a Tee on that type of block for both a gauge and a switch. The switch is under the Oil Filter and the drilling of memory serves is sorta 'flat' with the block, I don't think there's really space to get a Tee in there, so you may have to mount it remotely from the block.

 

Thanks! It's quite tight in that corner of the block but a local Mini parts supplier sells the t-piece/union for the gauge and switch that they've used with these SA blocks. I picked up a new switch, thermostat and some oil today. I'll order a t-piece from him and look to see who has the correct oil capillary line with the right end fittings.  

[timmy850]

I used the following (Minispares part numbers for reference) - of course yours will be slightly different for the SA block. 
TP - T piece
OA - adapter from t piece to oil pressure line (it’s also available in a 90 degree version OAA)
OL - oil pressure line

The T piece goes in like this with the mechanical light sender in the end and the pipe on the side. You can obviously rotate the T-piece differently to suit your engine

 

 

On my old engine the solution to the oil light at idle was to raise the idle speed and use thicker oil - it got me through till my new engine was ready