6 replies to this topic

[prosper ysbeer]

hello dear mini friends,

 

I already chewed a few month on the next problem, I could use your good advice,
It is about the oil pressure meter of the Classic Mini not the electric version but the one with the plastic pipe.
What should be the content of that plastic pipe between the engine and the meter: I see in my mini that there is nothing in it, in other words there is air in it, but air /gas is compressible so there should not be oil in it (oil is much less compressible), and if there is oil in it: how do you make that pipe free.
I ask myself if the hole where the oil pressure sensor is is not blocked, because if I let the engine run without that sensor, no oil leaks out and when I hold my finger against it, I don't feel pressure, how can you free it /clean it
Finally how you can test this meter. eg by means of a compressor? If the meter is a pressure gauge (gas), can I put my meter on my compressor and start putting on 1 bar and then gently out the pressure would that meter should indicate the oil pressure?
Thanks for your input

 

 

[DeadSquare]

To answer the first part. after about 1000 miles, the air in the tube dissolves in the oil, but can reappear as bubbles if the engine is not used for a few days.  To answer the last part, yes, you can connect the gauge to a limited, pressurised air supply in order to test it.

 

I have never heard of this problem, but, with the engine running, you could carefully slacken the nipple that connects the block to the oil gauge pipe to see if any oil escapes from the block.

 

Does the vehicle have a green oil light that illuminates when the ignition is switched on ?  If it does, and the light goes out when the engine starts, you do have oil pressure and it is safe to run the engine.

 

The worst situation is that the camshaft is not driving the oil pump.

[nicklouse]

Has it ever worked? Have you added connections without checking they are clear?

 

it is always good to have a guage you know that works that can be screwed directly to the block.

[prosper ysbeer]

Has it ever worked? Have you added connections without checking they are clear?

 

it is always good to have a guage you know that works that can be screwed directly to the block.

 

actually my gauge hasn´t  worked ever 

[gazza82]

I ask myself if the hole where the oil pressure sensor is is not blocked, because if I let the engine run without that sensor, no oil leaks out and when I hold my finger against it, I don't feel pressure, how can you free it /clean it

So your first step is to work out why no oil pressure not why is the pipe full of air.

Edited by gazza82, 20 September 2025 - 08:43 AM.

[prosper ysbeer]

To answer the first part. after about 1000 miles, the air in the tube dissolves in the oil, but can reappear as bubbles if the engine is not used for a few days.  To answer the last part, yes, you can connect the gauge to a limited, pressurised air supply in order to test it.

 

I have never heard of this problem, but, with the engine running, you could carefully slacken the nipple that connects the block to the oil gauge pipe to see if any oil escapes from the block.

 

Does the vehicle have a green oil light that illuminates when the ignition is switched on ?  If it does, and the light goes out when the engine starts, you do have oil pressure and it is safe to run the engine.

 

The worst situation is that the camshaft is not driving the oil pump.

 

Thanks for your answer it cleared my mind
a) ok so the gauge is an gas manometer , I don´t have to fill the tube with oil

b) when there is no nipple, no oil escapes,  when the engine is running I don´t feel pressure or no pressure builds up again my finger on that hole where the nipple should be , any suggestions as to cleaning that hole of any blockage? 

c) i do have oil pressure

d) when I run the engine oil is pumped to the rockers so there is no apparent problem with the camshaft/oilpump  .

[DeadSquare]

 

To answer the first part. after about 1000 miles, the air in the tube dissolves in the oil, but can reappear as bubbles if the engine is not used for a few days.  To answer the last part, yes, you can connect the gauge to a limited, pressurised air supply in order to test it.

 

I have never heard of this problem, but, with the engine running, you could carefully slacken the nipple that connects the block to the oil gauge pipe to see if any oil escapes from the block.

 

Does the vehicle have a green oil light that illuminates when the ignition is switched on ?  If it does, and the light goes out when the engine starts, you do have oil pressure and it is safe to run the engine.

 

The worst situation is that the camshaft is not driving the oil pump.

 

Thanks for your answer it cleared my mind
a) ok so the gauge is an gas manometer , I don´t have to fill the tube with oil

b) when there is no nipple, no oil escapes,  when the engine is running I don´t feel pressure or no pressure builds up again my finger on that hole where the nipple should be , any suggestions as to cleaning that hole of any blockage? 

c) i do have oil pressure

d) when I run the engine oil is pumped to the rockers so there is no apparent problem with the camshaft/oilpump  .

 

Ref: b). Is there any sign of oil  in the nipple or in the block behind the nipple ? 

 

Many years ago, I acquired a block that had been scrapped by Longbridge because there was no hole for the dipstick.

 

Faults happen during machining on a production line and it is possible that the hole connecting to the oil gallery, was never drilled, but the broken drill bit not immediately noticed, and your block escaped detection.

 

If this is the case, it wouldn't be too difficult to drill into the oil gallery, assuming that there isn't a broken drill bit in there.