Oil gauge options

[bitwrx]

It's probably about time I had some oil monitoring devices on the Mini.

Easiest option is obviously mechanical pressure gauge and leave it at that. What about electronic oil p gauges? Why is it no-one seems to run them?

And what about oil temp? I have an oil cooler and am a little worried that I may be running with the oil too cool - in the same way I was worried that it may be too hot before I fitted the cooler. Where does the oil temp sender fit? Oil pressure relief valve hole (like this one)? But what happens to the relief valve?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Charlie

[FWDRacer]

Mechanical oil pressure gauge is the only way to go - in many cases the electrical ones are ineffective and the damage is done before a drop in oil pressure is registered. Make sure you use an aeroquip line for the oil feed into the car/dash in this instance - engine hot oil under pressure spraying round the cabin anyone?

Oil temp gauge is a useful addition - best place is to plumb the temp sender in on the hot side of the oil cooler (feed pipe). Mocal do an inline adaptor to take a temp sender. Other option is to drill and tap the sump to give you genuine sump temperature - This is most accurate.

edited for spellink

Edited by FWDRacer on Wednesday 5th March 08:25

[bitwrx]

FWDRacer said:

Mechanical oil pressure gauge is the only way to go - in many cases the electrical ones are ineffective and the damage is done before a drop in oil pressure is registered. Make sure you use an aeroquip line for the oil feed into the car/dash in this instance - engine hot oil under pressure spraying round the cabin anyone?

Oil temp gauge is a useful addition - best place is to plumb the temp sender in on the hot side of the oil cooler (feed pipe). Mocal do an inline adaptor to take a temp sender. Other option is to drill and tap the sump to give you genuine sump temperature - This is most accurate.

edited for spellink

Edited by FWDRacer on Wednesday 5th March 08:25

Ta. Wish I knew that before I put the 'box back together. Think I'll just go for pressure at the minute....and use an IR thermometer to reassure myself the oil isn't too arctic.

[Cooperman]

You can also get an oil thermostat which fits in-line on the oil feed pipe. I've never used one and I think that once the water temp gets up the oil temp tends to take care of itself. However, an oil temp gauge can't be a bad thing.