Hi Guys,

I'm in the process of doing an oil change on my 2004 Cooper S JCW, if I can ever get the oil filter casing undone, and I've notice an electrical connection attached to the oil drain plug.

I'm guessing it's a temperature sensor of some kind. Any one know anything about it? Such as what it does and what's the consequence of the connection being detached?

Hoping someone out there can help

Have you got the correct socket that is rounded off at each of the six points, this is to prevent damage to the casing, when you crack it off. I believe the socket is a shallow 36mm. The wires from your sump plug are indeed for oil temperature, have you got an oil temp' gauge and volt gauge underneath your centre switches?

Hi Mike,

The oil filter casing was stuck on so tightly I gave it to a garage run by a friend of mine and it took three of them with a five foot long bar to get it off, firstly removing the bonnet (although not completely) and about two hours of grunting. They did the oil change for me using the oil and filter I'd already bought and together with fixing the wire to the oil plug sensor charged me £150. Could have been a lot worse though. Boy was it seized on. Makes me wonder if had even been off, in 82000 miles. The socket seemed to fit OK.

Yes, I have an oil temperature gauge at the bottom of the dash in the centre console. The mechanics said that the oil plug sensor was fitted at the JCW conversion. Can't find mention of it anywhere though. I thought the JCW mod just enhanced the top half of the engine; supercharger, head and exhaust.

Any thoughts?

Regards

Graham

That is tight, hope no threads were damaged. I believe the gauges were also an optional extra and also a popular retro-fit mod.