[TonyB]

I'm about to embark on my next mod: the installation of oil temp and voltmeter gauges under the toggles (2 1/16"). I want to keep consistent with my PROMINI ones (boost and oil pressure), so I'll be getting Autometer's Ultra-Lites. They now have 3 choices (2 new ones), at least for electric:

1. 100-340F
2. 100-250F
3. 140-300F

From some of the reported ranges seen, I find the first one to be too broad. It is also like 3x the price as the others (145 bucks). And, I believe that many have said they have seen normal operation around 130F, so I'm inclined to rule-out the third one. That leaves me with the second one, but I thought I recall readings as high as 260. So, I'm not sure which one to order at this time..

Would love to hear some thoughts on a wise choice. Here is a link to the first one at Summit Racing:

http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...4356&x=12&y=14

EDIT: looks like I can't link directly to it... So, if interested, try part # atm-4356...

[Hubert]

I think a suitable range would be between 60C to 130-140C, which translates to 140F to 266-280F, therefore, I'd pick no.3

How much is no.2 and no.3?

It's probably a good idea to set the warning light to around 115-125C.

[TonyB]

Thanks Hubert for you opinion. Both #2 and #3 are like 45 USD.

So long as normal driving will register a reading on that gauge (140-300F), then I agree. But I heard one say (I think) that casual cruising he was in the 130's? I don't want a "dead" gauge that only wakes-up with spirited driving as I would always be wondering if it is working or not. I guess I really need to find-out the normal operating temperature to help me finalize the decision. I think I saw some talk about this over on NAM...

Thanks again.

[stryder]

If the warning range is 125C at the top, do you really need a gauge that goes above 250F? If you can verify that's bad territory, then not like you need another 50 degrees of getting everything too hot to tell you its too hot... At least that's my thoughts....

[TonyB]

stryder, that is the reason why I'm leaning toward gauge #2 (100-250). Indeed, I need to verify safe operating temp range. If 250 and above is dangerous ground, then gauge #2 it is

[stryder]

Did you see this thread: http://www.mini2.com/forum/engine-drivetrain-tuning/28045-defi-boost-oil-temp-gauge.html

The hottest he got up to was 115C, and since his records max temp perhaps he's still around and can give you his highest reading.

Seems like with 'regular' driving peaking at 115, 125 would probably be the highest you'd want to go.

[TonyB]

That link takes me to a comic strip that some might find offensive. Very strange. I tried several times...

[jlm]

look here as well:
http://www.mini2.com/forum/mini-motorsport/40186-high-oil-temps-track.html

[stryder]

I just edited it to have the correct link... Sorry about that.

[obehave]

It depends
Since you're probably just considering street usage #2 is the best choice. You can pull over, slow down, etc.
If it's for racing and you may have to sustain high temps at speed then #3. You really want your operating temps to be at the median of the gauges ranges. That's where they're usually most accurate. That also supports gauge #2 as the right choice for what I'm guessing will just be your canyon carving.

[TonyB]

Thanks stryder for the the fix. I wansn't offended, and actually got a laugh out of me Cool, thanks John for your link as well. Well, it appears that 90 to 100c is normal street driving. Since 100c is boiling (water), that is 212F. Extreme track seems to get readings in the 130c range, or above 260F.

Here is a cool conversion link: http://www.onlineconversion.com/temperature.htm

Given this info, gauge #3 is my choice: 140-300F. While the 250F limit would probably be ok, I have found that gauges that are reading near their limits are generally not as accurate. Looks like I can get the this and the voltmeter delivered for like 70 dollars Thanks guys.

[ColoradoMark]

I've seen a high of 232F on my SPA gauge so far. I think 250 might be too low, unless you're ready to just park it if you see this temp. I think #3 is the right choice.
Mark

[Ultramacho]

I don't want a meter for this, I would like to use leds inside of the rev meter to point out to me when the oil is too cold. This is like the BMW M5 has got it: When it's cold the red rev area is low (someting like 3500 for the Mini), when the oil is hot it increases. (To let's say 6500 for the Mini before the red area begins)

Does anyone know how to make a circuit to the oil temp and connect a couple of leds to it? I'd only have to put them in the rev meter and the circuit somewhere behind the dash.

[Hubert]

Quote: Originally Posted by TonyB

But I heard one say (I think) that casual cruising he was in the 130's

Sorry, I should've explained with a bit more detail.

Here in South East Asia, we use engine fluid like 5W50, and I only rev over 4000rpm when the oil gets above 60-70C. I just feel more comfortable doing that. It takes a good 8-10mins of driving at 30-40mph to get there though.

Cruising in 130F? Maybe that person is living in Alaska or Toronto?

If you ever go to the track, the oil WILL get to 130C (just got a confirmation from another Mini owner yesterday ). Ideally, you'll want an oil cooler, but finding a good place to mount the radiator is a bit of a problem.

As you're in CA, I'll still recommend #3.

[TonyB]

Hubert, #3 is what I ordered a couple hours ago, along with the voltmeter. Knowing Summit Racing, I should have it by Tuesday. The question now is where to get the oil temp reading from. MINI does it from the drain plug. I'm not keen on that as there insufficient flow there. Maybe I will need to tap the oil filter housing. John, if you happen to read this, since you are about to do the same, I'm curious to know your plans for the sender location. You had mentioned in another thread that you had 2 oil pressure gauges fail on you. The actual gauge, or the sender set-up? I think you might had used the oil filter housing as that was original approach by PROMINI...

[jlm]

the sender unit the first time and it is suspect again. I remote mounted the second sender using a feed from the oil filter housing but i think it still went funky.

the oil pan iis a reasonable place to take oil temp, but the best is probably the input side of the oil filter, which comes directly from the oil pump. not so easy to get to however. the stock oil pressure sender location is a possibility, but not recommended due to not being in the flow and also hard to access. there is also the water/oil cooler located at the filter housing, so you want to avoid that

by the way, it is unlikely the oil temp will ever be lower than the water temp for a warmed up engin and for a max, 280 would be considered high, so #3 sounds just right.

[TonyB]

I was hoping you wouldn't say that John, but I thought so...

I guess I might need to re-consider the drain plug route. I will first spend some time under my MCS looking for viable location options. If you happen to find a novel idea, please share with us John. Do you plan on installing this under the toggles in the MINI accessory panel like Andy did? I've contemplated that, or even designing my own out of Lexan at my cousin's sign shop. Hard to say at this time...

[bradman]

On my Renault Alliance GTA (SCCA ITB) car I found on the back of the engine block what looked like a block-off plug. I unscrewed it and discovered it was plugging an oil galley. Why it was there I don't know, but it made a perfect place to put an oil temperature sender. Maybe the MINI engine has a similar stray oil passage block-off somewhere? (I haven't looked that close on mine to know for sure.) As for temperatures, as a general rule, at operating temperature (i.e., water at around 180-190F) oil temp is typically around 210-240F. Modern synththetic oils can take a few trips past 300F with no problem, but with any sustained high temps like that an oil change should be done. In my race car at the end of a session the oil temerature is only around 230F, but I have a small 10-row oil cooler mounted in the airflow behind the grille; without the cooler I imagine it would be running a good 50 degrees higher or so.

[MiniE]

hope this would help,
i have the autometer ultra lite 100F - 250F
my normal runing temp is alway alittle over 250F
so i think the 100F - 300F is a must,

[TonyB]

Thanks bradman and MiniE. It appears that I will have my gauges tomorrow. Wow, normal running temp a little over 250. That seems a little high, but heck, I don't know.

I hope there is such an access point or plug on the MINI, but I sort of think not. I think John (jlm) would have noticed such a thing. He bought another engine (I believe that was jlm), so he's had a good gander at it...

Maybe something just prior to the oil cooler input? I was chatting with Peter (M7) yesterday, and his oil cooler (not yet to mkt) will have two places to get readings (temp & pressure). So maybe we can swing something with the stock set-up (input side)...