Norm, thanks for confirming what I thought... that in a rush, I made a bonehead mistake... one that cost me about 60 bucks . I got two senders with my AutoMeter, neither of which are 13mm... I'll put on my thinking hat and see what I can come up with. Thank you.

 

Put both senders in a pot of cool water with a thermometer. Measure their resistance as the temp raises to boiling. See what the curves look like. But then the electronics are more work still....

Matt

 

Tony. Autometer provides two senders? Did you get bushings with that kit to adapt to different size holes?
What is the thread size on the senders ( sensors )? Most electrical that I've seem are 1/8 27 NTP. You could go to a hardware store with a sender and match them up with a sized fitting there to find out for sure.
If the senders are 1/8 27 NTP buy a Tap and a 11/32 drill bit about $10.00. Drill and tap your OEM drain plug. Your only out an oil change.
Was the MINI drain plug with sender the $60.00 bucks?

 

Yeah, around 55 dollars with a discount... I have the stock drain plug with me here. The bolt head size is 13mm, and the threads appear to be the same.

Norm, sorry for the confusion. AutoMeter provides one sender (3/8" thread), but two sleeves if you will; what the sender screws into, of different outside threaded diameter (5/8" being the smallest).

It seems I need a 13mm external thread, with 3/8" internal to receive the Autometer sender. Not sure I can find such a thing, or if it even exists...

 

sounds like you're getting confused by that wacky pipe thread system. 1/8-27 NPT actually measures about 3/8" diameter and has...duh...27 threads per inch. the bushing (one pipe thread outside, another inside) that measures about 5/8" is probably 1/4" NPT. Not all pipe thread is tapered, but most of the time it is, so tightening it will jam and seal.

 

jlm, thank for clarifying some things for me. That pipe thread system is certainly not common sensical... So, is there such a bushing out there... one that is 13mm external (MINI drain plug), and that has 1/8" NPT internal? I'm guessing not. I might be back to pondering the canister... Maybe I should contact Autometer... Thanks.

 

You might want to look at Pegasus racing, they have metric adaptors;
http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/
They also have a nice free catalog.


You going to have to know thread size and pitch of the drain plug. The 13mm doesn't relate to that.

jlm, I guess was reading between the lines. I looked up your gauge it is 1/8, check it out here with the FAQ and instructions;

http://www.egauges.com/vdo_mult3.asp...tra-Lite&Cart=

 

Thank you Norm. I have gauge #4348, and it says:

Notes: Includes 1/8" electric sender along with 3/8" & 1/2" NPT adapter.

Being that the delta in diameter between the drain plug and sender is not much, I'm not sure if I'll find something... I'll send an email to Autometer... I'm on their site now. Thanks for reminding me about Pegasus. I'll check them in a moment...

Anyone know the specs for the MINI's drain plug? I'm finding metric NPT adaptors (thanks Norm!), so there seems to be some hope...

 

Here are adaptors, they are on the web site I sent you;
http://www.egauges.com/vdo_acce.asp?...Bushings&Cart=

I measured my FUMOTO F-106 engine oil drain valve which goes in on next oil change. Package dosen't list the thread size. Thier web site doesn't list thread size either but you can find all the other cars that use the same size drain plug, kinda like a cross reference.
http://www.fumotovalve.com/

The OD of the threads is 14mm the OD on the threads of my 1/8 27 NTP sensor is 10mm, not much room to drill and Tap.
I don't have a metric thread gauge
What's the BIG secret? just makes me:impatient and

 

"the hex is 13mm; the bolt thread is 14mm x 1.5mm. it seals by compressing an integral 1" dia rubber gasket against the pan"

and that was from.... jlm!

So, with that info, and your egauge link above, this is what I need:

Adapter Bushing - 1/8 NPT female x M14 X 1.5 male.

It's like 6 bucks, but I bet shipping will cost about the same... Is this something that I should expect to locate at a local plumbing supply place? Because if not, I'd like to order it online to have it prior to next weekend. There's a plumbing store near my office, I'll check tomorrow during lunch...

 

Tony, jlm came through.
Don't think the plumbing suppy will have it but it's worth a try or a call first and save the trip.
I was over there ( MINI2 ) looking around but didn't find it. I checked my method of measuring metric threads here;
http://www.metrication.com/engineering/threads.htm
and used the charts here;
http://mdmetric.com/tech/tict.htm
When I measured my FUMOTO F-106 threads with a caliber I kept getting 14mm x 1.0 < don't pay any attention to this measuement.
I may be doing it wrong and as I said I don't have a metric thread gauge but will be buying one soon.

By the way tons of good Tech. info here;
http://mdmetric.com/techindex.htm

Best of luck to ya...... norm

 

i happen to have a spare drain plug...

the thread OD is about .540", root diameter is less than .500
for 1/8-27, the thread OD is about .420", so to tap the stock plug is dicey, and I doubt you will find that bushing, I might be wrong, since others have put the sensor there.

Tony, I have a spare oil filter housing, if you get hell bent to use the location I did, I'll tap it and you can send me your old one.

 

Norm, thanks again for the helpful links! jlm, believe me, I'm keeping your offer in mind, and truly appreciate it. You said that you doubt I will find that bushing, but isn't this what I want (3rd one down, # R7963)?

http://www.egauges.com/vdo_acce.asp?..._Bushings&Cart=



I'm getting a good education here... I'd say worth more than 60 bucks .

 

Well, I just checked a local plumbing parts shop that has had everything I wanted before and couldn't find at The Home Depot or Orchard Supply. And, they didn't have it, and said that it would be difficult to find...

So, I just ordered it through egauges... and shipping was 9 bucks, so the total was about 14 dollars. From past experience, I'll probably get it this time next week. I'll either disco the wire on the current sender, or just not drive it hard... I really don't want to peg the needle beyond 300, possibly causing damage to the gauge...

Also, I think I will buy one quart of oil to see if I can swap plugs with minimal loss. I have an idea how to do it w/o losing much oil, and not getting either of the senders coated in oil...

 

that looks perfect.


you should be able to remove one and insert the other without losing more than a few tablespoons of oil, may need your thumb for an instant.

 

Thanks for doing all the leg work for us. Let everyone know how it works out when you get it in. JLM thanks for your input to.

 

UPS tracking is saying that I'll have it by this Friday! I'll pick-up an additional quart of oil, then do the switch-aroo. I'll report back when done. I'm going to then log temps for a couple weeks, and then I'll swap-out my t-stat for the 180 degree one (M7) to see the influence on oil temps...

 

Tony, good O, way cool, this will be interesting.

By the way, isn't this what NAM is all about

 

kool beanz, i want to know too (bout the M7 t/stat)

 

TonyB, Did your parts come in?
Interested if the oil drain plug is actully 14x1.5 mm., hope you compared your original OEM plug before the swap-a-roo.

 

I'm pretty frustrated as UPS said that it would be delayed until Monday, due to a late train... Sucks.

I'm banking on jlm being right about the thread size... but I'll check it out with the stock plug. Wish I had a nut to confirm though...

I have .3 quarts of oil to replace what I lose, so I hope it will be uneventful...

 

Well, I got it today, and after comparing it side-by-side with the stocker, jlm appears to be correct on the specs. I was hoping that it would have more threads though. There is only about .25" without compressing the rubber ring. Stock has just a tad under .5" of thread. Is this length something of concern? Losing a drain plug is something I'd never like to experience...

I still have not replaced my failed digital camera, so I used my webcam to take the attached crappy photo...

 

did you take the photo with one thumb plugging the drain hole?

a rule of thumb is you want at least one thread diameter engagement; after 1-1/2 thread diameters, the bolt is usually weaker than the threaded connection, assuming the same materials

 

Several years ago I installed a VDO oil temp gauge. Initially I used a sender that replaced the oil pan drain plug, which worked fine. However I don't always do my own oil changes (used oil disposal hassle), and since the brass VDO sender is soft and quite fragile and has a tightening torque rating of only 11 lb-ft I figured it was only a question of time until the dealer's oil change monkey, err, I mean "technician," would break it.

I then relocated the sender to a distribution block that also feeds the oil pressure gauge. This block bolts to a port on the oil filter housing. Although technically this is a "backwater" location the typical temperature readings remained in the same range as before. I suspect that a combination of generous oil flow through the housing, turbulence in the oil and thermal transfer through the oil filter housing's aluminum body together serve to make this measurement point good enough. So my conclusion is that it isn't necessary to agonize too much over the pickup point - within reason of course.

Disclaimer: this isn't on the MCS, so YMMV.

Obligatory Mini content: my '05 MCS has the factory gauge pack, including oil temp. It would be interesting to know where Mini measures this oil temp. Unfortunately the MCS's engine compartment is tightly enough packed that it discourages casual exploration...

Neil
05 MCS
96 M3

 

[QUOTE=TonyB]Well, I got it today, and after comparing it side-by-side with the stocker, jlm appears to be correct on the specs. I was hoping that it would have more threads though. There is only about .25" without compressing the rubber ring. Stock has just a tad under .5" of thread. Is this length something of concern? Losing a drain plug is something I'd never like to experience...

And thats the Adapter Bushing - 1/8 NPT female x M14 X 1.5 male - correct?
The rubber sealing washer will compress some.