I have recently installed an electrical oil temperature gauge on my early 2002 Mini S. The sensor is installed in the oil drain plug. The engine oil temperature runs at about 240-250 degrees on warm days, which is hotter than I anticipated. What is a normal oil temperature for this engine?

 

While I think the nominal is 220, I'm not 100% on the earlier models. 240-250 is not outside safe conditions as you'll easily hit that in sustained spirited/aggressive driving.

 

Thank you for your prompt info. The early 2002 Mini S has no provision at all for oil cooling. That may be part of the higher temp. I have an after market aluminum skid plate under the engine and I am going to pull it off to see if that improves things.

 

I've got the same setup on my 04 MCS. Autometer Oil temp using the oil drain plug for the sensor. My oil temperature runs right at 200. My engine coolant temp varies around 200-220 stopped, depending if the fan is on. On the road the coolant temp hovers around 200. I have an UltraGauge attach to my OBD ports at monitors my engine temp.

 

I have an '04 MCS with the same problem. 240* normally but can get up to 260... Im still trying to figure mine out.

 

I have the Chrono Gauge Pkg on my '06 MCS that I just bought. On the way back from Miami (where I bought the car) in 95 degree heat on Alligator Alley, my Oil Temp climbed up to about 220 running around 80mph.

As soon as I got back home (Siesta Key), I had my mechanic dump that oil and put in Amsoil Synthetic 5w30 with new filter. Now - believe this or not - running on the interstate in the same conditions/speeds above - my oil temp will not climb above 200. Mater-a-Fact, it stays perfectly still at 200 or 190. Go figure. I'm happy there.

 

I'm running Mobil 1 0-40, recommnded oil, It been working just fine. I just hit 100K this weekend and it still runs and looks like a puppy. Oil pressure and temps are good. Engine just purrs like a kitten, "Tiger cub that is", I have only replaced the SC oil and the water pump a couple weeks back . Other than that no other issues

 

According to the 2006 MINI manual:

Approved oils feature the SAE grades 5W-40 and 5W-30. These oils can be used for driving at all outside temperatures.

There is really not much difference other than 0W-40 having less voscoity when cold. However, I tend to lean towards keeping my voscoity(s) (low and high values) closer together due to having less additives. And a 30 weight oil tends to be designed to save fuel. See Motor Oil 101 - Chapter 1 for more info.

 

I removed the skid plate from under the engine but there was no significant change in the indicated oil temperature. The ambient air temp was 82* and the engine oil temp leveled out at 250 degrees at 60 mph. I was wrong about my early 2002 S model lacking any provision to cool the oil. It does have an oil heat exchanger below the oil filter. I am running Amsoil 0-30. I was taught many years ago "the gauges never lie". Despite that, I will change the oil temp sensor at the next oil change.
I recall one of my car owners (midgets) taping over the gauges on the dash and telling me "stand on the gas, if it blows up, it blows up." Maybe a little masking tape will solve my oil temperature concerns.
Thanks again everyone for your input. MitchS

 

I love that one. Might have to start using it.

 

Was there any conclusion or fix to this? Mine is still reading around 250 at 70mph.

 

Not entirely so, the cooper s has an oil-heat exchanger installed from OEM. nr 5 in the realoem picture:




I have a 2002 MCS R53 with 100k on it and it runs at temps between 100c and 110c. ( at the highway driving fast). this is also the middle of the gauge. usually, you can assume that normal operating values are always in the middle of any gauge.

 

See my post "Water Temperature Revelation" in 2nd gen R56 Hatch talk.

AC on and fan on high lowers temperature to 180-190 F.