I just picked up my car last week. Thanks to this forum I was able to figure out why it wasn't working. I was missing the oil temp sensor. The problem is the threads on the sensor don't look big enough to fit in the drain plug hole. I used a VW drain plug as the one in it was puking oil. I read that the VW one would work just fine and have a couple new ones in the tool box. Is there supposed to be some sort of insert or what. I don't feel like draining the oil out as I did the oil change 3 days ago, and find out it doesn't fit. I thought about hooking a shop vac up the the oil fill hole to hold the oil in the engine to swap them. I tried that with success on a my GTi. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

Moving this to the Stock Problems/Issues section. Can you post a picture of your "sensor". I know where the oil pressure sensor is and the engine temperature sensor. Do you have an aftermarket system?

As far at the drain plug, it is a 14mm x 1.50 thread pitch bolt.

 

Drain your 3-day-old oil into a clean pan, sort out the plug situation, replace oil. Not a biggie -- less than 30-minutes...

I'd go with the drain/refill approach above... If the shop vac overheats and trips a breaker while overloaded holding suction, you'll have 5-quarts of oil on the floor in a New York second!

 

I just wanted to confirm that this little guy would work.



VW drain plug that I used.

First I wanted to thank ECS for the Pictures. I hope you guys don't mind.

They both state that they are m14X1.5. So I guess that the sensor will work based on that but its just so small looking.

 

No problem.

That sensor above is from the old JCW gauge kit for the Gen 1 MINI. Its the same size as the factory oil drain plug on MINI, except the thread are not as long.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-and-leak.html

 

While I am not too crazy with the sender's lack of threads, but I believe it was the best option MINI could come up with without tons of work and cost as a solution to a oil temp gauge. I already have 2 Auto Meter Ultra Lite gauges and like to stay with the same look. So the question is would the JCW sensor work with Auto Meter 4948 (short sweep electric) oil temp gauge?




I know most gauges and senders are designed to be compatible to the VDO counterpart. I also believe "short sweep electric" implies the type of "industry norm" sender characteristics - resistance vs pressure. I would not entertain installing this sender if I don't do my own oil change.

 

I should spend more time finding the answer instead of asking.

I just called Auto Meter as in my experience they are extremely helpful. The short answer is their gauge is designed with very different sender characteristics from VDO. No go. No oil temp gauge for my Mini until the oil pan is dropped.

 

ECS: Thanks for allowing me to steal pics. Lol I was just being paranoid as it just looked wrong. I did drain the oil into a new pan installed the sender and voila the gauge now works! I also installed the Helix headlights I got from you guys and now need to install your exhaust tips I ordered.

 

pnwR53S: I couldn't agree more that these gauges leave something to be desired. But I all the paperwork on my car and these were installed at time of purchase. So for that reason they stay.

 

I have no idea what gave you the impression that I commented on the JCW gauges. My only remark is the lack of thread turns of the said sender which double as a drain plug, and there are many posts on the forum of people rounding out the threads on the pan's boss.

 

Sorry my bad, miss read and A$$umed that what you were saying.

 

No worry. It is easy to do.