FYI in case this happens to you

My Oil temperature gauge started to jump around like crazy bouncing from 100 to 160C. No way that could happen in real time. Per Advice I got here and elsewhere, I had the wire checked at the drain plug but that was fine.

Took the car to MINI and they found out that the wire in the engine bay was bouncing against the engine and finally frayed the wire. Now, everytime I hit the gas, the bare wire hit the engine block and the gauge went crazy. The reinsulated the wire and rerouted it a different way around the engine.

What I question is that shouldn't other people with the auxiliary gauges have the same problem (probably not a popular option) OR, most likely, I think when they did the JCW kit maybe they routed the wire differently. Who Knows.

 

When the dealer install the gauges they didn't tie wrap the wire down securely and it had the insulation melted off from being to close to the exhaust manifold. It was repaired under warranty. I have also took a few more tie wraps and made sure that the wire is secure along it’s entire path. I guess the old adage holds true “if you want something done right you need to do it yourself”

 

The thing is. I got to wonder how many people actually order the aux gauges. I doubt its exactly a popular option!

 

May not be popular and although it is pricy ($500.00 installed) but fully worth it IMO. Besides if it is not common this just makes this option all the more rare therefore another good reason to have it.

 

For those of you who have an oil temp gauge with the source at the drain plug, what temps do you see at various states of driving? I ask because I am in the process of hooking-up my oil temp gauge, and I'm pondering the drain plug location. I hear though that it will read low there relative to the oil above... Thanks much!

 

I am planning on installing oil temp and voltmeter. How did you guys intall your oil temp guages? How does it route to the oil pan?

Thanks,
ARLY

 

Mine is hooked up to a sensor that replaced the oil drain plug. Wires are routed from under the car up through the drivers side by the intake and through the fire wall.

 

During normal driving where the outside temps are around 70-75 F I see temps around 100C (the needle is right on 100 or just a shade above. At night during normal driving I typically see the needle just under 100 C (I estimate 98 C or so).

On the last MINI run it was a somewhat hot day 80 + and after some spirited driving up a hill for several miles I was seeing about 112C.

I would assume that as you say these temps would be lower as they are being measured at the bottom of the oil pan where the most cooling would occur. I would be interested in hearing the temps. others are seeing from sensors mounted in the oil filter housing (another typical sensor point) or some other place more towards the innards of the engine. This would be just as a point of interest. As long as you know what the normal and aggressive driving temps are no, matter where they are being measured at you can monitor if the ranges are being exceeded and hopefully prevent a problem. That would be the main purpose of any measuring device wouldn’t it?

 

I bought my MINI off the floor (didn't order it) and it had the gauge pack. I'm glad it's there.

 

Normally, its rock solid at 100C. A lot of highway driving and it might creep up to 105 - 107 but thats it. Then falls back to 100

 

This thread is in reference to the gauge pod that goes down near the cupholders, correct? I'm looking at buying this from outmotoring - would owners suggest going with the VDO gauges MINI supplies, or just getting the pod and getting autometer gauges instead?

All in all, are you happy with the gauges?

Thanks!

mb

 

Yes, it was the MINI aux gauges.

I would buy them again going OEM vs aftermarket ... just a personal preference.

 

Hmmm I have an Autometer after market Oil temp gauge that stopped working the other day coincidently around the time I was plowing snow with the front my car, guess I'm going to have to climb under there!!!

 

Oh, and looking on morristown mini's site, I see that they're discounted even more than outmotoring. Sweet!

mb

 

Dunno where it picks up the temp but the OEM gauge does from the oil plug. Easy to knock of I guess. Mine had the wires actually frayed from poor engineering in the engine bay.

 

I'm happy with the oil temp, but I'd rather have a water temp than a voltmeter. I've thought of swapping that one out, but I'm too **** to have two different guage faces (haven't found a matching one) and too cheap two buy two.:impatient

 

by far the best quality and most accurate gauges are Defi. they are japanese
stepper motor driven and are very easy to install. they must be used with their defi link 2 conrtol box which can record 15 min of replay time and have a sweep opening when the key is turned. these gauges are far far superior to any oem or aftermarket gauge on the market.worth checking out. i have boost egt oil temp water temp gauges in my mini. and love them!!

 

also i have had zero failures in five years of many installs on my customers cars. very reliable..

 

The fact is...techs screw up. This thread reminded me that I had a problem with my dealer installed boost gauge about a month after purchasing my car. One day I noticed that the gauge was moving extremely slow and it's range was very limited. Upon investigating the matter I discovered that when the vac tube was run through the firewall and turned to head for the engine, the line was twisted. At this twist a kink formed that blocked off the vac signal to the gauge. I simply straightened out the tubing and...presto, the gauge worked perfectly.
The moral of the story is...understand that whenever something is done by a trained tech, don't expect the work to be 100% correct.