I planned on installing an oil pressure warning light as I seem to get a fair fluctuation in pressure according to the gauge.
Question is what do I connect it to? the oil gauge has a small tube to the block but guessing I need a sensor somewhere?
Any tips greatefully received.
Gordon, you need a fitting that screws into the block with two take off points, one for the gauge and one for the light sender.
To wire it up you mount the light with power to the bulb (from ign. live) and it is earthed through the oil sender switch, when the engine starts and gets oil pressure the earth is taken away and the light goes off.
Something like this :-
cgi.ebay.co.uk/CLASSIC-MINI-SHOR … 518de983fc
The switch is here :-
cgi.ebay.co.uk/OIL-PRESSURE-SWIT … 5882ea5c6c
May not fit the same threads, but this is what I bought to fit my mini (which is the other way around - comes with the switch for a light, but wanted to add a gauge.
Gordon
Good idea,but it will only slow you down on the bends (unless you have oil pickup mod)
John
Have a look
I fitted the w/light in the interior light along with a alarm led
note the oil outlet threads on the Lotus blocks are not all the same
Neil
If the engine is a high reving competition unit be careful adding any sensor or tee fitting onto the block which has any weight or significant overhang. The vibrations in this area of the nose of the block are severe and I have seen these fittings break off on race motors.
Best to run a flexible tube to a remote mounted tee on the inner wall of the engine bay where you can mount a swtich and also continue the flex line to the guage.
regards
Rohan
Gordon,
All you need to fit an oil pressure sensor is a suitable 1/8? BSP tee piece and a sensor just like Shiny_kit and Brian says, plus a matching light on the dash. cbsonline.co.uk/oil-warning- … 1241-p.asp
However, what real use will a warning light have over the pressure gauge? I?ve searched and found that the pressure switches seem to set at 5 psi. cbsonline.co.uk/oil-light-sw … 3588-p.asp
It begs the question as to what is the minimum oil pressure the Twink can stand before any serious damage is done?
As John suggests, you may cause yourself some concerns when the light comes on when going fast around long right hand bends.
I use a 18 psi switch
Neil
Most oil light switches I have seen operate between 3 and 8psi and using one at 18psi would worry me as it would come on when idling with a hot engine and even knowing it was 18 psi I wouldn’t like to see that glowing every time I came to a stop.
As for the light you could always use one of these …at a price!
Brian (et al)
“However, what real use will a warning light have over the pressure gauge?”…with the oil gauge dampened, on long fast bends the pressure can fall to 0 but the gauge takes time to register this…by then
John
Well John, I hope I’m watching the road and not the dash lights when I’m going fast enough to swish the oil away from the pick-up long enough to make me
However, thank’s for the e-mail pictures – Heath-Robinson at his very best, I think.
Heath-Robinson maybe but it does work and is hand made in brass/copper sheet and has stopped the oil pressure light from coming on
John
Many years ago my sump bung fell out ( It was an MGB engine) The engine was wrecked before I noticed the reading on the OP gauge.
Another time the oil pump pick up broke off when the sump contacted a ramp. Same story.
When I cracked the ally sump on a gate stop on my BMW, the oil light saved the engine.
So I wouldn’t be without a low OP warning lamp. I also changed the electric gauge to a mechanical one, it reacts almost instantaneously.
I installed a mechanical gauge on my Mini and at first used the small bore nylon tube supplied with the gauge. The response was so slow I felt it was almost worthless. Bought a steel-braided Aeroquip/Goodridge hose with a larger bore and now the response is instantaneous.
John, Self praise is no recommendation
OK Sean, I’m convinced - another little job for the winter
You can get adjustable pressure s/w if you oil preasure is a bit low at tick over or look at it from the point of view that it’s better to know it is working ,always had one on my rally cars
Neil
Ignorance is bliss as my old mum used to say. This, of course, should have read 1/4" BSP
thanks all, off to look at the necessary connections so I can wire it in…
cheers
Neil,
From where did you get the 18 psi switch?
I’m now wondering what value switch is best. Most of those advertised appear to be 5 psi, but I found one Ford RS switch at 25 psi which for the Twink may be a little on the high side.
All advice welcome.
From my stock of bits from the 70s
thinkauto.com/acatalog/On_li … es_34.html
Think have some 20 psi and adjustable to 15psi above
demon-tweeks.co.uk/products/ … ode=LMA014
Neil