I was just speaking to a car buff and he said that a mechanical oil pressure gauge inside a car is illegal. Is that true? and if so that means my new smith gauge is useless. This is very disappointing if true as the gauge only has a attachment for the tubing and globe.


~worried~

please help!!!!

What?!

My car passed rego with a mechanical oil guage. It's never ever come up as a problem.

Shard

Any other takers for giving advice or facts on this subject? This guy at work was saying because the oil line is directly connected to the gauge the wear and tear could split the piping/tubing and catch fire etc and bye bye driver and car.

If the car came with it from the factory there is no problem. They're age-old on minis although he does have a valid safety point.

They could try to make me take mine out, but it won't work!

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Yea wel as you all can imagine my heart sank when i heard what he had to say about it. Especially as both my oil pressure and voltage gauges were Christmas presents.

Well if worst comes to worst I'll just have to keep making sure the tubing isn't splitting or even get a braided line and wrap the ****er in lots of tape so it wont split.

Sounds an old wives tale to me, but I know a mechanical FUEL pressure gauge inside the car is illegal (for obvious reasons).
Every Cooper, Cooper S, Mini K and Mk2 MiniMatic came with a mechanical oil gauge..
Show us an ADR about this mech oil gauge....

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

ADR?

so it will be illegal to fit then on my LS?

I doubt there is any truth in this story, personally I would fit it, just be real careful where you run the line so it can't get burned or frayed.
My 36 year old original pipe+hose is still fine.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

well I have all the proper gear to fit it from Mini spares UK and apparently my dad when buying it asked them what was the best kit was to attach it etc.....

I have a hole in the firewall that's grometted that has most of the wires going through it already that I could put it through plus along the firewall i have a fire and noise carpet running along it. So I reckon I'll be right .. between me and my old man I think we'll be able to figure out the safest option.

well I've done a bit of reading and I don't want o fit anything thats illegal of could damage or even blow up the car in worst case scenario, so what are my options? Should I try and swap it for a electrical one and pay teh difference??? sell it on ebay??? keep it .. fit it?

what's the bes t option?? and no I'm not ignoring your advice Doc i just worried thats all about my health and the health of my mini. I'd hate to have a head-on and have the car blow up with me in it.

I will gladly dispose of this dangerous item of equipment for you

As the Doc has said, there is nothing inherently unsafe about these gauges if installed correctly...I would be more worried about exposed battery terminals and dodgey fuel systems in a Mini any day of the week.

The plastic oil capilliary lines sometimes used are not recommended by me, they are a pain and prone to failure but the copper is fine so long as they are installed with reasonable large anti-vibration coils and are not twisted, bent or bashed during installation or maintenance which could result in a fracture.

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"Show me the Mini!"

everything i have is from mini spares UK and recommended by them for installation

editing: plus ... so if I make sure all my electrical wiring is taped and no exposure etc....and I will be installing correctly it'll be fine?

You won't get an answer in writing from me on that one see words above ....cept to say do not use bending radii smaller than those recommended

I would prefer to see people using the proper crimped electrical connections and or heat shrink sleeving for insulation....plain electrical tape can always sweat and undo if stretched in the first place etc

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"Show me the Mini!"

No it is not true. Tell him that he is a tosser. What a dick!

If it splits all it does is leak oil. How is it going to catch fire inside the car? You can leak oil all over a hot motor and not set it on fire but this MOD EDIT says that it will catch fire inside the car.

I totally agree with Morris 1100 - if a oil pressure line ruptures inside the car then worst that is going to happen is that it will spray some oil into the cabin. It may be hot and if it gets on you then it may give superficial burns.

It is not going to burst into flames - it is engine oil !!!!!!
If a petrol / air mixture in a combustion chamber can fail to ignite because of excessive oil then you would need oxy equipment to get it going in the cabin of a car.

Don't worry about electrical connections for the sake of an oil pressure guage. Worry about them because poor connections will cause electrical failures.

Fit the oil guage - do it neatly and properly, as said provide vibration coils, then most importantly look at it while you are driving. If the pressure drops significantly while cornering then it means the engine oil level is low - check the oil level.

Yes - I know - high G force levels and racing slicks - but this is a sedately driven road car.