1st Gen 100K+ Most liked posts in thread: Coolant tank pressure?

  1. BThayer23

    BThayer23 Well-Known Member

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    #2 BThayer23, Mar 21, 2014
    You're probably looking at something electric as you don't want coolant in the cabin if it springs a leak. Water temperature would be more useful, and if the coolant temp never rises above air temp, you know you're running low.
     
  2. BThayer23

    BThayer23 Well-Known Member

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    #3 BThayer23, Mar 21, 2014
  3. ZippyNH

    ZippyNH Well-Known Member

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    #8 ZippyNH, Mar 21, 2014
    Or you can check the coolant when you check your oil....
    The water temp gauge is NICE info....but nothing beats a quick look under the hood...mini's are known for oil use...so a quick look IMO might save you the loss of a motor due to low oil too....
     
  4. smokintires

    smokintires New Member

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    #4 smokintires, Mar 21, 2014
    Yeah I hadn't thought about that and there are some reasonably priced units so I'll probably do that.

    After looking them up, I want make sure I know what I'm getting into before spending the money. So I've read that you install the fitting into an open water port? Usually in the intake manifold? Where is this in the mini and is it easily accessible?
    And what is the normal temp roughly supposed to be?
     
  5. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    #5 ScottinBend, Mar 21, 2014
    ScanguageII works thru the OBD port.
     
  6. DneprDave

    DneprDave Well-Known Member
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    #6 DneprDave, Mar 21, 2014
  7. DneprDave

    DneprDave Well-Known Member
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    #7 DneprDave, Mar 21, 2014
  8. vetsvette

    vetsvette MINI Alliance Ambassador

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    #9 vetsvette, Mar 21, 2014
    Check out the Cravenspeed nGauges. They also run off the OBD II port.
     
  9. ZippyNH

    ZippyNH Well-Known Member

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    #10 ZippyNH, Mar 21, 2014
    Only issue with getting a PSI gauge is boiling coolant (when low) will STILL GIVE YOU PSI...and the cap will vent the vapor as needed to matain the psi.....
    IMO if you want a guage....get a water temp....then you can INFER you have coolant if the temp is 180° ish (similar to thermostat)....more than that...you are likely low...
    But checking the VOLUME in the tank is still needed....radiator PSI guages are really custom stuff...as opposed to temp...which IMO is mandatory.
     
  10. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    #11 Dave.0, Mar 22, 2014
    ^^^^ this is the way to go and it's a whole lot cheaper. :Thumbsup: