1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Intermittent Red Oil Light

2006 Mini Cooper S r52

New owner, oil light comes on after maybe 10 minutes. I had already changed the oil, and checked the filter. I changed the oil sending unit, still the same. I added a craven speed oil sending unit adapter so that I add a mechanical oil pressure gauge. Now that I have the gauge, I can see that the oil pressure is very good, even when the oil pressure light comes on. So I disconnected the wire at the sending unit, guess what, it still comes on. I must have a shorted wire, or the light has a short. At least the motor is good! Any suggestions are welcome


87,000 miles.

 

redneck solution is to put some tape over the light. Getting behind the dash to fix one wire is a massive effort.

More technical solution would be to find out if the sending unit must be connected to show a certain resistance. Disconnecting it may alter the output to the low pressure threshold, so not do what you want. Replacing it with a resistor of the proper value for good pressure output may get your light to go away if it is related to the sensor. If the light still is off for 10 mins and then comes on, even with the sensor disconnected, then that's not the case. It would be on immediately.

 

What pressures are you reading at Idle and Cruising speed?

 

I checked the pressure indicated on a VDO gauge at idle, at 2000rpm, and at 3000 rpm. At idle it had 18 lbs., at 2000 rpm it had 39 lbs and at 3000 rpm it had 60 lbs of pressure. The car has 23,000 miles and I use Molylube 5W40 oil. The oil pressure gauge is electrical.

 

Those look like cold to warming up temps. At temp, pressures for me: 6-10psi at idle, then ~40psi at cruise ~3krpm. I'm trying to help you establish its only a gauge/sensor issue b/c a bad pump is the worst for these things.

 

Welcome to M/A!

What year and model is your MINI? Where are you located, in case you have other problems?

 

Hi all -- I'm new here and very lost as I've been having the low oil pressure problem for quite some time. I'm now having the oil pump replaced as nothing else has worked. If this doesn't solve the problem, the mechanic says it's likely the engine is damaged -- but he's checked it for signs/symptoms of damage and has found none. I'm praying the pump replacement finally fixes the problem because I really don't want to part with my mini. Bought her brand new and have never wanted any other car since. Still don't. Any words of wisdom or advice would be most appreciated
Thanks for being here to help.