MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - Do I need this?

Hello All,

On the left side sump of my SD1 V8 I have what I assume to be an oil level switch. If so I can't find the corresponding wiring on my 72 loom.

Can I just cut of the two wires and forget about it?

Liam
Liam H

Don't have one of these on my sump, Liam. Mine came out of an '80 SD1 if that matters.

Sounds like you may have a PO-installed oil temp switch. If that's the case, either ignore it or hook up a gauge in your car. Could be a handy sender if that's what it is.

I've got a Haynes manual for the SD1 and can't say I've run across any reference to a switch on the sump but, it would be the logical place for a sensor.
Simon Austin

After much hunting it turns out it's an oil level sensor. It's no longer supplied hence difficutl to pin down.

Don't think I'll use it, I prefer a dipstick and good housekeeping, in any case there is nothing to hook it up to.

A temp sender would have been useful.

Cheers.
Liam

Good hunting! I just looked through the Haynes manual and lo' and behold, available from '82 onwards, "an electronically controlled low oil level warning system is fitted". (even has a picture of the sensor).

If you later decide to install a temp sensor, you could probably use this hole as long as you can get a sensor to fit.

Cheers
Simon
Simon Austin

Liam, I could probably use that sensor if it is in good shape. I have an older RV (caravan) which had level sensors for the oil and coolant and the sensors have been destroyed. Think you'd be willing to part with it?

Jim
Jim Blackwood

Hi Jim.

As I was looking at it in the garage the other night one of the wires separated from the unit, I thought - won't need it anyway so I twisted the other one off!

I don't know if it's any good to you now, the wires broke off right at the wax/plastic inlet plug - I'm not sure if they could be reconnected. Theres nothing really left of them at the unit side where they disappear into the unit.

I suppose all I really need is a sump plug and that's what I was going to use it for.

If only you'd got in touch sooner.
Liam

Liam, you could still possibly help me out on this, and I do need help as it's become a problem. First I need to know what sort of a unit the sender is to know if one will work for my sump and then I need to know what it came off of to see if I can get one.

I found out today the dipstick on my RV is hitting the windage tray and deflecting away from the oil. Shouldn't happen but there it is. Pan has to come off again to fix it and what a mess that is. So until I can work up the energy for that job the only way I can check the oil is to pull the plug from the sender bung on the sump. Just did that and had an extra 4 quarts of oil in there from trying to get the dipstick to read.

This plug is a 3/8" NPT pipe plug and the sender goes into the side of the sump. The original had some sort of a small tube with a ball in it or something like that which would lose contact when the oil dropped below the level of the plug. Does that sound anything like the sender you had?

If it does, I'd very much like to know the year, make and model of the vehicle the engine came from, maybe then I can get a replacement. THX

Jim
Jim Blackwood

Jim, I 'll take a photo today and get it to you.

Liam
Liam

This thread was discussed between 12/08/2006 and 21/08/2006

MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical BBS now