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MG MGB Technical - Smiths Oil Level Check Unit?????????

I've seen this kind of item listed more than once on ebay. Still can't figure out what it does. I've asked the seller and his response was "It is an accessory engine test light for oil" - not much help. Personally, I've never seen such an item mounted to a MGB. If it somehow detects low sump oil volume, it would be a nice accessory to have on board. Comments?

MG midget & MGB NOS Smiths Oil Level Check Unit (250010649340)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250010649340&sspagename=ADME%3AL%3ARTQ%3AUS%3A1
Steve Buchina

Steve, They're pretty cool. A tube replaces your dipstick so that the end of the tube would be under the oil at the level you want it. You pull on the knob. If there's vacuum because the tube is under the oil, the green sleeve shows. If there's no vacuum because you're pulling air because the tube is above the oil level, the red sleeve shows. As far as I know, they were never an original item. Ugly on the dashboard, but a fun "curio" for the shelf. Peter C
Peter Caldwell

Peter,
Thanks for the info. Guess I'll contact the seller and see if he has the sump tube to go with it. Just in case, how is tube-mount constructed (metal, plastic??) - how hard would it be to fabricate, if original is missing. Neat concept, but an electrical idiot light would be better.
Steve Buchina

I installed one for my Mum when she bought her 1973 Mini new (she only sold it a couple of years ago when she gave up driving). The tube replacing the dipstick is aluminium, which although I think was open at the bottom also had a small hole an inch or so up from that. A clamp/collar was positioned such that this hole lined up with the appropriate point on the dipstick, which I chose to be mid-way between Max and Min, so she didn't run too low after checking it until she checked it again, nor overfilled it when she topped up. She actually checked it the first time she used it each day. There was a flexible plastic tube between the top of the aluminium tube and the gizmo on the dashboard. Extremely simple, it never had a problem in the 30 years she used the car. You would have to go some to achieve that with an electric system, at an equivalent cost and simplicity of fitting/removal.

It only detects low oil when you remember to pull the knob! It as fine for my Mum who didn't want to have to lift the bonnet and grab hold of a potentially dirty dipstick, and as such it isn't really a bloke thing. Didn't have an equivalent low coolant level indicator, so she still had to grapple with the bonnet and radiator cap to check that. FWIW I have an electronic low coolant warning on my V8, which continuously monitors the level, while I had some cooling system problems a few years ago. I've not bothered to take it off since I fixed the problem.
Paul Hunt 2

This thread was discussed between 27/07/2006 and 28/07/2006

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