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Oil Drain Plug Sender Adapter Install Guide - MINI Gen 3

THANK YOU for purchasing the MINI Gen3 Tapless Oil Temp Adapter from CravenSpeed. This product is made from the highest grade materials, and is guaranteed to be free from defects.

You can buy our CravenSpeed Oil Drain Plug Sender Adapter for MINI Gen 3 here

Parts Included:

  • 1x Tapless Oil Adapter
  • Copper Crush Washer
  • 1/8" NPT Hex Plug

Tools Required:

  • Ratchet Wrench w/ 8mm and 17mm Sockets
  • 3/16" Hex Driver
  • Thread Sealant or Teflon Tape
  • Zip-ties
  • Oil Drain Pan
  • Floor Jack
  • Jack Stands or Wheel Ramps
  • Wheel Chock

***EXTREMELY IMPORTANT*** THE ENGINE MUST BE COLD PRIOR TO INSTALLATION OF THIS PRODUCT. It is also a good habit to disconnect the negative (-) battery terminal while working around your MINI, so grab your trusty 10mm socket and do this now. Depending on your model of MINI, the battery will be located in either the boot or the bonnet.

Procedure

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    AGAIN ***EXTREMELY IMPORTANT*** THE ENGINE MUST BE COLD PRIOR TO INSTALLATION OF THIS PRODUCT

    1. Park your MINI in a clean, well-lit environment and since we'll be working around the engine oil, allow it to cool down before proceeding with the installation.

    2. Lift the front of your MINI with either wheel ramps or a floor jack with jack stands. Chock the rear wheels for added safety measure.

    3. Prepare the Cravenspeed gauge sender adapter drain plug ahead of time by installing your gauge temperature sender into it. Utilize some thread sealant or Teflon tape to the threads of your gauge temperature sender. If you don't plan on installing your gauge temp sender into the drain plug at this time, use the provided 1/8 NPT hex plug in it's place.

    4. Slide on underneath the engine area and remove the plastic under tray. It should be held on with a series of 8mm screws around the perimeter of the cover.

    5. Locate the factory drain plug and loosen (don't remove) it with your 17mm socket wrench.

    6. Place your oil drain pan directly under the factory drain plug. Have your Cravenspeed drain plug adapter/gauge temp sender ready to install, place the new copper crush washer onto the threaded end of the Cravenspeed drain plug and as deftly as possible, remove the factory drain plug and swap it out with the Cravenspeed unit. You will encounter a torrent of oil wanting to stream from the oil pan, so be prepared to place a finger over the opening if you need to gather your thoughts during the swap. Alternatively, you could drain all the oil out of your MINI into a CLEAN oil drain pan and just put it back in when your done with the install. It really just comes down to what you're more comfortable dealing with.

    7. Do not overtighten! Just snug up the Cravenspeed drain plug adapter enough to feel the copper crush washer flatten a bit.

    8. Attach your gauge wires to the oil temp sending unit and strategically route them until you end up at the firewall plug behind the brake booster. Zip-tie the wires into place as you go so that they stay away from hot or rotating components in the engine compartment.

    9. Utilize a tool such as an awl to poke a hole through the rubber firewall plug, being careful that you do not damage anything on the other side.

    10. Inside the car, the firewall entry point can be accessed by dropping the drivers side lower dash panel. Place your fingers in the gap directly under steering column and pull/push down. This will unsnap the lower panel along the top and it will pivot down on tabs.

    11. Get into an awkward position and with a flashlight, look up into the dash and locate where the wires are coming into the vehicle. Carefully pull the wires through, being mindful of leaving a bit of slack in them. It helps to have an assistant let you know when you’ve pulled enough of the wires through.

    12. Proceed with the wiring installation instructions included with your gauges. When you’ve finished with the gauges, reconnect the negative (-) battery terminal and check their functionality. With the engine running, observe the installation area of the CravenSpeed Oil Temp Gauge Sender Adapter to ensure there are no oil leaks. If you’re good to go, replace the engine under tray, remove the rear wheels chocks and lower your MINI, tidy up and take it for a spin! You’re done!