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MG Midget and Sprite General - Re-purpose Oil Filter Warning Light

My '66 has the oil filter warning light in the dash. As useless as that light was in the past it is even more useless now that I have installed a spin-on oil filter which does not have a pressure sender incorporated into the base.

I was hoping to find a better use for the light now that it has no real purpose. I thought about using it as an indicator light for something, like perhaps turning on when my electric radiator fan kicks in so I will know if it is running or not when I am traveling at highway speed. That may be helpful in determining if the thermostat control is set correctly.

Another use would be to have it blink when the car is parked so that it gives the appearance of a security system. Ideally I would install an LED to keep the power draw to a minimum, but I don't know how to build a blinking circuit. Does anyone know how this can be accomplished?

Any other ideas to give this orphaned light a new purpose in life?

Thanks,
Paul
Paul Noeth

If you were to connect it to your electrical fan circuit then around 50 to 60 MPH the lamp would illuminate as the wind turned the fan and became a generator.
Bob Turbo Midget England

You beat me to that one Bob... lol

Mark
M T Boldry

Although you could fit a diode in the feed to the fan, downstream of where the warning light is connected.
Dave O'Neill 2

Oil press warining light? Fit a 20 lb-sq-in switch in the oil line...

A
Anthony Cutler

ebay do 12 volt flashing leds
Mick struggling with the wiring

Bob, Mark and Dave, good point on the diode. I had not considered that.

Anthony, as I understand it, on the early Midgets the light in the center of the dash was connected to the oil filter. This light came on when the oil filter element is dirty and needed to be changed. The light was not a low oil pressure warning, but if you are suggesting that a normally closed pressure switch be installed in the oil line, then it would serve as a low oil-pressure (idiot) light, which is a heck of a lot more valuable than the original function. That's a great idea. It is so easy to ignore the oil pressure gauge when you are having fun.

Now I would also assume that I could turn the dash lamp into an low oil-pressure idiot light when the engine is running and flip a switch to make it blink when parked. That is providing I can find a circuit for the blinking function. I would assume there is an IC chip available that would perform that function, but I don't know enough to figure it out.

Whether I do the blinker or not, the idiot light is useful and that seems like a really good use for the orphaned indicator light.

Paul



Paul Noeth

Mick,

I'll take a look. Thanks.
Paul Noeth

A light to tell you your lights are on? oil light is better. Ask Prop or prehaps Gryf :p
Rob Armstrong

Rob,

That would probably result in an altitude warning light! LOL

David
David Wigley (MK2 Sprite)

I did find 12V flashing LEDs on Ebay. (Who knew?) I am going to try and find a pressure switch and turn the oil-filter warning light into a oil-pressure warning light. That makes the orphaned light useful once again.

If it is bright enough to be seen, I will probably put in a hidden switch to turn it on when parked as a security warning light to discourage kids from thinking about a joy ride. (I will use other secruity measures as well to discourage those more determined from driving away with it.)

Thanks for all of the input. The idiot light is a great idea.

Paul
Paul Noeth

Back-in-the-day the 4 speed muscle cars from Chrysler had a reverse light option. Simple tie into the backup lights.
Kelvin Hawkins

This thread was discussed between 14/02/2011 and 17/02/2011

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