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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - 1500 carburetter oil leak?

Engine tensioner and sump leak fixed 150 miles ago during last weekend. Since then a coating of oil has appeared on the bottom of #1 carburettor (on the outside of the jet) and there must be a slight drip that has oiled a 3" stretch of the steering column beneath it. This definitely was not there when I moved the rack to get the front pulley off for the tensioner change.

It didn't happen before I started to drive around consistently to the faster speed limits. (since fixing the tensioner and sump leaks). Previously I rarely went above 60mph and 4000 rpm as I lost too much oil. So more aggressive driving for 150 miles and now a carburettor fault? Or is it more likely to be something else?

Any ideas appreciated.
Dave Squire 1500

Dave,
oil usually coats the underside of the bonnet when being blow out (from the holes in cap) so this oil if it is from the carb dash pot needs investigating

basically as long as this is suction felt when you lift the damper rod you've got enough oil in there (at that time)

btw which is number 1 carb front or rear
Nigel Atkins

Yep Nigel, I have suction as I lift the damper and none on the underside of the bonnet.

This is the front carb.

The oil must be very little but it is of concern as I have never had any there and can't think of a simple explanation of where it has come from.
I have had petrol drip before when setting carbs up and getting all over the place but never oil.
Dave Squire 1500

are you sure the oil you've seen is the oil you put in your dashpots - if so something is quite amiss
Nigel Atkins

No, I don't see how it can be. Any leak from the dashpot should be ingested into the engine I would have thought.

I will have to take the carb apart and investigate at the weekend.
Dave Squire 1500

Does the oil smell like engine oil or like the oil you use in the dashpot(unless you use same oil in engine and dashpot)is it clean/dirty?
Very common on 1500s can be oil dripping from vent pipes to rocker cover, make sure the oil will drain back into the rocker cover, not the carbs.

Peter
Peter Burgess Tuning

Yes Peter, looks like the vent, just a slight dribble out of plain view. The pipe going to the front carb is lower than the back one so all oil in the pipes comes to the front. With any luck I can sort the slope of the pipes at the weekend for it to drain back into the cover as you say.

Thanks very much, Dave
Dave Squire 1500

This thread was discussed between 23/01/2014 and 24/01/2014

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