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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - 1500 Oil Filter Adapter

Has anyone tried fitting a 90 degree oil filter adapter to try to overcome lack of initial oil pressure? Any advice gratefully received.
Tony Wood

I am not sure if there is a 90degree adaptor that would allow the oil filter to hang vertically on a 1500, the space might be a bit limited for one thing, but I would be interested if there was one!

Many years ago when I put an oil cooler in my 1500, I plumbed in a remote oil filter, with the filter hanging downwards mounted on the inner wing but there was still a delay in pressure build up after not running for a day or two. Probably due to drain back from the oil pipe.

Over the years I have tried many things to prevent the slow initial pressure build up, none of these filters with supposed non return valves seem to work.
Spinning the engine over for a few seconds with no choke, or a remote ignition cut off switch, allows the pressure to build up before the engine starts, but makes the starter and battery work hard.

If you do find a solution, please let us know!
JB Anderson

Yes, if you find a solution I would also be interested.

I hate those agonising few seconds of zero pressure when you can hear the engine rumbling and clattering away with no oil, slowly destroying itself.

Cheers,
Malcolm
Malcolm Le Chevalier

I crank the engine for 5 seconds with the choke in so it won't fire and then pull it out and start it, no clonks
Cheers
Rod
R W Bowers

Thanks Guys

I too crank like mad to get some pressure before actually starting - as I haven't yet found a proper solution - other than doing away with the pressure gauge!
Many thanks for your thoughts
Tony Wood

"other than doing away with the pressure gauge"

Tony, that's exactly what BL did with the later 1500s
Dave O'Neill 2

Its the dry bearing rattle that I hate, I only look at the gauge once its started.
Still its been doing that for 20 odd years so I should just accept it!
JB Anderson

I wonder if its worth having a chat with these people? They already supply remote filter adapters for some classics, and oil cooler adapters for the 1300/1500 engine, so maybe they could build a remote filter adapter that enables you to house the filter vertically - or an adapter that includes a valve?

http://www.mocal.co.uk/products.html#remotefilterheads

Jim
J Smith

maybe your using filters that don't have anti drain back valves, explore the possibility of using a different filter that has this. From memory I don't think I'm using the specified filter, just one that is of decent size and quality that fits my oil cooler adaptor. FWIW I still get clunking so use the 5 second crank technique.
Cheers
Rod
R W Bowers

As I said earlier I did try a remote filter mounted on the left inner wing but the oil still drained back from the extra pipework.
I have also tried every filter listed with a non drain back valve and even fitted an adaptor to allow me to use a non drain back filter with a different mounting thread, but the oil still drained back over night.

As said by others, one solution is to give the engine a few seconds of non starting rotation before letting it start, either by not operating the choke immediately, or by having a remote ignition cut off switch.
JB Anderson

I suppose in the end the only solution is to have a modified oil pump where the pump mechanism is below the oil level in the sump!
Not impossible - an ali spacer of the appropiate thickness together with an extension for the drive shaft and a modified filter pickup.
If I had a proper workshop I might even have a go!
Tony Wood

This thread was discussed between 02/08/2016 and 06/08/2016

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