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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - 1500 sump gasket

I had the rear oil seal fixed before Christmas and all my leaky issues disappeared for a time :-)

Of course I drove faster and harder!

And more leaks appeared like from the rocker box cover - new gasket fixed it. The breather pipes - new hose clips fixed it. The oil filter - tightening fixed it. And ....... the sump gasket! Now I am not averse to crawling under the car again to put on the 4th sump gasket in two years but it would be nice if I could have some sort of up rated gasket to put on or a technique that guarantees success. My head gasket is Payen and lovely compared to a standard gasket so any suggestions?

Or is it a matter of crawling under and just making sure its on right again?

Car does 70 lovely but loses oil so I can only go about 50 miles before needing to top up oil. At 55 to 60 it will go 150 miles. at 40 to 50 it does not need topping.

And the car likes to go 60 to 70 ;-)

Thanks in advance, Dave
Dave Squire

are you leaking at the front end under the crank pulley are the back .because the triumph engine has a problem with the front sealing block part 151134 they warp i have just ordered a steel one hopfully can seal mine.
mark 1500 on the road Preston Lancs

Are you sure your crankcase isn't preasurising? That could explain the loss of oil varying with higher road speeds.

Rob
Rob aka MG Moneypit

Hi Mark. Yes I know so took extra care and all was well until recently. I also have some spares as replacements. I since found out about the steel ones and like you I plan to use them if I have to do it all again. Last I looked they were at Rimmers. Is that where you got yours from?

I don't know Rob. I agree with your reasoning. The engine stood for about 10 years until two and a half years ago when I started to use it and fix it as I went along. (new big end shells, mains, thrust bearings, tensioner, rear engine seal) and of course several sump gaskets, bits of wood etc. as I looked and worked out what to do between using it.

I know I don't have good pressure on #2 so have always thought that I probably have a lot of blow by. (I don't have a lot of smoke). However the car goes well (my difficult jobs mechanic says he is surprised how well it goes as well) and sounds OK so I am not sure about excessive crank pressure / any loss of oil or power due to this. I admit its a possibility but don't know how to go about testing the theory.

I suppose I should jack the car up, get under the car, and clean it down so I can clearly look again in a few days!

Dave Squire

Dave,

Since most pan gaskets are pretty thick, and yours is pretty new, it may be that it has settled and just needs to be tightened. Worth a try anyway.

Charley
C R Huff

Thanks Charlie; its the obvious I am not good at.

Clean down and re-torque next. Might as well do it while under there.

Cheers, Dave
Dave Squire

Hi dave got mine from TSCC shop arrived today engine out tonight gaskets on way so hopefuly do it this weekend.
mark 1500 on the road Preston Lancs

this could be the reason for leak piece bent and no front sealing gaskets on the ends of the block and metric screws in helicoils .

mark 1500 on the road Preston Lancs

This thread was discussed between 15/06/2015 and 17/06/2015

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