MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - dashpot oil

Carb dashpot (suction chamber) oil

there are many different ideas of what to use, the first three are from the main sources and the ones below are what I’ve heard or read of

. Driver’s Handbook states clean engine oil

. John Twist recommends “90 weight gear oil” (hold on if you think that’s way too heavy, see chart below) – (at 1:55) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9QI3NlvwiY&feature=plcp

. SU Damper Oil (SAE 20)

before we get too hung up on these numbers, and there’s a chart later to illustrate, let me put that the numbers are not a straight comparison of each other, the engine oil and gear oil are from different scales and ranges, and ranges have cut off points so for example one particular SAE 30 may be close to being another SAE 40 in the same way a person in their 30s may not be that much younger than a person in their 40s as one could be 39 and the other 41 – or they could be much younger if they are 31 and the other person 49 and then there’s temperature differences, etc.

here’s a link to a chart to compare oil scales – http://www.teamrip.com/viscosity_chart.html

link about the ratings – http://www.upmpg.com/tech_articles/motoroil_viscosity/



Other oils suggested for use:

. ATF –
seems like it might be on the thinner side according to chart (see link above)

. 3-IN ONE –
there might be a bit of confusion here as some may be referring to the ‘3-IN-ONE Multi-Purpose Oil' which is a “SAE 17, quite a fine oil “(source WD40 company that own ‘3-in-ONE’ brand) others may be referring to the ‘3-in-ONE Motor Oil’ (blue label) which is equivalent to SAE 20

. sewing machine oil –
comes in various weights, a surprising range of weights

. suspension/fork oil –
a heavy 20 SAE(ISO 68) is detailed here, it may be the same as the ‘Penrite Damper Oil’ – http://www.penriteoil.com.au/pis_pdfs/1SHOCKER%20OILS%20OCT%202011.pdf

. mono grade engine oil –
30w seems to be the one that comes up the most

. WD40 –
only just heard of this, it is very thin compared to the others

Notes:
okay let's start with accepting I'm looking at using one damper oil for SU carbs in a reasonably standard engine road car used year round in the UK with reasonably standard carb springs and needles

if you want to or could be bothered you could vary the oil used depending on weather, season or use but if your car has been rolling road set for general use like mine you'll probably want to stick with what was in at that time, sure it's a (best set) compromise but that's carbs for you
Nigel Atkins

obviously the one hyperlink I forget to check before running out of edit time is the one that doesn't work

(if you wanted to) you'll need to cut and paste this link to get it to work - http://www.penriteoil.com.au/pis_pdfs/1SHOCKER%20OILS%20OCT%202011.pdf
Nigel Atkins

what was the question?
David Smith

I just stick in normal 3-IN-ONE Multi-Purpose Oil' in a sigle hif44
frogeye Gary

I put ATF in the V8 carbs, it ate it all in about a week.

Have used 20/50 engine oil in all other SUs and do now in the V8, seems to work well, better than the ATF
Rob Armstrong

I just do what it says in the handbook
Dave O'Neill2

Ouch!
Matt1275Bucks

In summer i run 20/50 motor oil in winter i use 5/30 motor oil

Ive always found in the winter the oil gets to thick and make the engine run to kean so i go with a thinner oil to get more action out of the pistons

Ive come to belive there is no reql right or wrong ansewer.. its what ever you think works best for your applcation and specs

Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Kean equals rich

Sorry about that

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

David,
the question of the question has been answered before, and the answer remains the same

Dave,
you have much wisdom
Nigel Atkins

43?
Alex G Matla

no, 42
Guy W

Sorry Prop, once again I was typing whilst you posted (twice)

(apart from the typing) you make a lot of sense and I agree like a lot of settings to the cars a lot relies on your belief and what suits your environment and use of the car

I hope you get back to normal service soon
Nigel Atkins

sorry Alex, as far as the Galaxy is concerned, Guy is right
Nigel Atkins

I've read about the (90W), but I have used 20W/50 in dashpots year round from new with no serious side effects here in the Mid-Atlantic.

Sorry Nigel; is anyone concerned with the proposed E-10 (UK), E-15 ethanol (USA) that could really harm our M.G.'s, and possibly harm our modern gasoline car/s. Here's a link to a recent article from USA Today to start it off.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/11/30/aaa-e15-gas-harm-cars/1735793/

Regards,

Larry C.
Larry C '69 Midget

Larry, There was a thread in November that discussed the Ethanol issue. I think it was called Ethanol.
P Ottewell

cheers, Pete

I've reposted in that thread for Larry

hats off to him
Nigel Atkins

what a complete waste of webspace
fit a Weber ;-)
David Smith

Webers are for those car wrecking racers
Nigel Atkins

Nigel,

Thank you for your kind assistance in re-directing my comment. I surely missed the earlier discussion.

David,

Apologies sir, for my error. I shall be very careful in the future not to muddy up the water here.

Regards,

Larry C.
Larry C '69 Midget

Nah.... Im thinking its got to be

41

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Thanks nigel,

Im hopin to get back to work on my cly head agian very shortly... Im trying to get a house im working done this weekend then ill have some extra time to get the head finished and back on the car ... Hopefully before christmas...luckly not to much left to do in it... Maybe a couple of hours...and its ready for the machine shop

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

If you are not sure which oil, you could try engine oil in the front carb and "3 in 1" in the other. Or is it the other way round? At least one will be correct.

I think Haynes, the Workshop Manual and...............
THE HANDBOOK......
suggest engine oil.
Graeme W

This thread was discussed between 06/12/2012 and 07/12/2012

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS now