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MG MG Y Type - Oil Filter leak

Total rebuild and find the horizontal oil filter is leaking, having replaced with 3 new new rubber seals from Mos they still leak - and I havent even drove it yet! Is there a way to put this together or am I missing somethng, tight or loose it leaks. Any ideas - can share what I've done so far ... Chris
Chris Blood

Chris..
Pull off the filter and with a sharp pick remove all traces of the old "o" ring you will certainly find in the groove. You will not be the first by a long shot to have done this. I think that the groove was designed to fool most of the people at least some of the time.
Sandy
Sandy Sanders

Oh yes - how right you are Sandy!!

Paul
Paul Barrow

Been there, did that; last week.

It's amazing how much that horizontal filter can leak. I did remove all traces of old rubber from the groove (the PO managed to fit two rings!) and smoothed the sealing area of the steel outer housing. But I failed to fit the new rubber ring correctly the first time; it folded badly resulting in a geiser-like leak.
The second time I carefully inserted the well lubricated ring in the groove with a Chinese chopstick (yes, I had one in the toolbox...) using a mirror to check if the ring was in the groove. Now it is not leaking.

With my filter element came three rings,
1. thin and low,
2. thin and high,
3. thick and high.
From the (TD/TF) archives I understood that the 2nd (thin and high) was the one to use, so I did.

I also heard (f.i. from Michael Nicholson) that some mechanics say that the filter bolt should be tightened "hand-tight". If I'm honest I didn't dare to fit it that loose so I used a spanner for the last bit.
Willem van der Veer

I have had this problem too..as said you have to remove the old seal and fit the new one - make sure it is the correct one.Then tighten but not over tighten the bolt. I believe you can convert the filter to a modern type - using a screw on adaptor. Anyone fittede one of these as it sounds a good solution and makes replacing the oil filter much easier.
David Mullen

Following David Mullens comment, I think that I have unwittingly misled anyone resding Willems comment on hand-tight being sufficient.
I assume that the standard oil filter has a bolt through it to tighten, while mine has a modern type which screws direct on to the housing and hangs down between the sump and the chassis (very inaccessible)
Michael Nicholson

Hi Chris
Agree with most of the foregoing, esp the bit about checking for a bit of the old ring in the groove. I guess we all learnt from experience! I find a dentist's curved 'pick' is the best tool for the job.
I learned earlier this year, on the Wings Run in fact, the problem of over-tightening. Having stupidly hit a kerb I checked & found wheels, tyres, exhaust etc OK, so proceeded towards Bletchley only discover a bit further on I had lost most of my engine oil. On strip-down I found that the jolt had split the ring! I subsequently fitted the adaptor which permits use of a modern screw-on/ throw-away filter. I purchased this from Flexolite in June for £32 + VAT, P&P.
If, however, you want to continue with the original YB filter, I would recommend the fattest of the rings supplied, then hand-tighten + a spanner turn.
David
David Hague

In the past I have changed these filters for friends, as an identicle one is fitted to the Wolseley 4/44, and many BMC 'B' series engines. A common fault was reassembling the filter, big washer and spring incorrectly. The filter 'lifts' off its seating when blocked, being forced against that spring, acting as a safety device to ensure oil still flows. Many people seem to eith omit the spring, or the washer, defeating the object. This also means the oil can go round the end of the element, unfiltered. So the correct assembly is as per the manual, spring into the bowl first, then the big washer, then the element. The filter element will end up sticking out of the bowl by an inch or so. If you have to 'compress' the element to fit it, you have got it right!

Neil.
Neil Cairns

<<I would recommend the fattest of the rings supplied>>
David,
As said my filter came with three rings, the fattest/thickest was too large for the groove in the housing. Do we agree that it is important to fit the largest rubber that fits INTO the groove?
Willem van der Veer

GOT A FILTER FROM ABINGDON SPARES WHICH HAD ONE RING-IT LEAKED.
GOT A WIX #51300 WHICH HAD THREE RINGS AND USED THE MIDDLE SIZED ONE-NO LEAKS.
PUT SILICONE O-RING LUBE ON RING TO HOLD IT IN PLACE AND PROTECT AGAINST HEAT AND OIL, HAND TIGHTEN CANNISTER AND BOLT, TURNING BOTH TO ENSURE EVEN SEATING ALL AROUND AND THEN SNUG UP THE BOLT.
Scott Barrow

This thread was discussed between 20/09/2007 and 21/09/2007

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