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 MGB Technical - Commonest sites for enginge oil leaks

I have a small oil leak from my engine.

The enging is "wet" across the sump pan and I get a few drips on the garage floor.

My next course of action will be to degrease the engine and try to find where the oil is coming from but as it is not a bad leak oil will creep around where it is leaking from t make it more difficult to find.

Where are the commonest areas for the engine to leak from?

Not sure of the age of the engine; it is a Gold Seal one fitted before I had the car and I know the PO never had it fitted.
AdrianS

The valve cover gasket, oil sump/pan gasket, timing cover gasket and seal and the front and rear cover gaskets on the side of the engine are I believe to be the most common. Also the rear main seal.
JCH Hibbard

"A few drips" sounds quite good, most 'mark their territory', so much so that organisers of some runs where cars park up on places like seaside parades ask owners to bring card or whatever to put underneath while parked. All the places that JCH mentions - at least. Clean off, puff with talc, and clean oil at least should show up better.
PaulH Solihull

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH_h44FQdXE
N Atkins

I have a feeling its coming from the front of the engine after looking at it today.
Will take the timing cover off and change the oil seal and gasket and hope the leak stops!
AdrianS

A pal always takes a rolled up thin rubber mat around with him. He unrolls it under the engine whenever he's parked on someone else's drive! That's thoughtful. An American friend reckons that if an MGB isn't leaking it hasn't got any oil in it. That's realistic.
Mike Howlett

If you replace the timing cover gasket and seal, upon reassembly, be sure to tighten down the timing cover bolts finger tight to allow the cover to move when you temporarily install the damper to centralize the seal around the damper. Then remove the damper, tighten down the timing cover bolts and reinstall the damper assembly. RAY
rjm RAY

Ah, Like the good old British motorcycles, if they don't leak they have no character, ( or no oil, you're right.)Mike
J.M. Doust

MGs are like puppies - they mark their territory. If it is a drip, don't worry about it. If it is a pool then follow the above advice.
This is all part of the BMC "underbody rust preventative system".

David
David Overington

This thread was discussed between 30/05/2011 and 31/05/2011

MG MGB Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGB Technical BBS now