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MG MGB Technical - Lubricating cylinders when turning over engine

How much oil should I put down each bore when I turn over the engine of my garage find? I've turned it a little on the crank nut just to determine if it's seized (it's not) but don't want to risk turning any more unless there's some lubrication there.
Steve Church

Steve-
A tablespoon of oil should do the job. Give it a little time to ooze around the piston rings.
Stephen Strange

Steve.. That's correct a tablespoonful in each cylinder will do the trick.
Sandy
SANDY SANDERS

To make this task easier, go to your local farm supply and purchase a 60cc syringe in the vet med section.

A tablespoon is equivalent to 15cc.

Draw up the oil...squirt it into the cylinder bore.
Rick Ingram

I have syringes. I use them for refilling my printer cartridges. I'll liberate one for this task.
Steve Church

As much as you like. Spin it on the starter to blow out excess before cranking with plugs in or you could get too much compression pressure.
PaulH Solihull

I use a canister oil pump dispenser for this. I give each cylinder
2-3 shots of the trigger. Although I've never actually measured
the quantity of oil that I use I think that it works out to about 2
tablespoons.

Then I let it sit for a few hours (or overnight).

Before cranking (no spark plugs installed) be certain to drape
a towel on the sparkplug side of the engine. Use spring-type
A-clamps to secure the towel. It'll help catch any oil spray
from getting all over you, the engine, and fenders.
Daniel Wong

Since they have dished pistons, I would put in more than a tablespoon. I think it is something like 11 cc dish for low comp and 5 or 6 for high comp. I often use something in a spray can too so that it can mist the walls.

I would also remove the valve cover and pour oil over the rocker assy and pour it down the push rod holes. Then I would turn it by hand before I turned it with the starter.

Charley
C R Huff

I have just bought a 1974 V8 that has been stood since 1986 and was last started 3/4 years ago.I was intending to oil the bores befor starting but as the engine is in a v configaration the oil will only sit at the bottom any sugestions as to the best way to oil up.
a goldup

If the engine has stood a long while then a squirt of diesel left for a couple of days will help free any stuck rings but otherwise I really would not bother with oiling the bores - if the engine turns then just fire it up.

Chris at Octarine Services

This thread was discussed between 05/08/2010 and 14/08/2010

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