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MG MGB Technical - Oil leak

Just went to sort some stuff in the garage and noticed a couple of spots of oil under the engine of my 73 BGT. Without having time to properly inspect what are the likely problems causes? I wiped it away from the underneath and more drips have formed.

I will have more of a chance to inspect tomorrow but was hoping people might be able to give me a few ideas so I can have a look in certain places instead or spending ages trying to find the fault.

Thanks in advance.
Ricey
MD Rice

Ricey,

You are going to have to be more specific about where you found the oil and where you were wiping. Otherwise we can only give a vague answer like it is a seal or a gasket leaking.

Charley
C R Huff

if its oil, it could be -
. engine oil
. g/box o/d oil
. diff oil
. light oil from lubricating service items
. unlikely - dash pot oil

look at the colour and smell of the oil, where it lands on the floor in relation to the car, but allow for run trails

possible causes - leaks, overfilling, runs from lubricating, it's not unknown to have the odd spot of oil drop to the floor from these cars
Nigel Atkins

It is literally directly underneath the centre of the engine, from a brief inspection it looked like engine oil.
MD Rice

Center front to rear, or center side to side, or both? If you mean center of the bottom of the oil pan, it could have run down there from anywhere above. You may have to clean it up and then run it while watching. If it is a slow leak, puffing some talcum powder on it after cleaning may help you locate it because you can see where the powder starts getting saturated.

Charley
C R Huff

It's from the centre of the bottom of the oil pan I had to wipe the oil drips off. Sorry it's vague just thought you guys would be able to have an idea it's obviously a wide possibility of things. I will give it a full inspection tomorrow.
MD Rice

"couple of spots of oil" -you're lucky! But unless you clean it all off oil gets everywhere. It may congregate at the bottom of the engine but may well have come from the top
Michael Beswick

Ricey,

The side covers behind the manifolds is a common place to leak, as is the valve cover and rear main. But, the rear main would be leaking between the engine and trans, so maybe you escaped that one. Then there is the oil pan gasket itself for a possiblility.

Charley
C R Huff

They used to say that if an MG didn't drop oil it was because there was none in it.....
Mike Howlett

My favorite is that my car does not leak oil> It just marks its territory.
Bruce Cunha

Funny thing is, it's been in the garage for 9 months now and as soon as we are moving it decides to do that. Maybe you are right and it's marking it's territory.
MD Rice

If it's not been used for 9 months,several things-seals etc- could have taken on a bit of a "set". I'd use it and see if it gets worse or better before pulling things apart.
Michael Beswick

It's currently off the road and hasn't properly been on the road for 4 years now. I'm going to the Falklands for 6 months in May. It was meant to be ready for May time but I have been deployed so has put it back six months. Hopefully on my r&r half way through I can come back and finish it.

I bought it 9 months ago and it had been sat in a museum for 3 years, I've ironed out most of the problems, just left with sorting the throttle cable (see other thread), fuel gauge and brake servo. I hope to replace the servo before I go, but it's £240 for a reconditioned one :(
MD Rice

you wont have ironed out most of the wrinkles until you drive the car regularly on reasonable distance journeys let alone get it fully reliable

each period of static non-use will set things back a little each time giving a cycle of reintroducing some of the wrinkles that will need re-ironing out with actual use

many items deteriorate with age and lack of use

if you'd have put in your original post that the car had been in the garage unmoved for 9 months then I think you'd have got different replies

I think that you don't yet understand what and how much is involved, especially in road use, in recommissioning a static display car but you will find out for yourself

you won't know how good your car could or should be unless you're able to compare it with another example that's in good mechanical condition and used at least fairly regularly

your optimistic enthusiasm is good but sorry it does also need tempering with a dose of realism, a car that is drivable isn't the same as a car running at its full potential, too many classic owners have their cars running at well below how well they should run

don't join them by settling for mediocre running of your BGT, the better the car runs the more fun it'll be
Nigel Atkins

You don't need a servo! And it saves £240....
Michael Beswick

If this is leaky without running, It's not beyond the bounds that the sump pan is either corroded through or perforated. The other common place is the bottom of the oil filter housing centre bolt.
Allan Reeling

Centre of the bottom of the oil pan is not very specific. Clean it off, run the engine and tell us what is on each side of engine logitudinal centre line directectly above the centre of the oil patch.
Mike Ellsmore

"Clean it off, run the engine"

I'm told puffing talc onto the area is a good way of revealing where oil - clean at least - is running from.
Paul Hunt

Charley's already put about the talc trick but better twice than not at all
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 24/03/2014 and 27/03/2014

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