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MG MGB Technical - Service interval for low mileage B

My 1981 B has done 41k miles. I did a 6000 mile service a year ago, and since then it has done only 100 miles. I'm giving it a service this weekend, and the dipstick shows that the engine oil is clean. Is it worth changing the oil and filter this time?
Brian Shaw

For the price, and since you are asking for advice, yes. (I wouldn't, but I still have my original engine awaiting a rebuild in the garage).
12 months worth of deadly combustion acid byproduct and dampness are in that oil. It is normally recommended to change the oil when you wake it up after the long winter sleep.
Martin Layton

It probably won't make a difference to not do it once. 100 miles really isn't enough for oil to build up a lot of combustion byproduct. Unless the car was kept outside, there's probably not a lot of condensation either.

However, longevity stems from good habits and as Martin says, it's a cheap thing to do. So don't cut corners. If you're fortunate enough to have a 26 year old car with such few miles, you might as well give it the best treatment.

In fact, I'd probably suggest driving it a bit more regularly to avoid seals drying out etc.
Philip

Brian,I wouldn't change the oil and I certainly wouldn't bother with the filter.I really don't think a full service is necessary either.Check the brakes and spend the time you save taking the car for a run,I honestly think you'd be doing more good.
Regards Peter
Peter Jones

Drive it!!!!!
I have put 160,000 miles on my B in 13 years still have the same engine ,clutch etc.You do more harm to the car letting it sit and all thge seals dry up. You are missing out on what a MG is all about you must have a lot of twisty roads around go out and have fun!!
Pat
patrick bailey

Manufacturers service intervals, I submit, are based on spreading the mileage quoted fairly evenly over the period quoted week by week. Therefore for the MGB it is 6000 miles or 6 months, which means even if you do less than 1000 miles per month it should be changed twice-yearly, as for an every-day car that could represent only a handful of miles each day to work or the local shops and back, i.e. the engine isn't getting fully up to temperature to evaporate condensation out of the oil.

However if a classic is used infrequently, but when it *is* used generally does anything from 40 miles on a Sunday morning or 400 miles over the course of 2 or 3 days as mine does, then I'm quite happy stretching the interval to 12 months even though the annual mileage may only be 2k or 3k. The other benefit of an annual service is that you do it at the same time each year and so are less likely to forget whether you did it last year, the year before that, etc. In any event an annual oil and filter change is hardly onerous, and if that 100 miles consists of a number of very short journeys or running time then it is probably advisable.
Paul Hunt 2

Hiya

If you are laying your B up for the winter, change the oil and filter, get the oil pressure up with the plugs out, maybe oil the bores...then leave well alone and don't start it until you are ready to drive it on the road again and get it fully warm...acid build up and ensuing damage is amazing on engines only used in the garage!

Peter
peter burgess

Pauls analysis is pretty accurate and I follow a very similar regime for my 3000 miles or so per year usually racked up 100 to 200 at a time.
I change the oil once per year and the filter every other year, this is based on the filter actually improving with mileage (it's documented). There is a similar effect with oil, it starts out basic then goes acid (via neutral )with combustion by-products so changing it too soon means you are spending money to get more corrosion. You do not harm the environment a lot by changing oil too often, if you take it to a re-cycling point it is cleaned the base stock recovered additives put in and it's re-used, just avoid making a special journey with every 5 litres.
Stan Best

This thread was discussed between 16/08/2007 and 17/08/2007

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