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MGB MGB Oil Consumption

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Tom....guess I'm using the wrong terminology...I'm talking about the front side cover - but you're right: it points up...Magnette points down (guess I need to focus on 1 model MG!)
 
I know you didn't notice it but I have a Magnett tappet cover on the GT. I also used an A heater pipe to keep the top of the engine unclutered.
 
"I don't know what Tony's smoking!!"
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Probably nothing!! Just was good for a laugh!! That is funny Tom!! Oh!! I tried the 'quote' thing and couldn't get just that!! How do you do it????
 
Tom...tell me about the A hearter piece - how'd you put it together?
 
Is that the same pipe as on an early 'B?? On the later oned it bolted to the valve cover nuts, but on the Mk 1, I believe it was bolted to the manifold nuts. That is what I have anyway!!
 
Well here is my update and it isn't good. I reinstalled my old valve cover and hooked up the vent to the canister like it was. I'm still loosing oil at the same rate. I was going to change the oil with 20/50 tomorrow and see if it helps (I think they put in 10/40 on my last oil change - I know better now). Planning to completely clean the lower part of my engine this weekend and trace any leaks.

Thanks for all the help guys. Not sure why all of a sudden this oil consumption started, but I guess I have to deal with it now.
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No I haven't Bugeye. But, I do have a leak which has been there for as long as I've owned the car. Never really amounted to any oil loss though. It would stay full until the summer ended (I was always so proud of that!) Just not sure where exactly the leak is coming from. So that's next on my list. Or it was until...

But veiwing the other thread about John Moores rod bearings, I may have to take out the engine anyway. Maybe it's time to just rebuild the "gosh darn" thing! (there I cleaned up my language)
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[ 08-29-2003: Message edited by: Jonnyc ]</p>
 
You have an external leak. I said this before but it bares repeating. If you were burning it you would see it on the plugs. Just gunk the engine down real good and clean it up. Be sure to clean around the tappet (not Valve cover) real good. They are under your exhaust manifold. After you drive it then dust it with baby powder. If you have one of those garden dusters they work real good. After dusting blow the engine off with air. Not high pressure air. Something like the blower on a vacuumn cleaner. Where the oil is the powder will stick.
 
Thanks Tom for the advice. Heres what I did today.

Oil change: I went back to the service station that changed my oil last time, to get it changed again. They tried to put in 5/30 oil in my car! I never checked what they put in last time, but I assume the same. Since my oil loss issues started, I've been well educated on what to use and what NOT to use. 5/30 is waaayyyy to light for this car, so I insisted on 20/50. They had to pick it up at the local automotive store because they didn't have any (weren't too happy about that). Question: 5/30 is too light for any car, right? That light of oil would make any older car burn more, and leak more... correct??? The only time 5/30 should be used is during our extremely cold Minnesota Winters, but even then I would use 10/40. I can't see any reason to use 5/30 in the summer months.

While they had it on their hoist, I asked if I could spray gunk all over the underside of the engine, etc. They were nice enough to let me. Let me tell you, this car was caked with oil all over! Next I went to a self service car wash. Put up the car on jack stands and sprayed it clean. I never knew my transmission would look so good! It looks brand new!! The rest of the car came out fairly clean, but I just couldn't get it all off. But, my engine was already pretty clean up top because of some recent cleaning and painting. The back of the engine was dirty, and the lower right side seemed extra oily.

Drove the car for a bit. Popped the hood and checked for any leaks. Under the car still looked very clean. Up top still looked clean as well. Ran my hand over some suspect areas and this is what i've found so far. The oil pressure sending unit has a flex line going to the block. This was soaking up some oil like a wick - and when I ran my hand across it, it dripped oil. Same thing happened to one of the Oil cooler hoses going to the block. So, it appears one of these is dripping on the other, or they are both bad probably at the swivel points. Anyway, I'm going to change these hoses to see if that's where the majority of the oil leak is coming from. But, it's a 30 year old car so more than one leak is certainly possible!

Again, I'll keep the board posted. If anyone can learn from my experiences, I want to help as much as I can.
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[ 08-30-2003: Message edited by: Jonnyc ]

[ 08-30-2003: Message edited by: Jonnyc ]</p>
 
JonnyC: Replace that flex line ASAP! This is a common problem with original hoses, which, after 30+ years, are beyond their useful life span. Mine used to leak like a sieve from this hose too. Worst case, the hose will split and spew oil all over the engine compartment. Hopefully you would notice the drop in oil pressure before disaster struck.
On my 69 also had leaks around the dried out valve cover gasket, the rubber grommets on the top of the valve cover, and even from the electrical sending unit itself. Currently my "only" active leak is the front timing cover, which I will get to next time I have the radiator out.
As far as 5W/30 oil goes, most new cars use this weight.
I would get in the habit of doing your own oil changes, along with a lubrication of all grease points. I have found a good local "Kwik-change" outfit that I use for my every day late model cars, but nobody touches the MG except myself.
 
Thanks Andy,

I actually tightened the flex hose at the sending unit. Drove it for a little over 50 miles, and it's dry! I probably broke the seal from moving it out of the way earlier this year when I was doing some painting. I didn't disconnect it when I painted, but I did unbolt the bracket to move it out of the way - must have broke the seal at that time - or made a little leak worse. I will still replace the flex line when I get a chance to order a new one.

Over the next 200 miles should tell me if this was the culprit of the oil consumption or not. But so far everything is dry and I'm feeling pretty good!
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One more thing I want to add. I was having a low knock for a few seconds when I started the engine in the morning cold. This concerned me after reading another thread where people claimed it was rod bearings probably going out. But now that I've changed to 20/50 oil, that noise is gone! And, my engine is quieter too - less tappet or rocker noise. Seems smoother as well. I've heard that light oil in these cars causes a lot of problems, and now I know it's very true.
 
Sorry I came in this very extensive discussion very late in the game. Nevertheless, I would like to offer an approach to your problem. A quart every 200 miles is a lot of oil. Oil can get out of the crankcase in only two ways. The engine can consume it in the combustion chamber and this usually causes tell tale smoke in the exhaust gasses. The second way is to leak out anywhere that it can and this is may be a result of internal crankcase pressure, or just bad oil gaskets and seals. I recommed that you get gunk and clean up your motor external surfaces with it using a relatively high water pressure. Get all of the dirt and oil off of the engine external surfaces so that you can determine if oil is coming out of the motor in any of the suspect places. I also use an ultraviolet dye and a black light to check for the new oil leaks but since an MGB only has motor oil in the engine and no power steering or other sources of other lubrication, the ultraviolet is not a requirement. (One can distinguish oil from antifreeze) If you detect oil leakage go after the leaks to include any crankcase pressure issues, and put the problem behind you. If no leakage is apparent, then you had beter evaluate the engine condition by cylinder compression and oil pressure. You are probably burning the oil. In my own personal experience, when I get a sudden and unexpected increase in oil consumption, it is usually a leak. Hope this helps and best regards. Jack Farrington
 
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