• Hi Guest!
    If you appreciate British Car Forum and our 25 years of supporting British car enthusiasts with technical and anicdotal information, collected from our thousands of great members, please support us with a low-cost subscription. You can become a supporting member for less than the dues of most car clubs.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

Mystery leak

Share this page

C

clyderedmond

Senior Member
Offline
Every time I take my '78 MGB out for a spin I come home to find a small stain on my left trouser leg about 4 inches up from the cuff. It is oily but fairly clear in colour and I have gotten under the dash to spot the origin - but can't locate anything. Interestingly this only happens when the vehical is moving, as there is never any liquid on the rubber mat when the car is sitting....Any ideas?
Thanks,
-Mike
 
What kind of oil pressure gauge do you have? Mechanical or electrical?
Have you checked the clutch and brake master levels?
 
Kimberly,
As you can see this car is a learning experience for me. Although I have owned and driven MG's in the past each day brings a new - shall we say challenge. The oil pressure guage runs at just a hair under 75 once she's warmed up and running. I checked the brake fluid a week or so back, but will have alook at that and the clutch levels this weekend.
Thanks.
 
My WAG is the clutch master. If you can remove the "scupper" pedal box cover and access the rubber boot at the pushrod to pull it back you'll likely find it full of fluid. As Steve says, it can be rebuilt for the price of a kit and some time for inspection and a light honeing.
 
Usually whichever pedal, clutch or brake has fluid on it running down it is a great indicator. I rebuilt my brake master as the first thing to do with a new old car and it was a piece of cake. A piece of shop weight paper towel under the assembly when finished served as my canary in the coal mine. If there were no stains there, then I was good and could be sure there were no small "undetectable" leaks either.
 
clyderedmond said:
Kimberly,
As you can see this car is a learning experience for me. Although I have owned and driven MG's in the past each day brings a new - shall we say challenge. The oil pressure guage runs at just a hair under 75 once she's warmed up and running. I checked the brake fluid a week or so back, but will have alook at that and the clutch levels this weekend.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

I meant do you have a mechanical or electrical oil pressure gauge?
 
"'78 MGB"


I doubt it's a "hard" gauge.


...just a wild stab.
 
Mystrery solved and we have a winner......Dr.E for his guess at the clutch master. We'll be off to the garage next week.

Oh, the oil pressure guage is electrical.

Thanks,
Mike
 
Look into having the slave cylinder replaced at the same time. A fresh master on an older slave usually rushes the demise of the slave. A failing slave won't leak on your foot, but will make gear changes more difficult.
 
Back
Top