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Where's the oil going?

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R

RETNJ

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Chrome bumper '74 MGB with Weber carb and all anti-pollution gear removed.
Dry compression is 150, 150, 145, 149. No visible smoke or oil smell from exhaust at any RPM. No oil deposited on white rag held behind exhaust. Usually a visible sheen of oil under the front crossmember, but not much. If the car sits for a few days there might be a 4" thin splatter of oil in the drip pan, but not always. Try as I might, I can't find the source, but it's something very low on the engine. I can't see any visible oil from the rocker cover on down. Yet I'm losing about a quart of oil after @ 400 miles.
Engine is running great. Any ideas?
 
A quart of oil in 400 miles might be due to loose intake valve guides, leaking oil filter seal when under pressure. How about the cooler hose connections? Something like this can drive you crazy until you find the culprit. Hopefully it's something simple. PJ
 
Mabey those pesky little side covers below the exhaust and intake manifolds.Tuff spot to get at but on a hoist or ramps an easy enough task to just reach up with a wrench and check to see that they are snug.It would probably drip onto the crossmember and mostly blow off as you drove :driving:,check the rear end for a fresh oil coating too.I don't know the torque numbers for the sidecovers but I don't think they are much as you just need to compress the rubber rings without deforming the covers, the front one is the one with the tube that comes up the front of the engine and goes to the carb's and the rear one is just a plate.Hopefully its just a simple turn of a wrench.

Keep us posted :cheers: Mark
 
I'll bet this is what I needed to know. Work schedule won't let me check this until Wednesday, but I'll let you know what I find.
 
Good suggestions.

Also, look at the timing chain cover. Mine ('69 MGB) always seems to be a bit wet (though I'm not using any real amount of oil).
 
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