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MG MGA - Infrequent Starting In Winter

I always run my car throughout the winter at least once a week just to keep things turning over etc.

However, what with the Christmas break and social calendar, it was 3 weeks when I went to start her up yesterday and of course she did not want to start despite plenty of oomph in the battery and a pre-engaged starter system. No sign of a kick in the ignition. It's been a bit up and down on temperature recently so I guessed dampness was not helping the system.

Without mucking about I thought I would try something new for me. I removed all 4 plugs and gave them each a blast with my blow torch til the tips just showed red. Screwed them back in and she fired up on first pull.

One question. Plugs run hot anyway, but would I have done any metallurgic harm to the plug tips by heating them to almost red? I was surprised how quickly they went red, just a few seconds.

Steve
Steve Gyles

No harm to the plugs. All is well. Still running summer fuel? How old is the fuel? This sounds like a case of decent spark but no fire. Did you pull the choke? When a car sits overnight, and it's 60dF in the morning, it should want choke to start.
barneymg

Barney

Thanks. Fuel is within the last 6 weeks. I only run one grade of fuel - 98 octane. I am not sure they differentiate between summer and winter fuel over here? No probs with starting normally. I think just a one off. Been a bit damp of late with temp fluctuating between -5c to +9c. It was 90% humidity in the garage yesterday according to my dehumidifier. I may need to adjust the choke since the recent carb rebuild of the jets and needles as I am not totally convinced I am getting full choke at full pull. Might need a tweak. I will check it over when next in the garage.

Steve
Steve Gyles

My old Honda 750-4 used to be a pain to start, particularly as it was used infrequently. It would often foul the plugs and run on only two cylinders.

I also resorted to the blow lamp to heat the plugs.
Dave O'Neill 2

Ours was put away 7 weeks back - not started since - ran it over Portsdown hill to Fareham and back today (cold and Foggy) - started first pull - didn't falter on Shell 97 - say 20 miles. My garage tell me that some, not all, modern fuels jellify after a rather longer period and recommend an additive. The worst are the 95 octane sold by supermarkets. Draw your own conclusions.

Roger
Roger Walker

Out of curiosity, on the subject of starting in the in the sub-freezing temps of winter, is there a general consensus on whether we are doing more harm to our engines by starting them and running them just to "keep things moving" than if we just let them sit for the coldest month or two if we aren't driving them anyway due to snow. I am assuming that fuel stabilizer and other long term storage procedures are in place. Also assuming that maybe your storage is as cold as mine, dry but same as outside temps. I thought about this the other day when it finally got above freezing, barely, for a day and I got the MGA started after a few tries and ran it up to full operating temp thinking this might evaporate out the condensation inside the engine. But then I wondered if it did more damage than good to the cam, tappets, and other wear parts when the oil was cold and syrup-like? Any thoughts or am I just over-thinking this?
M Grover

Mine,for 30 years,has always been put away in unheated storage using a CarJacket- https://www.carbag.com/carjacket/

I drain the gas,remove the battery,fog the engine. Add a couple of DampRids and leave it at that. Lately I'm even 1500 miles away so I can't do anything about it anyway.It does as advertised. I also have 3 farm tractors and 2 V8 powered boats in the same pole barn. Boats get fogged and batteries and fuel removed,tractors are just parked. Never even had trouble with the gasohol in them either but I do use stabil.
gary starr

The worst You can do to Your car is start it and not run her to a proper temperature. This means driving at least half an hour.If You cannot do that,it is better to leave her in the cold.Engine not properly heated cannot get rid of the hermful condensations inside.
Your rings/pistons/bearings will not like it!
Dirk
Dirk Van Ussel

Steve

If it happens again might be an idea to try and start in dark and check for any arcing around cap, leads and plugs. After all if it is damp related it is not going to affect plug tips hidden away inside engine. Just an idea but one I saw many times in my old 70s high mileage days.

Paul
Paul Dean

I have spotted the problem. When I replaced the Jet and needle assemblies a few months ago I appear not to have put all the linkages back together correctly. The choke cam managed to rotate 180 degrees during the assembly. It cannot now physically rotate and becomes locked under the slow idle casting, restricting the amount of choke I can pull out. It's only come to light with the colder than normal weather.

Steve


Steve Gyles

Back in its correct position. As a result started fine this cold dank morning.

Steve


Steve Gyles

This thread was discussed between 11/01/2018 and 12/01/2018

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