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MG MGB Technical - Oil capacity without oil cooler

Help...new mgb roadster owner. How many litres of oil when no oil cooler at oil/filter change?
JRB Moss

Workshop manual states engine sump 4.26litres, oil cooler.42litres fill to about 3.75litres and adjust level using dip stick. Jim
jim soutar

JRB-
It depends on which engine you have in your car. If you look on the distributor side of the engine you'll see an aluminum identification plate that is riveted to the block just below the cylinder head. What is the engine number? If the identification plate is missing, then what year is your car?
Stephen Strange

Hi Jim and JRB, thanks for replying...drained the oil last night - just over 2.5 litres!!!But the dipstick showed max oil level. Only had the car since June. Ivor Searle recon engine from March 08. Think it is an 18V. Late 1977, 1800cc, weber conversion, no oil cooler fitted. Lets hope no serios damage due to lack of oil.
JRB Moss

The later emgines have a smaller oilpan, hence the lowered oil capacity. RAY
rjm RAY

Hi all, thanks for all commnets and advice. After a visit to my local MG expert (local business supplying everything for MG) found out dipstick is wrong for engine - the early model with kink. Should be the straight version - now 4.5 litres put in - sounds fine!!! at the moment.
JRB Moss

The puzzle continues - according to diagrams at 'anglo parts mg' from 1976 the oil capacity for both sump and filter was/is 3.75 litres down from 4.5 litres pre this date. Any suggestions ? Moss

Moss

According to http://www.sterlingbritishmotoringsociety.org/files/mgbtunings.PDF

"It is possible to install the larger capacity 12H3541 oil sump of the 18GA through 18GK engines onto a 18V engine to take advantage of its 50% larger oil capacity (9 pints Vs 6 pints)." The 18V starting from August 71.

The Parts Catalogues show the same sump for all 5-bearing engines i.e. 18GB etc. and 18V - 12H3541.

Some suppliers also show just this one sump, but Moss shows two - 12H1976 '64-74' and 12H3541 'from 74' (both NLA).

So we have at least five different opinions on whether the sump changed at all, and if so when. But given the price differential on that Anglo site the second one looks its going to be an alloy after-market rather than the original pressed steel.
PaulH Solihull

Thanks for the info PaulH...now something far more and very immediate has just occured - just been out for a long spin, engine nice and warm - checked the oil (first time since oil change last week) and...white creamy stuff coming out of the rocker cover cap, and sludge on the inside of same cap. What is this - Any ideas?
Moss
Moss

Since found out that perhaps the cause of this white creamy mixture is either condensation and thereby water in the oil caused by cooling down as the car is not driven very much and never gets really warm or a blown head gasket. Have checked the oil and appears to be no signs of moisture on the dipstick - still nice and new (should be as only changed last week!). The disadvantages if living in Scandinavia - damp autumn og cold wet winters...Any comments experience with the creamy stuff?
Moss


Moss

Shouldn't really happen with MGBs after Feb 64 as they had positive crankcase ventilation. Infrequent driving isn't a problem, but frequent short journeys where it never gets fully up to temperature can be, but again should only be in temperatures equivalent to a UK winter. This did happen on other BL vehicles where there was a long metal pipe coming up from the crankcase, which never got hot enough in cooler weather to vapourise the condensation, but that doesn't apply to the MGB. My solution? Take it out and drive it some more! And keep an eye on the coolant level.
PaulH Solihull

Will do - car has not driven very much at all this year. Needs a good run. Thanks for the advice.
Moss

Oil pressure at 70 psi at 3000 revs, 60 mph in 4th gear. 50 psi at idle with engine warmed up. Is this normal/ok/ acceptable?
Any comments appreciated...
/Moss
Moss

Very acceptable.

Workshop Manual states 50-80 running and 10-25 idle, both hot. The lower in each case has to be considered an absolute minimum, I'd say. FWIW mine runs at 60 and idles at 40, unless stuck in traffic when it will slowly drop to 25 as the oil heats up, which is the effect of the oil cooler.

I've heard that the cooler was fitted as standard eventually to prevent owners getting paranoid, but to my mind something that always idles at 25 is going to be of less concern than something that normally idles at 40, but drops when stuck in traffic!
PaulH Solihull

Hi PaulH, mine always idles at 50 cold or warm, before the right amount of oil was put in psi was at 60, now with 4.5 litres in the psi is 70 - when high revs up to 75psi. Psi at idle has always been 50.
No sign of damage as yet due to too little oil (the 2.5 litres). It even sounds right now when accelerating apart from the noise from the release bearing and shk shk. And no signs of leaks under the car overnight!!
Moss

This thread was discussed between 05/09/2010 and 30/09/2010

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