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MG MGA - Oil Filter Leak

Hey Guys,
I'm having a heck of a time replacing the oil filter cannister w/out a leak. I have two gaskets. One is large and thicker than the other. The larger goes inside the housing against the block and the smaller fits into the filter housing side. Correct? Is there a trick ? I've managed to change in the past without leaks, but not now.

Question 2: The new oil "appears" dirty.(black)- after less than 1 min running after changing the oil. ( the engine ran only long enough to determine leaking.) Why so dirty so quick?? Am I possibly picking up " sludge/grime from oil pan?? This auto sat for 25 yrs before my efforts to restore.

Bob
abg mchugh

Bob,
Itis very possible that the new oil has picked up the sludge or other dirt from 25 years of sitting. If the engine hasn't even been turned over, there very possibly was some corrosion in the oil galleys, which would come out with the engine running. Regarding the oil filter canister, there is a possibility that you didn't get the original O ring out of the groove that it sits in, which would cause a leak. I hope that this helps.
Mike
mike parker

<<<One is large and thicker than the other. The larger goes inside the housing against the block and the smaller fits into the filter housing side. Correct?>>>

Not sure that it is, Bob. My experience is that of an MGB 18G engine and a '59 Twin Cam--same set-up and, the block to housing and housing to hanging can gaskets are the same. Now, that's with the Tecalimet set-up. Perhaps you have the Purolator? (in which case, I don't know)

In any case, when I get filters, there are 3 rubber gaskets included. One is useless(another application perhaps), two are the same.

As Mike points out, the old gasket, especially in the block, can be tough to locate and remove. I use a thin pick. Hope this helps.

Paul
Paul Hanley

Bob,
Like the others said, if the old gasket is not removed, it will leak. If the car has been sitting for 25 years, the old gaskets may be hard to distinguish from the cast iron of the block. When I first got my 1500, I couldn't tell there was an old gasket in the groove, even with the engine out of the car. When I put it back in with new gaskets, it leaked. It took a lot of scraping with an awl to even figure out that there was an old gasket in the groove in the block.

Jeff

PS. The Moss catalog shows both gaskets as the same except for on the very early Tecalemit filter with the oil pipe fitting on the canister. http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=29212

Jeff Schultz

Correction, Just checked my stash in the garage--with the Moss paper filter, there are included two useless gaskets and only one that will fit MGA/MGB. Since I buy 6-8 filters at a time, I occationaly rob a good gasket from another box for the block to housing gasket. The good gasket is the wide, flat one. hth
Paul Hanley

Guys, You all were correct in your diagnosis. Both the head assembly and block gaskets were in place and damaged. I removed with exacto blade- with no leaks!
Thanks all for your help !

Bob
abg mchugh

This thread was discussed between 24/05/2005 and 31/05/2005

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