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MG MGA - Oil leak

Just passed the 500 mile mark on the engine, so time for head torque and tappet adjust.
But I found an oil leak. Traced it to the filter - good news. Tightened the cartridge and still leaking - bad news!
I have the Moss spin on adapter, and I ground the centre bolt to make sure cartridges do not bottom oou there before the gasket.
So I guess its the joint at the adapter to the block. Next step is to tighten the adapter centre bolt and see what happens.
So why would this happen after 500 miles leak free?
Art Pearse

Art

After my rebuild in the 90s and with the same type of spin on filter I had a massive leak after 39 miles - like the entire sump contents along the underside of the car and all over our M6 southbound motorway. I traced the fault to the ring seal in the cylinder block filter housing channel. During the car's laid up years the seal had hardened and I mistakenly took it to be metal and part of the channel. I therefore placed a new seal on top of the old and it was just a matter of time before it blew. In my case not many miles later. What's more, I am not alone on this one. Plenty of others have done the same!

Steve
Steve Gyles

Make sure you don't tighten it too much. I called Moss technical help but don't remember the ft lb spec they gave me. You should call them to be safe.

Jim
JL Cheatham

Well, I know I cleaned out the original gasket Steve.
I just removed the filter can and found the centre piece was loose! So I'm hoping that's the problem.
Time for new filter anyway so won't know till I get it.
Anyone remember the right torque?
Art Pearse

15 lb ft
Bayard DeNoie

Just removed the centre fixture. I had omitted to raise the locktab edges! So I think the unscrewing the can, on the 3/4" threads was enough to overcome the torque on the 3/8 peg, that's assuming I did tighten it correctly.
I see Moss says 12 ft lb, not much.
Art Pearse

I also had thought the calcified seal was not there because it was so hard. Took some digging, but it did come out.

A new seal will eventually fail if placed on top of it.
MAndrus

Not that 3 Lbs would make much difference, but the MGA workshop manual does specify 15 lbs in their torque settings section for anyone interested
Bayard DeNoie

Bayard, that's what I just used.
Now, how to get the lock tabs raised, from under the car!!!
Art Pearse

I decided not to lift the lock tabs. First it is nigh on impossible to reach it from below, absent a car lift, and second, if it leaks again I can snug it up easily. Leak free yippee.
Also did my 500m head torque and tappet adjust. No sign of any cam wear.
Art Pearse

This thread was discussed between 28/06/2015 and 03/07/2015

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