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MG MGB Technical - Filter to Block oil line

The oil filter to engine block line on my 79 MGB is a steel pipe one and yet in the catalogs I can only find a flexible rubber line for this application. Is my line correct or from an earlier application?
Frank

Frank
I assume you are talking about the line that goes to the oil cooler. If so, they can be either ‘rubber’ or ‘steel’, as you put it. These ‘steel’ lines are flexible and cover a rubber hose. They are usually bought as an improvement over the normal ‘rubber’ ones. What is the return oil line made out of? I would hope that the previous owner replaced them in pairs. For appearance rather than any other reason.
Cecil Kimber

I believe Frank is referring to the steel line used originally on engines with no oil cooler. These, seemingly, are no longer available. A rubber-covered hose is used in lieu of.

Wayne
Wayne Pearson

Wayne,
You are correct...mine has no oil cooler and my next question...in view of the recent thread on Moss and oil lines problems experienced by Les B...if I need to replace this line will the rubber one be an equal to the original sttel one with regards to life expectancy?
Frank

Tubing is always better than hose. Having said that, if a good quality hose is used, and the hose assembly is installed without twists or kinks, it should last. It's a short hose and the one's on the oil cooler are considerably longer--subject to more movement and exposure to damage.

If you can get an old oil cooler hose for the fittings, you can have a new hose assy made up the right length. Many parts houses make up hydraulic hoses, as well as heavy equipment repair facilities. And you will probably end up with a higher-pressure-rated hose.

Wayne
Wayne Pearson

I just received a new Moss replacement yesterday. The part seems to be of good quality, it has "Made in the UK" on the lable. The metal fittings are not as "beefy" as the originals. I wonder if this is a new item from Moss or the same style as reported by Les? Maybe some action was taken after the last set of postings.

-mike
Mike Zaffarano

Mike. They are the same items, unfortunately. The metal lines, made from tubing, seem to have been used on some of the early cars, then used again on the 79 and 80 models. I have been told that the oil cooler was deleted as a standard feature on the US 79/80 cars and this line is what the factory used as standard. Do not know if this is true. Do know that the hard line is a bear to remove without damage. The fitting and tube seem to rust together at the rear of block portion. Most of the lines I have seen have been twisted here in removal. Have not had time to see if anyone could fabricate such a line. The Moss line that I had go bad was purchased on 06/29/98 (Moss invoice 173176) and went out on 3-3-02 (towing company invoice). So, three years and eight months of good use. Line still does not show visible external cracks. Except for the 3/8" oil darkened place where it did split, I would believe this line in excellent condition. Therefore, I am going to treat the rubber oil lines as I would the rubber radiator hoses and program their replacement every three years as part of normal maintenance. The Moss line, from block to filter adapter, is something of an "up and over" type thing as opposed to laying next to the block as the metal tubing did. Be aware of that and you can orient it to be sufficiently out of the way to allow distributor access, etc. Les
Les Bengtson

Simple solution to all you guys with worries over flexible oil hoses - go down to your local hydraulic spares place - the sort that supplies parts for diggers, dump trucks and the like. Have them make up oil pipes with the right end fittings for you - the hydraulic hose is higher grade than the stuff you can buy from Moss.

I have special hoses for test running my engines without the oil cooler.

The steel pipes can be found on Austin Marinas as well.
Chris Betson

The new engine in my Gt is from an Austin Marina that came with the oil cooler by-pass metal line. I left it in place for the engine break-in period, changing oil at 100 then again 5-600 miles later. During the last oil change I removed the metal line and put the new oil cooler and lines back on. That way I thought it might keep any gunk out of the new cooler until after breakin.

I don't know if you could have one of the steel cooler bypass tubes made up from an old one, but I will keep mine just in case I ever need one again.
Michael Wish

This thread was discussed between 03/04/2002 and 06/04/2002

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