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MG MGB Technical - oil leak

i have a 1968 mgb roadster and it wasn't leaking oil at all and one day i went out to get in my car and noticed oil on the cement driveway (was my dad ever mad) the oil stain was where the engine is but when i look all i see that could be leaking is the pumpkin seems to have excess oil on it and thats on the opposite end of the car. does anyone have any advice? is a leaking pumpkin dangerious and how do i fix the leak what do i look for?

thanks
Scot
Scot Hamm

Scot-
A leaking pumpkin is dangerour only if the differential runs dangerously low on oil. Don't panic just yet as often the cure is simple. On the top passenger-side axle tube of your differential is an oil breather. If it gets clogged with road crud overpressure can cause the axle to leak through the pinion oil seal or the halfshaft seals. Remove the breather and clean it out. Next, Drive it around for a day or two and if it keeps leaking, check to see if the pinion oil seal is leaking around the shaft. This is a 4.95 item and is not difficult to replace once you drop the driveshaft and remove the universal joint. The next place to check is the halfshaft seals. To do this, jack up the rear of the car, remove the wheels and the brake drums and look to see if there's any oil. These seals cost $3.45.
Steve S.

Scot. You need to determine where the oil leak is coming from. Tape a bunch of newspaper over an area larger than the car, then take the car out for a drive. Come home and park over the newspaper. Then, wait a while and see where the drips are coming from. When you have a general idea of where the problem is, post again and we will be able to give you a better idea of what to do about it. It is very unusual for a car to leak from the differential. Normally when such leaks take place, the excess fluid is forced out through the axles seals and will contaminate the rear brake shoes. With the car on a level surface, check the levels of the engine, transmission and rear end. Fill as necessary, then perform the test to determine where the leakage is coming from. Les
Les Bengtson

One more note about leak detection. Gravity makes the oil dribble down, and the wind pushes oil drops backwards. So a leaking engine may cause the transmission or differential case to be covered with oil. A leaking transmission may cause the differential to get wet with oil. Best bet is to get a bright light under the car and find the forward-most point that's oily, then from there start to work upwards to find the source of the nile.

Of course, if the bottom of the car is covered with oil, wash it off at the coin-op car wash first - to give yourself a clean start. Especially with a low car like an MG, bring a trolley jack so you can clean underneath more easily.

Beast of luck.


Matt K.
Matt Kulka

This thread was discussed between 16/02/2002 and 18/02/2002

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