We actually managed to have Register committee meeting on May 2. Zoom is a wonderful thing and is making this lockdown a lot more bearable than it would otherwise be.
My B is sitting in the garage hooked up to the smart charger and going nowhere. We are getting out, however. Dogs need walking as well as extensive ball games in the yard and we do use the MG ZS, 1,200 miles since it was purchased at the end of January, using the old yardstick – is your journey really necessary? My MOT tester/service engineer rang me yesterday to assure me that he was still there, in spirit at least. We can delay the “voluntary” MOT this year and I have the bits for an oil change for the engine, gearbox and axle this time and (tying into Graham Dix’s thoughts and comments) a new K&N Oil filter which is double the size of the normal one. Moss part 235-830. Like Graham, I have changed the old Tecalmit oil filter system for a spin off cartridge type and this type hanging down still fits nicely in place.
I got the following from Tony Taylor as a follow-up to Graham’s article and thought it made sense to share it with you all.
Like Graham, I note a similar delay on start-up, but it takes around four to five days of non- running before it builds up to be significant. (Around 3-5 seconds.)
My engine, a standard 18GG, has the inverted oil filter, currently a GFE121. As pressures (and temperatures) are all as the book tells me are correct once the initial build-up has taken place, the thought is that the filter does allow leak-down over time.
My “solution” is that if the engine has not been run for a week or more, remove the spark plugs, disconnect the ignition LT lead and spin the engine on the starter, just until the pressure gauge “registers” a few PSI.
Then, by replacing LT lead and plugs, I find that on start-up, the pressure gauge moves to around 65-70 PSI instantly – the colder it is, the higher the initial pressure. This way, I am reasonably sure that oil is getting to all of the important bits. So far, so good.
If anyone knows of an equivalent filter to the GFE121 that does not leak back, please let me know.
Follow up thought:- When I was still working, we had this “drain-back” snag on several aircraft which were often not flown for a week or more, so we rigged up an oiling system that could be coupled into the oil delivery pipe – which meant cowls off so took a bit of time – then we pressure fed the oil into the “plumbing”, pulling the engine through as we did (Make Sure The Magnetos Are OFF!!). It was most noticeable on engines with a gear type oil pump and relatively high hours running time, an overhaul (expensive!) always cured it.
Does this indicate that my MG engine may be due for overhaul or replacement? – I had better start saving!
Keep safe and I’ll send some more technical thoughts in July.
DAVID BROADHURST
newsletter-editor@mgb-register.org
