MG Midget Forum

I have a 1966 MG Midget,I parked it in a dry garage about 9 years ago. at that time i could start the car but there was a very liquid oil type fluid dripping out of muffler and when accelerating the engine would die like like choking on to much fuel. I am now trying to get the vehicle going, I bought a new battery and the car starts, there is still the fluid dripping at the muffler connection and the engine dies after idling for a few minutes. Any suggestions as to the problem and in the Seattle area wondering if any mobile mechanics that can work on a MG

Mark
Are you sure its oil ? Condensation in the exhaust is common and mixed with carbon can look like black liquid , there would need to be a significant amount of oil in the exhaust for it to make it out the end . check your oil and coolant levels . Your engine not running issue can be several things Im not going to get into a diagnosis on that .

Been sitting for nine years? You need to ditch any fuel left in the system as it will be bad. Does the car have an electric or mechanical fuel pump? Either way I would consider getting a new fuel pump. One putting out 4 psi mas if fine for the car. Eventually you will need to remove the carbs for a through cleaning. Make a note to get new exhaust and intake gaskets...all of them. Remove the gas tank lid when you run the car, the vent may be plugged after sitting.
Like Steve says, not sure what is dripping out the tail pipe but he's most likely correct. Few places for oil to get into the exhaust and I don't believe you have that problem. You need to get it running enough to get up to normal operating temp. Pics of what the liquid looks like and where it is coming from would be nice. Work from the simple fixes for now and then on into harder ones. Try not to shotgun fixes or you won't have a bottom line to compare how you are doing.

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Iceman

Atlanta GA

71 MG Midget

62 AH MKII
67 Midget
71 Midget

After tat much time you will need to clean the carburetors, as mentioned, completely clean the fuel system, you probable need new plugs at the least. Whatever is in the exhaust system will take awhile to burn off after it starts.

I had a similar problem with an Edsel that had been laid up for a few years. The dark liquid coming out go the tailpipes was NOT oil. It was a foul mixture of rodent urine and excrement, and some rotting stored food items preferred by inhabitants. The engine would start and then die when back pressure built up. One pipe cleared by itself, but the other required the use of a plumbing snake. I hope you do not have the same problem. It is not pleasant.

Ewww.

I hate those meeces, to pieces :>
A lot of that on the old bikes, I bring back to life. The best, was the acorns, that came out of a 4 into 1 pipe, like a gatling gun.

Yup, there were acorns involved in the Edsel adventure, too

Try putting some cardboard behind the car to catch the exhaust drippings. If it's just dirty condensation, the water will evaporate leaving black carbon dust behind. If it's oil, it won't.

x2 Matt Mire. I've used the cardboard to determine what was coming out the back of a 68 Buick. It was black carbon dust but not from a rich mixture. It turned out to be Ethanol doing a number on all of my rubber fuel lines and burning through the combustion chamber all the way to the tailpipe.

I had a chip monk take up residence in one of my cars I stored of site for a winter. It was living in my air cleaner housing eating small nuts. The nut shells were piled high. I took the car for a spring drive, got the engine heated up., parked in my driveway and the heated up nut shells started to smoke like crazy. I thought the engine was on fire. Popped the hood and saw white smoke pouring from the air cleaner. Luckily, I got in there and scooped them out before they caught fire.

Stainless steel wire mesh caps work well, for Chip and Dale. Most of the time :>

Ginetta G12P......your handle has my mouth watering....... Pics??

As to Marks problem, I agree that the black stuff is probably not oil but the product of too rich a mixture or old gas or combination of the two. Likely if its been sitting that gas is seeping past the float needle...very common.

Kurt