MGB & GT Forum

I seem to have forgotten the correct method for the MGB...
I've had a few vehicles that use one method or the other and can't remember specifically for the MGB
When taking a reading of the transmission level do you:
1) Insert the dipstick fully home then extract for the reading, or
2) Insert till the base of the dipstick plug contacts the case upper hole (therefore, NOT fully seating it)?

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74 MGB: APT VP11 cam, lifters, valve springs; 9:1; ported head; TT exhaust; vernier timing gear; wizard aluminum radiator; dizzy by Jeff S.; stock HIF4's; it goes on and on.....

I've always done #1, insert fully then read it.

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Early 1974 MGB with OD, SU HIF's, 72 spoke chrome WW's, Schlemmer distributor, DuBois fuel pump, Limey's relays, Gerry's column kit.

Michael, I just crawl into the passenger foot well unsnap the carpet pull the rubber plug cover, use a special tool to pull the dipstick clean off the dipstick and reinsert it completely, then pull and read the transmission oil level, and top it up if necessary and then reinstall the Dipstick the rubber plug and carpet.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024-04-19 10:06 AM by Watauga.

In 78 there is no dipstick and we just fill from the side port until it runs out then plug it again.

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1978 MGB
When diagnosing issues related to running and stalling, always check to see if you have gas in the tank first.

I do the same on my 1964 MGB.

The dipstick in my '69 transmission was very difficult to remove. It wouldn't move at all, like it was welded in place. When it finally came out, wiping it off and placing it back in the hole and then removing it again to get a reading of the oil level was a real ordeal.

A close inspection showed that the two o-rings on the shank of the dipstick that act as dust seals had become hardened over the years. So I cut them both off and replaced them with new rubber o-rings sourced from a local hardware store. I also attached a loop of rope to the handle to provide something to grab onto. Problem solved, right?

Not really. The thing was still too hard to get out. Slightly better and the rope trick helped a lot. But it was still too difficult.

My final solution was to just remove the lower of the two o-rings leaving only the top most one in place. I'm not sure why two were needed in the first place. I also made the loop of rope longer so that I can pull it up out of the hole in the tunnel giving some more leverage. Removal of the dipstick has now gone from very difficult to just kind of a pain. Still not easy but doable.

I just checked the oil level in the transmission yesterday. Only a couple of four letter words and a few minutes were required so that is progress.

I had the opposite issue on my car: the dipstick was too loose. At first I tried to use a drain stopper (white, left on photo) but it still did not give sufficient friction. I then made a design and had it 3D printed with some sort of "rubbery" plastic (black, on the dipstick). This works much better and the plastic appears to be resilient enough to withstand the high temperatures of the gearbox.