MGOC Basic Service 1 - Engine Oil

MG Basic Servicing Series

Engine Oil Change

Oil changes are simple and straightforward and can be undertaken by anyone who is prepared to get their hands dirty. Many owners find it very rewarding to carry out their own basic servicing. If you can do some maintenance yourself, the saving you make on labour costs will allow you to service your classic more regularly, and buy the best service parts and oil available.

To drain the old oil you will need to be able to get access to the underside of the engine. To get at the sump drain plug you will have to raise the car, either by driving it up a pair of service ramps, or by jacking it up with a hydraulic trolley jack (capable of lifting one and half tons or more) and then supporting the car on a pair of purpose built axle stands.

Shopping list

• One UK Gallon of Engine Oil (approx 4.5 L)
• Oil filter
• Drain plug washer
• Hand cleaner

Oil Type

Always use a good quality oil, putting cheap oil in your classic is a false economy. To ensure the best possible running and to prolong engine life, always use the correct grade of oil as specified in the handbook. Leading oil manufactures have now re-introduced formulations specifically for your classic MG.

Oil filters

The early MGB engine has a canister type oil filter with a renewable element, later models had a screw on cartridge type filter. Make sure you buy the correct oil filter for your engine and that it is made to the original specification.

Tools required

• Drain plug socket or spanner
• Oil filter wrench
• Quality jack
• Axle stands
• Service ramps
• Oil filler can
• Waste oil container

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Ramps

Service ramps are ideal, but you must take great care when positioning the car as you attempt to drive the car up. If the surface is not absolutely flat the ramps are inclined to lose grip and slip forward. Once the car is safely up on the ramps, put on the handbrake, remove the keys from the ignition and then engage gear.

Mess

Oil changes can be messy but by careful preparation you can avoid getting oil all over the drive-way or the DIY mechanic. Put down plenty of newspaper on the drive to soak up the inevitable spillage. Wear old clothes or overalls when carrying out an oil change. It is also essential to have a supply of rags to wipe up any excess oil and keep your hands clean. It is worth buying a quality hand-cleaner to make a thorough job of cleaning your hands after the job is completed.

Environmental concerns

It is essential to dispose of waste oil correctly. Every local household waste recycling centre has free facilities for the safe disposal of waste oil. Once the old oil has been drained it can be put into a suitable container and taken to a recycling centre and emptied there into a collection tank. Oil must never, under any circumstances, be poured into drains, burnt or buried in the garden. All these practices are illegal and it is quite unnecessary to risk prosecution in this way, because disposal is free at any recycling centre. In some parts of the country certain local garages are also offering waste oil collection points.

Engine Oil Change Procedure

1a) Screw on inverted cartridge oil filter

1b) Disposable element filter

2) Warm the engine to normal running temperature, undo the drain plug with a suitable socket or spanner.
Have your waste oil collection vessel positioned ready to drain into.
Take great care not to drop the drain plug into the waste oil.

3) Using filter wrench to undo the screw type oil filter.
Alternatively, you can use an old leather belt to free off the filter housing.

4) Fit new oil filter. Smear clean oil on the rubber contact surface.
Take great care not to damage the thread as you screw the oil filter in place.
Make sure you screw the canister completely down onto the base.
Tighten down the oil filter by hand only.

5) When the old oil has completely drained, fit a new washer to
the drain plug and refit the plug in the sump.

6) Refill car with the recommended grade of oil.
A measuring jug will help you refill the sump to the correct level.
The capacity of the MGB sump with an oil cooler fitted to the engine, is 8 1/4 UK pints or 4.5 litres.
Always allow sufficient time for the oil to reach the sump before checking the oil level.
Take care to top up the engine oil level accurately, too much oil can be as harmful as not enough.

7) Allow time for the oil to settle and then check level on the dip stick.
Run engine, check the oil pressure and look for any oil leaks.

8) Draining waste oil into a used screw cap oil container, in order to store it safely
before transporting it to the recycling centre. I fabricated a funnel by cutting down an old anti-freeze bottle.
Do this over newspaper so that any spillage will be easily dealt with.

This article first appeared in Enjoying MG Magazine