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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - How to change my paper oil element

Should I remove the whole oil filter housing or wrestle with it and its bolt. Kind of looking fo rhte easiest method besides a canister filter housing swap, I like original.


Thanks

Jesse
JS Jesse

Just undo the bolt at the bottom, and lower it from the housing, whilst keeping it upright, to avoid spillage. extremely easy. Mine's original too.
Lawrence Slater

There are downsides to each method...

Removing the whole filter head and bowl should prevent much spillage and will also give you a far better chance of replacing the sealing ring and getting it to seal first time. However, this can be a longer and more involved job.

Removing the bowl on its own, will, undoubtedly be messy.. (it usually IS). Once you have this off and everything cleared, then you have to change the seeing ring upside down and get it all beck together without any leaks.

I've always done it by removing the bowl on it's own, but often questioned myself why I do it like this and struggle...!

Mark.
M T Boldry

slacken the bolt then complete the operation with a carrier / plastic bag around the bowl. A bag around the bowl making sure the bag does not have child proof hole in it. Bag should catch oil spill. Method is good for spin on canisters as well. It helps on later engines if the 948 spacer is fitted between block and filter head as it angles the filter making it more accesible and directs it more toward the chassis cut out for lowering.
A Anstead

on my previous Spridget I quickly changed mine to a spin-off

I seem to remember on a John Twist video about checking (nipping up later?) the long bolt or was that just on Bs?
Nigel Atkins

Just think yourselves lucky that your filters aren't inverted, like an MGB. That really is a messy job!
Dave O'Neill2

can't you invert it with an adapter or make it remote

I remember seeing a video of a guy showing how clean his hands were after an 'engine' service on an electric and then the replacement parts and fluid on a petrol engine and the state of his hands

I've always fancied something like a Lomax (or Morgan) three-wheeler with electric power, the rapid acceleration and low centre of gravity, skinny wheels and tyres, big steering wheel open cockpit, aeroscreen and goggles - lovely
Nigel Atkins

I don't get spillage.

You undo the bolt, and with your hand cupped around the bowl and finger under the bolt to, you lower it away from the housing, and then lift up out of the engine bay.

A fine screw driver dislodges the rubber seal, but I only change the seal infrequently. Hence I have about a dozen unusedrubber sealing rings. And I've never had a leak from the rim.
Lawrence Slater

ok, then the biggest deal is about the mess, I dont mind mess I can clean that up.

Thanks for the advice!

Jesse
JS Jesse

When I got fed up with continuous leaks after sevices I first tried an adaptor to make it a spin on but that didn't work as it uses the same seal, so I bought a Mini spin on filter head off eBay and that solved the problem.

Bernie.
b higginson

This thread was discussed between 16/01/2012 and 19/01/2012

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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