MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Water on the oil cap

Hello, I have my restored chasse that is sitting waiting for my body to be completed. I start it every few weeks. Recently I noticed after running it a few water droplets on the inside of the cap! Could this be just condensation? Or should I anticipate a larger problem?
Thanks
Bill Robinson

I would think that it's condensation.
If you had a head gasket problem (likely the only other way for water to enter the engine) you would have a brown, malted milk like foam accumulating on the inside of the oil cap.
Make sure that you run it long enough to get up to temperature, that should help get any condensation out.
Rich McKIe

Yes you get this condensation build up on short runs. Best to squirt some oil in the bores, turn it over and leave it alone. Probably a good idea to get it really hot first, as suggested, to boil out the water now in the oil.
We can all understand the temptation, but it keeps you going don't it!
Pete
Pete Tipping

Most people don't realise that the largest component of exhaust is water. If you take a hydrocarbon fuel (HC) for short and combine it with oxygen (O2) the result of combustion leaves (mostly) water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) Do not start a stored car unless you plan on running it long enough to "dry" its self out. Each time you start and stop an engine without fully warming it up you are adding moisture to the inside of the engine and the exhaust system and encouraging corrosion.
Pulling the plugs ,adding oil to the cylinders and cranking it until oil pressure shows and then replacing the plugs instead of starting it will help the engine to not rust during storage. An engine that has been stored should have this done to it prior to the first start of the season.
Starting it as you describe is the worst thing you can do.
If you have an intact cooling system I suggest you fully warm it up long enough to completely dry out the inside of the engine. As Pete suggests.
R J Brown

Gentlemen, Great advise from all and I thank you!
Bill Robinson

Bill, just picked up your thread.
Have you thought of using a "Petrol Engine Lay-up Kit" Go to www.enginewise.co.uk. Using this you can lay up the engine for as long as you want and don't have to keep running it up, which as the guys above have pointed out , can lead to worse problems. I'm sure there must be a similar product available in your parts. The kit here even has a picture of an MGA on the packet !! David
David Grahame

I have been using a spray oil that I get from a motorcycle place- it's called Fogging Oil. The bikers
use it to store their bikes for the winter. Just pull the plugs, spray it in, replace the plugs, and turn it over once or twice. I'm set for the winter.
george
george

The bores are one thing but, in my opinion, the items that suffer the most wear on a new engine during the start up phase are the cam follower faces.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve is right they and the cam are what wear most dry on start up and rust most wet if moisture is in engine. That is why you should always crank an MGA with the plugs out utill it has had oil pressure for at least 30 seconds prior to start up.
R J Brown

This thread was discussed between 09/10/2006 and 11/10/2006

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.