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MG MGB Technical - Oil Hose Leak - 76 MGB - Is this an emergency?

I was looking in my engine compartment tonight, and I noticed that I have oil leaks at both ends of a hose that goes from the oil filter head to the engine. It's coming from around the hose couplings, where the end fittings are attached to the hose i.e where the rubber meets the metal fitting.

I know I need to replace the hose, but will it wait until my next oil change (about 2000 miles)? My biggest concern is that the hose might blow out at either end, and then I have no oil to the engine. Is this an emergency that I should take care of right away?

Also, is there a trick to this job? It looks fairly straight forward - unscrew the hose at both ends, put the new one on.

I have an inverted spin-on filter.

Thank you!

John
J.D. English

I'd change it asap John, it's impossible to tell if it will let go and if it does it will be very messy and you may lose the engine. It's a cheap pipe (no oil cooler?) and easy to do. You may need to remove the small oil guage pipe next to the union on the block to let you get a spanner on it, then a large open-ended will usually do the job.

Rich

John,
The only difficulty can be getting the hose off as they can seize on. The actually attatch to an adapter which is screwed into the block, or filter housing. So don't be surprised if the adapter to engine comes away rather than the oil pipe to adapter (if you know what I mean!). Once the adapter starts moving it can be tough to get enough slack in the pipe to allow you to continue to unscrew the adapter, and very hard to then get the adapter to oil pipe moving until it is away from the car.

It might be worth getting new washers for the adapter to engine fitting so if they do come away you will be able to fix it there and then. The oil cooler to adapter can be fairly easily seperated once away from the car (at least mine were). The really tricky connection is oil pipe to alluminum oil cooler, but it sounds like you don't have that problem!
Cheers
Iain
I D Cameron

Yes, if you need to, cut the old pipe (with large tinsnips or similar rather than a saw as then you won't get bits in the line) to allow you to turn the pipe and get the adaptor out.

Rich

John, Check you mail

Clifton
Clifton Gordon

John. Replace the part now. Do not start the engine until you do. My daughter had the hose split while driving at highway speed. Ruined the engine. Les
Les Bengtson

Run, do not walk, to your favorite parts supplier and get a new hose. Do NOT wait until your next oil change. This hose has to deal with up to 80 pounds per square inch of oil pressure.

I had one blow due to a weak crimp at the connector going into the block. By my calculations, it took a grand total of 20 seconds to pump the oil sump dry. And just a couple of minutes later to cook the main bearings. I ended up rebuilding the motor.

So, unless you like the prospect of sitting by the side of the road trying to 1) figure out how you're going to get home, and 2) guessing how much you're going to spend rebuilding the engine, get the hose now.

Trust me, the oil hose is cheaper than a rebuild.

Ken V.
'77 MGB
Safety Fast!
Ken Vandruff

Thank you all for your comments!

I received the new hose today from Clifton, a true gentleman.

It's in place and I'm back in business! I didn't have any trouble - all the connections came loose without any trouble - and no adapter movement. I did have to take off the oil gauge pipe, but that wasn't a big deal either. Not much over 45 minutes for the whole job - and I'm a slow worker.

I don't know what I would do without all you seasoned MGB professionals!! Thank you!

John
John English

This thread was discussed between 16/06/2005 and 21/06/2005

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