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MG MGB Technical - Oil Leak under dash 1969

1969 MGB ----I have oil dripping from under the dash. It drips down on the brake pedal. I haven't tried to find it as yet. The only thing that I can think of is that there is an oil line connected to the oil pressure gage. Is there an oil line connected to the oil pressure gage? I tried to reach under the dash but I can't reach the oil pressure gage. Someone told me there is an oil line, but the electrical schematics show the oil pressure gage is electrical.

If I have to get to the oil presssure gage, can I get to it by removing the Tach?
Bruce

Are you sure its oil? Could it be brake fluid?
John English

I checked the brake and clutch master cylinders and they are both dry.
Bruce

The electrical part of the oil pressure gauge is the light bulb. If i remember correctly, it's got an oil line connected to it.
Ira Spector (PA)

Can I get to the oil line by removing the Tach or is there a better way? I have big hands.
Bruce

Bruce - "Can I get to the oil line by removing the Tach or is there a better way?" Yes, unless you want lay on your back, half supported by the seat bottom, with your butt and legs hanging out of the car and your head nestled against the brake and clutch pedal, while you try to access the oil line. Actually, the easiest way is to remove the holding strap (by what ever method works for you) and pull the gauge part way out. There is a leather washer or a little 'O' ring betweent he oil line and the fitting on the gauge. If the washer or 'O' ring is missing or damaged, it will leak oil. That said, I would be more suspect of the brake master cylinder leaking. The outter seal often fails and allows fluid to dribble out on the bottom side of the dust boot, where it can't be seen from above, and drips on the brake pedal, collecting inthe carpeting underneath. Good luck - Dave
David DuBois

Unless someone has changed it, the oil pressure gauge on a 1969 is electric -- there's no oil line going to it. The sender is mounted on the block and only a wire goes to the dash. That's not to say it hasn't been changed. The senders are expensive and many people convert to a mechanical gauge from a later model if the sender fails.....
Rob Edwards

Be sure it isn't brake fluid!! Otherwise there comes a moment you can't brake ! Often when the master-brake-cylinder is broken you've got drops on you brake pedal.
Did you also checked inside the cylinder that there isn't fluid gone?
w. kion

I had an oil leak from my speedometer in my '73 MGB.

Yes, from the speedometer! Gearbox-oil was pumped up by the speedometercable due to a faulty o-ring in the gearbox.
It instantly ruined two trousers on the way to Silverstone in the '80's.....
Willem van der Veer

My '75 has a pipe going to it (not electric). It sprang a leak and dribbled oil all over my braking foot (and brand new jeans!). Easy to check. See if you have a thin hydrolic pipe coming from the engine compartment. It may be going through the rubber bung, or more correctly through it's own hole somewhere on the top of the foot well, so it's easy to see from the engine compartment side. Usually its a copper pipe, often very bent and bashed looking.
I managed to get a spanner onto the pipe attaching nut on the back of the guage and gave it a gentle tighten. This fixed the problem in 5 minutes.
As David says, it's a difficult task to get the guage out and you should detatch it at the engine end first because copper doesn't have much stretch to it ;)
Peter

Be sure to check Willems pointer.

I had a leak from my speedo cable as well.

Also a problem on the tach drive on my mates Gypsy Major engine, as passengers in the front cockpit often found.

The spiral of the cable inner will scroll oil quite some distance if well fed at the driven end.

Cheers
ian F

Ian Fraser

Ian;
That wouldn't be Gypsy as in Tiger Moth would it. My first A/C was a moth in Montreal in 1948.
Sandy Sanders
Sandy Sanders

Hi Sandy

Yep, It was a Tiger Moth - the only way to fly ('Cept for a Boeing Stearman, gotta love the sound of that radial engine just out there in front)

I noticed the leak on my first flight in it. Yelled down the pipe: "hey, this thing is leaking oil" Peters answer: "OK I'll fix it", and ever so slowly rolled over inverted, and yelled "That stop it?"

Two leather straps and a couple of thousand feet of clear air above the sea sort of cleared any worries about a piddling little oil leak.

Cheers
Ian F






Ian Fraser

This thread was discussed on 13/06/2006

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