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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 TD TF 1500 - Oil Filter Leak Urgent Help Needed

The weather today in Scotland is superb so I took the TF out for a run prior to sitting with a beer watching the first F1 race of the season. After the race finished I noticed a huge pool of oil under the car. After an initial panic I found it had come from the oil filter. My car has a steel canister to house the paper filter. There is a long bolt that goes down the center of this to secure it to the oil pump housing. Under the head of this there is a large washer, domed to correspond to the curvature on the end of the canister. I recently bought a new filter and fitting kit but all that was included was the large "O" ring for the pump body and a small one. I made up a cork gasket to fit between the large washer and the canister and used a fibre washer under the head of the through bolt. The fibre washer had split and that is where the oil has come from. I have spoken to my brother who has a TF and a neighbor who has a TD with a paper filter and neither have the large washer that I have. They both say the seal is a simple small "O" ring. The manual only shows the pump end of the filter. I think I can recall MG B filters having the large washer to support the canister but wouldn't it be better to braze this on to stop any leaks. Can someone please provide advice? The car is laid up and the sun is shining so a repair is urgent!

Cheers

Jan T
J Targosz

Going to Abingdon Spares, page 3

https://abingdonspares.com/parts-catalog/engine-external-page-3/

I find there are two different canisters. The Tecalemit does NOT have a large washer. It does have a seal 03-194.
The other, the Purolater, does have the large washer and it does also have a seal, a different seal, 03-208.

So yes your large washer could be correct and if so you do need a seal.
I think I would opt for a rubber seal however.
The Abingdon drawing shows the seal between the washer and the bolt.

Jim B.
JA Benjamin

Thanks Jim I really appreciate your prompt reply. I indeed do have a Purolator filter but still can't see from the Abingdon drawings how parts 199 and 200 are sealed. I suspect the thick washer is there to provide some ant-crushing support to the canister. I wonder if I should silver solder this to the casing to ensure a 100% seal?

Jan T
J Targosz

I would think some Permatex might suffice.

Jim B.
JA Benjamin

Jan here's a pic of my Purolater canister after refurbishing. The large washer seemed to be attached to the canister so I left it intact & just went ahead & painted it. Yet to run the engine so I can't report on leaks. The other common problem with leaking oil filters stems from using a new rubber sealing ring at the base of the canister without removing the original ring which is embedded in its seat. Cheers
Peter TD 5801


P Hehir

If the leak is from around the bolt, then make a rubber gasket as a washer under the bolt.

If it is from the base of the canister (and that is where I have problems) the reason is ALWAYS that I have not removed the original rubber ring which fits in the groove, and/or the new ring is not set fully into the groove, possibly because the old one is still there. It is a fiddly job to get the old one out and the new one in. Also, some filters come with several rubber rings, and only one form does the job, the rest are either too narrow or too fat.

HTH.
Ian Bowers

Interesting. I was going to post a thread on this topic today. While doing a front engine seal conversion back to the rope style seal, I removed the oil filter and found debris on the edge of the filter. I used a mirror to inspect the old seal (probably in there for 7 oil changes) and found it had hardened and started to rip. I dutifully changed the seal and used a mirror to check prior to installing the filter. So I guess I'm very lucky as if I had ignored the tell tale sign, I would have been asking for a failure.

I'm putting the project in my 'on-going maintenance' pictures on my website, and the original rebuild of my oil canister is in the engine section of the website I believe. But nothing could match the really superb image that Peter Hehir Shows... just outstanding!

Warmly,
dave


Dave Braun

And the mirror technique to assure a could replacement position.


Dave Braun

One final thought, with the Purolater canister I have, no washer is required under the bolt, instead it is fitted to the inner diameter of the large formed washer and the outer diameter of the through bolt. I think I got mine from Moss for an MGB, but they are showing the Purolater item as unavailable. The MGB pictures in the Moss catalog or on-line seem clearer to me than the ones in the TD section of Moss.

From my engine >> install section.

Warmly,
dave


Dave Braun

Dave the paint is Honda Sable Green Metallic in a rattle can & the decal came from Rob Grantham in WA. If you want to use the image on your site that's OK with me. Ian's comment about using the correct ring is spot on. When I opened the box I asked myself the same question. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

This thread was discussed between 20/03/2016 and 21/03/2016

MG TD TF 1500 index

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