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MG TD TF 1500 - XPAG Breather Pipe - Survey

I had cause to check my engine breather pipe on YT3861, and found it to be a different length to two other XPAG engine pipes in my spares.

With everyones help, I'd like to conduct a survey of pipe lengths to see if we can work out what is the correct length for Y's as against TB, TC, TD or TF.

The three pipes in the photo are the same shape - just different length ?.


A L SLATTERY

Interesting. I'll measure the pile on my TD and let you know. meanwhile, while we are on the subject, when I got my TD the original oilbath aircleaner had been replaced with two pancakes. Therefore, as you can see from the attached image, there is no hose going into the vent on top of the valve cover. PO had just put a cork in the vent but a knowledgeable friend advised that I needed a way for air to get in so that it could bent out through the breater pipe. A modified K&N filter was installed as shown. What do the rest of you who are using pancake air filters do to accomodate the vent pipe on the tiop of the valve cover?
Thanks. Jud


J K Chapin

Hi Jud, in my case the valve cover has been replaced with an aftermarket one with a breather in the oil filler cap. With respect to the orignal query, my engine is completely missing the breather pipe attached to the side cover. Matt
Matt Davis

Matt, thanks. So there is a breather, just built into the oil filler cap. My oil filler cap looks pretty original and pretty air tight so I suppose allowing for breathing through the vent pipe is a good thing.

A.L., meant to say "I'll measure the pipe ..." and it turns out that was not as easy as I thought it would be (can't all at the same time hold a light, hold a rule and bend over to actually see the measurement) but on my TD/2/25404 the pipe looks like the top one in your image, about 9 inches (~ 23cm) top to outer apex of the bend) and about 8 inches (20.3 cm) outer bend apex to bottom (all of these are probably +/- 1 inch).

Jud
J K Chapin

Back when I was running pancake air filters, I purchased a piece from Moss. It is a tapered aluminum plug with a vent hole in it. http://www.mossmotors.com/graphics/products/PDF/224-225.pdf See part 9B on page 3.
Bruce Cunha

The orginal from my TF looks like the red one in your picture. (Not sure where it is to measure it...box in the attic?)
Ran S&H pancakes for years with aftermarket Alloy tappet cover and valve cover with the "9B" Bruce mentions.
Went back to Vokes this year and used a "modified" B9 "inside" my Aftermarket Valve cover as a baffle as it was sucking too much oil into the forward filter.
Also did some mods to the tappet cover adding baffles to inside of it.
Seems to be working well.
David Sheward

Well, what I would really like to do is engineer a tidy, elegant system to use a Smiths MGB PCV valve and eliminate the open side cover tube or vents entirely running the crankcase vent to the PCV valve and then to the intake manifold. My car is running the smooth alloy tappet cover with two oblong vents with MG logos on them and a smooth alloy valve cover with a nipple and 90 degree hose to the stock oil bath air cleaner. Anyone done this?
John Quilter (TD8986)

Matt

I have a spare breather pipe (or maybe two!) if you would like it, we can't live that far apart (Godalming), so collection is possible.
Ian Bowers

John,
There is an excellent and interesting article in TTT4 July 2004 issue no. 4-"Tony’s T Type Tips #004©
XPAG oil leaks".
This describes exactly what you have mentioned. I am also experimenting along the same lines hoping to reduce the oil leakage and have removed the (25mm)core plugs on the inlet manifold and replaced them with 3mm thick turned brass plugs tapped 1/4" BSP. I have also fitted temporary piping and vacuum gauge which measures -0.7bar at tick over. It needs damping (cigarette filter)otherwise the needle will disintegrate! I have also fitted the Wolseley 4/44 tappet cover mentioned in that article. Just waiting for better weather and my seats to come back from the trimmer to continue.
Declan


Declan Burns

Tapped manifold



Declan Burns

Thought this may help...so reactavated the thread:
"Stopping the oil leak on the Moss tappet cover"

About the same time I believe we had a thread going on air cleaners & venting ...but darned if I can find it!
David Sheward

To stop the leaks on any XPAG sidecover or valvecover use the ROadster Gasket . It really works. Tom Lange has them for sale.
Tom Maine (TD8105)

Dave, the reactivated thread was both fascinating and helpful as was the Moss article linked by Bruce. Thanks to everyone.
Jud

J K Chapin

I think Tony was referring to the engine breather pipe as opposed to the air filter breather pipe. Mine is 16" (TF 1500, matching numbers car).

Matthew.
M Magilton

Thanks Matthew for bring the discussion back to the subject. Reminds me of that Army Whispers Joke !.

The survey results to date from this and other forums (further contributions still welcome):-

TB - ?
TC - 50cm
YT - 38cm
YA - 38cm
YB - 38cm
TD - 39cm
TF - 40cm

It was always my understanding that the air flow through the XPAG crackcase was IN via the air cleaner pipe at the top of the rocker cover, and OUT via the breather pipe under the car.

Why does the TC need a longer breather pipe than all the others ?.


A L SLATTERY

Probably to suit what ever Morris/Wolseley cars were sharing at the time, MG being the low-production cousin using the cast offs.

Matthew.
M Magilton

ALS
Just measured my '49 TC - totally original - 500mm or close thereto.
Peter Malkin

1950 TD - 40cm approx
Tim
Tim Wilkinson

Totally OT and with apologies to A L: Anybody who takes a drive in 45 degree weather just because it's sunny is looney - ergo Jud is looney. It was glorious!! Went to the store and got milk and icecream - didn't need a cooler. IC hard as a brick when I put it in the freezer. God i love my topless TD!!
Jud
J K Chapin

This thread was discussed between 28/12/2012 and 30/12/2012

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.