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MG MGB Technical - Oil Seals

My car (76) has been apart for 16 years. What can I say life interfered in my plans.

During this time I have kept the engine oiled and turned it over regularly. It is sitting out of the car on a 4 wheeled dolly. I connected an oil pressure gauge and turned the engine over using the starter. It goes to 70 psi and stays there. I had a leak on the filter adapter to the block and changed the seal there. I was planning on trying to start and run the engine complete with rad and exhaust prior to installation but today I started thinking this might be a waste of effort. My concern was the crank oil seals. So my question is ... if I have 70 psi and no visible leak am I safe in assuming the seals have survived.

Thanks
Kelvin Hawkins

Kelvin,

Keep in mind that the oil pressure and the ability of the seals to prevent leaks have nothing to do with each other.

That said, I would have no fear of an engine that has been sitting for 16 years, particularly since you have turned it over and lubed it regularly.

I pulled a Sprite out of a field where it had been sitting for 12 years, blew the dust out of the carbs, ran some sandpaper between the points, and it started like it had been run the day bofore. So, I put it to work in an autocross car.

However, it seems you have this engine out of the car. So, go ahead and fire it up, and then, if it seems okay, put a new seal in the front and rear of the crankshaft before you install the engine. Also, pull the valve cover and pour oil over the valve train before you start it.

Charley
C R Huff

If it were me, I'd change the seals. What are talking about in
parts costs? $20? It beats having to haul everything out
again for a weeping seal (possibly) in 6-12 months.
Daniel Wong

I have an 80 LE that sat for some long period in its life prior to buying it. I ended up replacing almost every gasket in the engine, transmission and driveline. Some gasket materials are damaged more from non use than from a regular soaking of oil. It's probably wise to replace every gasket that is easy to get to with the engine out of the car. The head gasket can wait since in the car or out doesn't make much difference in the procedure and might be OK anyway. The engine might not leak oil in the beginning, but dried out, hardened gaskets will begin to leak over time and some of them, rear main seal, front timing gear cover for example, are easy to get to now, but lots of work and skinned knuckles when the engine is in the car. Look for a complete engine gasket set (head gasket is usually separate), usually cheaper than buying ala carte. Clean the surfaces and apply a thin layer of grease to dress all new gaskets for installation.
Rick Penland

This thread was discussed on 23/04/2011

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