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MG TD TF 1500 - External Oil Line Banjo Bolt Again

I am confused. Should I change it or leave it alone?

Looking at Dave Brauns archive I found that I had the line to the oil gage on the head rather than the bottom. I think it was always there since the copper pipe was formed to put it there.

I reformed it and moved it to the crankcase but I find that I my banjo bolts both have the same size hole. Dave shows two sizes, I checked that archive and (I think) the smaller hole did nt appear until engine #s in the 33000 range, mine is in the 22000 range.
I checked Moss and he lists the same banjo part # for top and bottom. I ceched Abingdon and they have three but do not specify the difference.

I understand the restriction is 0.055" I can easially make a press-fit brass plug with a restrictor, but should I?

The engine ran for 44K miles the way it was (Perhaps it did more its not the original, there is evidence something blew up)

What to do?

Jim B.

JA Benjamin

There may have been a few cars with the gauge feed off of the head. The only thing that is important is the oil pressure in the main galley. So the takeoff should be at the main galley, with no restriction at the lower end. Some years ago I spent hours chasing low oil pressure on a friend's TD after rebuild. Seems that one of the banjos had been soldered shut, drilled out (with resulting restriction)in years past to make up for low pressure and worn rockers. At assembly, the restricted bolt was put in the bottom causing the low gauge reading (pressure to the head, not main galley pressure). George
George Butz

Jim,

I find that the amount of oil getting to the rocker shaft and the rocker area is excessive with the large holes in the banjos. That is the primary reason I use the restricted bolt. Since I want to read unrestricted pressure at the oil pressure gauge take-off, it only makes sense to place the restricted banjo at the top of the pipe to allow a reduced flow to the rocker shaft, and feed the pressure gauge off the bottom. This is the system that has always been on my car. Rebuilding the engine lifted the oil pressure due to an improvement in the lower bearings, from about (hot) 10 psi at idle and 40 psi running, to 25 psi idle and 70 psi running. Anyway, it is all about flow, not pressure at the top of the engine for me.

If I were not concerned with the amount of oil my pump was delivering at the rockers, I would go with two unrestricted banjos and take the pressure off of either, but probably the lower since that is the type of fittings I already have. Older engines have a slightly different fitting system with non-hex banjo heads, I believe.

Hope this helps,
dave
Dave Braun

This thread was discussed on 23/12/2011

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