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MG MGF Technical - Oil Leak

Hi everyone.

I have recently purchased a 1996 MGF 1.8 and am chuffed to bits with it. Bought it just in time for the great weather we have been having here in North Wales recently.

The car has a very slight oil leak which my usual mechanic says is coming from the gearbox where the linkage goes in. He says the seal can only be replaced by part-dismantling the gearbox, but reckons that its not worth bothering about as the oil loss is very minimal. Looking at the paperwork I got with the car the same leak was mentioned by an MG Rover dealer about 30,000 miles ago, so perhaps other owners have decided it's not worth bothering with!

Has anyone else had experience of this? What would it cost to repair?

Grateful for any advice. Thanks.
Keith Phillips

Is the oil leaking at the point where the bell housing meets the engine?

If so it looks like I've got the same problem :-(
Bob Millar

>Is the oil leaking at the point where the bell housing meets the engine?

Oh dear, this will be the crankshaft oil seal. Are you making sure the engine is fully drained down before checking the oil level?
Will Munns

Thanks for your comments.

I can't actually see where the oil is coming from as I can only view the drip by looking under the car from the rear. However, it drips from a square shaped piece of metal that protrudes downwards just forward of the flexi-pipe.

A drip only forms once or twice a week (less if I don't use the car), and wouldn't appear to have got any worse since the MG Rover dealer noticed it 30,000 miles ago (in 2001).

Thanks.
Keith Phillips

> Oh dear, this will be the crankshaft oil seal. Are you making sure the engine is fully drained down before checking the oil level?

Oil level is always spot on. There's never any oil puddles underneath it but there's always oil residue around the lowest point where the bell housing meets the engine.

Originally thought it was the driveshaft oil seals but cant be them. Never thought of crankshaft oil seal! Bugger.
Bob Millar

If it's an oily jacket then the loss is insignificant and I would not worry about it.
Will Munns

This thread was discussed between 18/05/2004 and 19/05/2004

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