Expert: jack bahm - 5/30/2008

Question
I have a 76 mg midget and today on the first day home it did fairly good until we shut off the engine and started pre-inspection to see what we need to do. the car leaked a good amount of oil about       
less than half a quart. But when we started the engine and ran it for a while it didn't do it. Now one side of the engine and under neath is caked in old oil any thoughts? I  haven't had time to mess with it since earlier but I thought you maybe able to give me some info.

Answer
I am not an MG guy, but here is what you can do.  clean off the old oil and then look for where it is coming from.  ou may have to rev the engine to make it leak.  It should leak when it is running and continue when you shut it down.  I can't think of a way it can leak when you shut it down.  Oil leaks can fool you.  It can travel rearward, and then leak from a strange place.  Look good at the valve area cover.  Not sure what kind of cover that engine uses, but the oil gets pumped up into it, and it may leak from there.  Look for a way vacuum might stop the leak.  When the vacuum goes away, the oil showes itself.  Far out, but maybe!!!
Join an mg car club and ask them.  They will know all about your car.
Good luck.
jack