Completing the changing of the MG Midget’s oils

[@artokiiskinen1058]

Thank you! I am going to look for my first ever british sports car on next sunday. A 1968 MG Midget. Hopefully the car is as good as the seller says, maybe I drive home on sunday with a new hobby. This video was nice information on the regular maintenance. Subbed.

[@JerryMotorsport]

Glad you found the video helpful. I hope the car you are going to see turns out to be a good example and it signifies the beginning of an adventure!

[@naveenpullha5227]

Thank you for your simple but concise explanation.

[@JerryMotorsport]

Many thanks for your feedback.

[@ethan073]

The oil filter paint had me laughing 😂 I know that sort of stuff happens to me!!

[@JerryMotorsport]

I felt such an idiot but I wanted to share my journey (good and bad) to show it is not at all perfect and maybe entertain and educate along the way 👍

[@janzienkiewicz5295]

This was an absolutely great video really has been so helpful 🙏

[@JerryMotorsport]

Thanks for watching and thanks for the feedback!

[@chrisofthedragons7982]

Super helpful videos . Really helped me get the oils done by getting me to check what all the plugs had to undo them and be prepared . Thanks :)

[@JerryMotorsport]

Hi Chris, really glad the videos have proved useful. I really need to get back into the garage again soon.

[@chrisofthedragons7982]

@@JerryMotorsport I’ve just bought myself a midget , so if you need garage time , I can lend you mine lol… had to rebuild the brakes the day after she came home as everything including the pedal had seized , think the steering is next for a fettle

[@michaelmay7079]

Thank you Jerry very good useful information

[@JerryMotorsport]

Glad you found it useful. Thanks for watching

[@046sillogue]

Thank you

[@JerryMotorsport]

You're welcome

[@jakekrachman7238]

Nice video. I need to go change a lot of my oils soon a and this could be a pretty helpfully guide for some of it(I have a 1500). Thank you

[@JerryMotorsport]

Hi Jake, thanks for the feedback. I hope your oil change goes well; the 1500 looks a heap easier to get the oil filter off. I was surprised just how long this all took. Great to know now that the oils are in tip top condition now and I can schedule in the correct maintenance routine now. Thanks for watching.

[@rangersasc]

Glad i found this mate cheers i just purchased a 1972 MG Midget with 43K i'm excited to start tuning it up. Jerry do you know if my 72 will take the same oil and such ?

[@JerryMotorsport]

If it is a 1275cc it should be the same recommended oils. Grab yourself a Haynes manual; they are a great start for looking after these cars. The Moss catalog is also a useful (and free in the UK) guide (including upgrades). The 1275 responds well to tuning; ours has a better exaust manifold and a fast-road camshaft as well as the twin SUs.

[@boosimon]

Raymond, I use a high zinc 20W-50 in my US '72 Midget (and my 20 year old V8 Land Rover). I understand that both need high zinc oils, but the MG didn't start getting this until a couple of years ago...whoops. I assume the oils marketed as suitable for classic cars have this. Doesn't look like the one I use is available in the UK, but for reference it's Valvoline VR1 www.summitracing.com/parts/vlv-881172

[@bisonuberti]

Jerry... question, how many quarts of engine 20w/50 oil do/did you use? Cheers.

[@JerryMotorsport]

Good question; something I should have included in full in the video. To do both the engine and gearbox, I used 5 litres (I think that’s about 5.3 quarts). The engine is supposed to take 3.7 litres of oil (about 4 quarts) with the gearbox taking 1.3 litres (1.4 quarts). The differential/ rear axle is supposed to take 1 litre (just over a quart). However I think my engine took a little more than the 3.7 litres due to the oil cooler, the gearbox must have taken a little less as a result. Plus I still had some EP90 left over after filling the diff. So quants are rough; main thing is to fill to correct levels.

[@afhostie]

You said that the transmission takes the same grade oil as the engine, 20w-50. Does that mean that you use engine oil instead of gear oil in the transmission?

[@JerryMotorsport]

David, many thanks for your comment; it is the same oil. I think generally gear oils are thicker whereas engine oils are thinner. I always thought it was odd to put engine oil in the gearbox. Your comment has prompted me to do some more research on the matter and if necessary I will change the oil; but do seem to recall no gear oils were at the specified grade and it is the grade that matters. Engine oils are designed to cope with the products of combustion as well as lubrication so I guess in a way the engine oil has properties not required in a gearbox.

[@afhostie]

@@JerryMotorsport I've seen some discussion of using Redline mt-90 instead of motor oil. Interestingly this is the oil the redline recommends, though the viscosity rating is as a replacement for a 15W40 motor oil and 75W90 for gear oil. No idea why the two are measured differently. I have some extra laying around so I might give it a shot. Does seem strange to use motor oil.

[@leeshaw8923]

Hi Jerry, great set of videos on the Midget. Could I ask where you got hold of your LED lamp? Is it magnetic?

[@JerryMotorsport]

Hi Lee, thanks for the feedback; some more videos on the Midget coming once I can get back into the garage. Funny story on the light; I actually found it outside my house one day. It has a broken fixing on one end but after aclean up and a USB charge up it worked fine. Yes it is magnetic and really really good. Not sure what brand it is though.

[@leeshaw8923]

Thanks for the reply Jerry, appreciated. I have a 1978 Midget so slightly different to yours but I'm finding the vids very interesting and helpful. I look forward to the next videos, cheers.

[@milkythemidget9564]

Hi Jerry good helpful videos. Can you help me I have got a 1500 water pump housing with a stripped thread can I drill it out and put a new thread or will it crack. Ps my first car so don’t laugh

[@JerryMotorsport]

Rob and Karen Northover glad you find the videos useful. Sorry to hear about your stripped thread. I’m afraid I don’t know much about the 1500 engine. Did this strip in the pump housing or head? You might get away with enlarging the thread in the housing but I couldn’t say for sure if it’s safe. If it is the stud in the housing they can be replaced. I’ve heard some replacement water pumps are slightly thinner and can cause the original bolts to strip the thread in the head when refitting as they end up too long and bottoming out. Thread inserts might be an option or replacement of the pump housing depending where the problem lies. Good luck getting it sorted and sorry I can’t help you with your problem.