Oil filler

[Nanpean]

My son and I have been having fun with our MGF project. All went well and we got it on the road a few weeks ago.

Then………. the head gasket went when my boy was driving it on the M5, which resulted in the Police and the RAC getting involved.

But we have now replaced the head gasket, and all seems well. Apart from me not remembering which hole was used to attach the oil filler to the inlet manifold. Unfortunately, there is a choice of two holes on the bracket, if I choose the wrong one then the dipstick won’t read correctly.

Can anyone help?

[talkingcars]

Hi and welcome to the forum

My son and I have a MGF project but progress is much slower than yours.

Sorry I can't help with your problem.

James

[nigelandjo]

Having just replaced the bracket on one of my cars, I can confirm it's the top hole.

[Rob Bell]

It is the top one -



I've had to glue the threaded insert back into the inlet manifold on both MGFs!

[Nanpean]

Thanks. I probably will need to take out 1/2 litre once I moved it down but I will know it will be right.

[ArntyR]

Hi folks. I wonder how many others are as curious as me (perhaps we out to get out in our F/TFs more )?

Mine's a 2010 MGMotors TF and I've just taken a pic that shows the bottom mounting hole instead...

I've changed the oil + filter with it like this and used a 4l pack plus around ~0.5l to bring it to the top of the stick - much the same as my ex-'05 TF so I suppose I need to ask nigelandjo in particular to confirm whether they changed the bracket on one of their 'chinese' TFs - or, if not, please confirm the fitment on one or both of their later TFs, please?

I wonder if my first action ought to be to drop mine down and see how much the dipstick 'overfills'?

(I'm a bit loath to do this since a 4.5l fill including the filter seems 'about as right as I've always done' in my experience with F 115, then TF 115 and now TF 135, plus I 'did' a friend's F recently + it took 4l w/out a filter swap...)

[Nanpean]

Why aren't things simple. The only solution is to annoy all MGF owners I see by asking " can I see your dip stick ".

[nigelandjo]

I'll need to take a look at one of the 85ths in daylight. The bracket I referred to changing was on an MGF Trophy.

[Neil Rushton]

It's definitely the bottom one on our 2010 TF I've just been in the garage to check, for some reason it has blue marker paint on the bolt head?

Edit: looking at the OPs picture it definitely looks like the bolt has been in the top hole to be honest?

[ArntyR]

Hi Neil Rushton, thanks for checking on yours . I wonder if nigelandjo (or anybody else) will be able to provide a casting vote?

Yes the OP's pic shows that the top hole has been used on his F, supported by Rob Bell's F, but paradoxically mine doesn't look as if it's had a bolt through it, so doubting myself and then looking up my own Feb'19 img gasket replacement pics - I left it in place - I can't see that I've taken mine off to put it back on through the wrong hole. Mine had a professional cambelt replacement by a previous owner in 2017; would it have need to have been removed then? (Not sure I can think why...)

Perhaps it'll be yet another MGMotors mystery/enhancement, but with my next oil + filter change I'll definitely be putting the handbook recommended 4.5l in and noting with care where it comes on the dip-stick...

ps I wonder what the blue marker paint might indicate?

[Neil Rushton]

Perhaps the blue marker paint is to ensure the bolt goes back in the correct place if you remove it?

[Nanpean]

I did not think the mark on the top hole was so noticeable when my son pointed it out. But in the picture it's clear.

May be the aluminum manifold uses the bottom hole and the plastic manifold uses the top? The result is, Rover is happy as only one part is needed and everyone else is confused.

[Charless]

Just to add some confusion to the mix. I have two January 1996 Mpis using the top hole and one 1999 VVC using the bottom hole. I suspect it may be something to do with the manifold - aluminium/plastic.

[mgtfnut]

Hi Neil Rushton, thanks for checking on yours . I wonder if nigelandjo (or anybody else) will be able to provide a casting vote?

Yes the OP's pic shows that the top hole has been used on his F, supported by Rob Bell's F, but paradoxically mine doesn't look as if it's had a bolt through it, so doubting myself and then looking up my own Feb'19 img gasket replacement pics - I left it in place - I can't see that I've taken mine off to put it back on through the wrong hole. Mine had a professional cambelt replacement by a previous owner in 2017; would it have need to have been removed then? (Not sure I can think why...)

Perhaps it'll be yet another MGMotors mystery/enhancement, but with my next oil + filter change I'll definitely be putting the handbook recommended 4.5l in and noting with care where it comes on the dip-stick...

ps I wonder what the blue marker paint might indicate?

I'm not sure what you mean.
I thought the lower end of the dip stick tube was bolted to the block with two set screws - hence the tube can't be moved up and down?

Surely, as suggested, it might be differences in inlet manifolds that determines which hole you use. It would make sense to make the bracket with two holes, just use the one which shows witness marks and a natural resting place. No problem

[ArntyR]

Loadsa checking (thanks folks) and almost as much variation .
F/TFs like to provide challenges; don't we know it!!!

[Rob Bell]

Ah - there may be a difference dependening on whether you have the plastic inlet manifold (as mine and Nanpean has) or the alloy inlet manifold - that there are two holes suggest that the oil filler bracket has a dual use for both MPi and VVC engines, and of course the 135PS HP MPi variant shares the same inlet plenum as the VVC

[ArntyR]

Yes that looks like the common denominator. Thanks for that; good to have closure + to purge unnecessary concerns...

[Mike H]

As with Neil, some posts above, 2010 plate TF, definitely the bottom hole.

[Nanpean]

Thanks for the replies and the conclusion made.

I have now moved the filler to the top hole as I have a plastic manifold. The has moved the dip stick reading as shown in the photos