MGB Spark Plug types.

[mgtony]

I decided to take a look at the condition of my spark plugs yesterday. Three of them are the conventional type, and one has three prongs at the bottom, like this:



Anyone have any thoughts on this type? should they all be the same type?

They were all only a slight tan colour, so should they be ok for while or would I be better off replacing them?

[na]

Hi Tony, sorry missed your post

that looks like the Bosch three prong type, more difficult to clean

I don't like the idea of a one off in a set of four, I'd change the whole set then you know where you are

I got a load of NOS copper core ones direct cheap and was for various reasons changing them about every 9 months until I saw they had a two year warranty so now I think I'll clean them every 6 months and change them every two years unless they look bad before that

First sets I got were fixed cap I wish I'd kept them

See here - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-x-RN9YC-Spark-Plugs-fit-MG...

contact for multipule discount, pity they're so heavy for posting

[mgtony]

Thanks Nigel,

I think I'll go ahead and pick up a new set. Those Champion ones seem to be a popular choice. I noticed the MGOC do a premium set but they are about £6 each!

The car is running pretty well as it is, so you know the phrase "if it aint broke, don't fix it" , watch this space!

One other quickie, how much oil do you think the engine needs from the minimum to the maximum marks on the dipstick?

[alfa pint]

Can't see the pics at work, but I'll have a look when I get home.

I used both NGK and Champion CC spark plugs over the years and didn't feel there was much difference between them. Took them out every few months, re-gapped where necessary, quick clean up with a wire brush and pop them back in, replaced maybe every two years or whenever the car felt like it needed them.

Oil wise, 1/4 litre is probably enough to top it up. Definitely not more than a half litre.

[mgtony]

Cheers for that.

Haven't changed the plugs in the few years I've had the car although it's not done too many miles and they were all in pretty much the same condition as the one in the pic.

20/50 oil ok? Any brands prefered, Halfords do a classic 20/50 I believe.

[na]

mgtony said:

Cheers for that.

Haven't changed the plugs in the few years I've had the car although it's not done too many miles and they were all in pretty much the same condition as the one in the pic.

20/50 oil ok? Any brands prefered, Halfords do a classic 20/50 I believe.

you're worrying me now Tony, not done too many miles, tut, tut, hope you're using it regularly and keeping up with servicing and have cleaned those plugs before

20/50 Halfords or Castol, changing the oil filter and oil cap (if plastic with mesh type) as well as oil once a year

on a B I'd guess half litre or so between min and max on dip stick - I've unusually found filling to max line dissapears but leave at three-quarters it's fine

I recommend you get (buy or out) the owners Handbook for all your needs as an owner (or potential owners) - http://www.mgocshop.co.uk/catalog/Online_Catalogue...
(Ref: 0053)

what about your points, rotor arm, leads, dissy cap - see - http://www.distributordoctor.com/red-rotor-arms.ht...

Tony you've probably seen me putting this stuff before but it's here for others and it's prime basic stuff that helps the car and driver get better and prevent future problems

MOT for my Midget this afternoon and annual service at the weekend (I service the car and oil change and small service every 6 months) aint I the goody-two-shoes, narh, not really, I can't stand an unreliable car

[mgtony]

I use it nearly every weekend through the summer and give it a run out on a Sunday the rest of the year (as long as it's not raining!)
Now to be absolutely truthful, it had been prepped for sale by Browns and Gammons just before I bought it. I put new blue silicone leads on when I got it, £40 Since then it's run fine without touching it, had the bottom hose split and a new battery and that's it.
The oil level is reading just on the minimum, but I think I've only ever had to put a drop in it to bring it back upto the max. Ashamed to say this but as it's been running fine this is the first time I've looked at the plugs. The air filters look like new aswell but I'll pop a couple of new ones in.
It's MOT is the beginning of April so I might get the rotor/dissy/points checked over at the same time.
I replaced the rear axle oil recently and want to check the gear box oil.

Found a copy of the handbook in the glove compartment a couple of months ago and thought of you!

[alfa pint]

It's not a particularly complicated engine, so it doesn't need a particularly complicated gucci oil! Any old 20/50 will work just fine.

Consider changing the air filters for K+Ns if you want to start tweaking the performance any. The B head doesn't breathe well at all.

Bottom hoses always split! Seem to last about 5 years tops; I've got quite slick at it now.

You probably know this already, but if you need to top up or change the gearbox oil, clean the overdrive filters (by taking off the panel at the back of the box) and replace with engine oil, not gearbox oil. The overdrive doesn't like the thinner gearbox oils.

[mgtony]

Does the overdrive have oil or is it lubricated by the gearbox oil?
I normally drop the car off at the MG man when it needs looking at!
Would you suggest replacing the needles for AAA's if I put on K&N's?

Back to spark plugs, I read a gap of .025 for early B's and .035 for 76-80 cars.

[na]

mgtony said:

Found a copy of the handbook in the glove compartment a couple of months ago and thought of you!

so I’m getting the message out, I can get ovther things wrong or have different opinions but no one can argue with the sense of this and being great advice

Mine's going into B&G week after next to get rid of my stupidly low exhaust manifold

B&G I can recommend, wished I’d went there a couple of years sooner rather than a certain ‘specialist’

Standard hoses are now a waste of space, I’m amazed they last 5 years, present lot don’t, mine crazed within 9 months so as soon as I got the oppitunity to swap to silicone I did (not as available to Spridgets as Bs)

As Alfa says cleaning/changing air filters is a good idea – don’t think about performance tweaks until you’ve carried out a full and proper 36,000 mile service, basics before frills

(K&Ns are nice thou’ and don’t even need cleaning for 50-100,000 miles, sound good especially with the stub stacks, then you may need to tune your carbs)

And changing g/box oil, unless you know it’s been done for sure within the last 3 years is a good idea – of course what Alfa points out is in your Handbook, read it thoroughly and you’ll know more than the majority of B owners I'd guess

Best to keep your engine oil well away from min mark just in case, same as having fresh or good condition coolant and of course brake (and clutch) fluid

I bet a simple 12,000 mile/year service on your car would make it feel like it’s been “tuned”

Edited by na on Thursday 10th March 13:59

[perdu]

So Nigel?

M O T?

How did we do?

I use almost any 20W/50 in my car

Halfords classic, dyed green to look like Duckhams

But it isn't. (Can stink like cat pee too)

Asda 20/50 when you can get it is fine too

Your local car spares joint often has cheapo 20/50 deals too, maybe a can of Comma or such

I am in favour of regular changing which will mean the quality is less important, because you wouldn't be using it during its "breaking down" end of life cycle

[na]

perdu said:

So Nigel?

M O T?

How did we do?

Well Bill, an advisery !! 'Near-Side front wheel bearing has slight play'

Wasn't the usual chap that used to MOT Spridgets when they were new but as the car is going into B&G week after next I'll leave it with the experts to decide

perdu said:

I am in favour of regular changing which will mean the quality is less important, because you wouldn't be using it during its "breaking down" end of life cycle

I was thinking of using Mobil 1 and going to once a year change but its so dear now and they don't do 15/50 any more so back sticking to twice a year with Halfords or Castrol

Bit of a hickup yesterday Halfords don't sell the oil caps, the Halfords one I thought it was wasn't