Just bought a 1976 Midget!! a couple questions from the pros

Hello everyone, proud new owner of a little 76 Midget, in the pic. Anyways When i start it up it has like 60 oil pressure and as it warms it drops. the lowest when its at norm running temp its around 5-8. Is this too low, the oil light flickers. the last owner used 5-30, I personally think since i will only be driving it in the summer, could i use say 10w40. I think this would give it more protection, or would that give it too much oil pressure at start up, or somehow not good for her. advice would be great! Other then that she has the weber down draft conv done, starts with no trouble, runs fine, and gets good fuel eco. when it idles its around 1000 rpm and feels a little rough. r they suppose to run like a sewing machine or have a little lump to it. just wondering if these things are normal or if i should play with anything. by the way its the 1500cc i think,

another pic, She is a sweet one. bought it from Saskatoon and Drove it 800km to her new home, no troubles, probably a crazy thing to do also with not knowing the car

Nice looking car. Looks like mine, even the engine compartment and the colors. Welcome to our forum! Book mark this site you will find lots of help here in the future.

I run and 20-50 oil in mine and have since I bought it. It is what is recommended by most. The idle oil pressure is low. When you start it up the 60 psi is normal but it should not run below 20 and when driving it down the road you should get 32-40.

What is your oil pressure at driving speed?

It should run like a sewing machine, if all is perfect. But as timing conditions wear and filter conditions go down it will start to run a little rough. My suggestion it to learn your engine, how to tune it, keep it clean, and you will know when it is time to work on it.

From the pictures, you have a Weber carburetor conversion. When set up right, works very well.

Yes again to 20w50 oil. Can't imagine anyone running 5w30 in an MG. Hopefully the previous owner hasn't done any other "strange" things to the car.

WOW 20w50. When i drove 800 km with it after about a hr running at 60mph rpm 3500-4000 the psi ran right around the 25psi with this 5-30 in it. however when i got into towns and had to do city traffic it would drop for idle to 5, when i go the pis would go back up to 10-20psi. She feels tired when hot,, a ragging bull of power when cold. Is it easy to adjust a webber, im not much a car guy. Thanks guys for all the help. I think 20w50 might increase this oil pressure when its hot, makes sense im sure the 5w30 must be like water when hot. lol By the way i do have the site book marked! Cheers

Nice looking Midget! 800 kms of driving in a new-to-you 32 year old car....bold move!

Thats some pretty low oil pressure. I idle at around 40 and im up at about 60 when driving.

Pick up a Haynes manual for your car, it has a lot of info. Lots of them on ebay, or i could send you my extra copy. There are better manuals out there but i cant recall the names.

Is there a Bentley's Manual that covers the 1500? I've never owned a 1500, but my experience with A-Series and B-Series leads me to expect to see 20-30PSI ant idle (hot) and 60-70 PSI running (hot).

Just to correct (partially) my first post, it seems that for the MGB, at least, they do recommend 5w30. But only if the temperature is below 0*F! For all temperatures above 10*F, they recommend 10w50, 10w40, 20w40 or 20w50.

P.S. I'm no pro.

Derek up North Wrote:

Well I hope that when i switch the oil to a thicker oil it will boost the psi, it should in thery?, at idle its at 800-1000rpm, oh and it is only when its hot. it does idle at 20-30psi till its at temp witch seems to take um about 30min of driving before its that low. I know i will switch the oil to 20w50. sounds like the right thing to do to the little girl

I hope it's not wear either, just the thin oil, but...

In any event, 20-50 has always been the reccommended oil, so you're definitely doing the right thing.

You might also see about verifying your oil pressure with a test gauge. It's possible that your pressure is OK but your gauge is whacked...

Just thought i would let u all know, i got the oil pan gasket changed, FYI, not the source of the leak.. its the fuel pump! so i put in the 20W50, increase of cold start psi to now 70psi, untill its at norm temp driving thro gears its 40-70psi, when at norm idle is 700rpm psi of 12-15. so im happy with that, i also went to prem fuel. she has no cat, headers straight to muffler. has the webber conv kit with no emmisions on it. so i thought it would be good to do.