Follow our checklist to ensure your MG is ready for the road this summer...

With a summer of driving your MG to look forward to, it’s worthwhile spending a few minutes checking over a number of components to help avoid the disappointment of breaking down or discovering niggling problems that could have been fixed.

In this guide, we look at some of the key areas to test, check and service before taking your MG out onto the open road.

Where to start when preparing for motoring season

The range and depth of our recommended checks depends to some extent on when you last used your MG. For instance, if it was several months ago, then the fuel in the tank may have gone stale. 

In this case, it helps to add an ethanol stabiliser, such as Classic Valvemaster, which increases performance whilst combating the harmful effects of ethanol, prevents corrosion in the fuel system and treats acidity (not suitable for cars with a catalytic converter, but see Etha Guard for these cars). 

To help you learn more, we’ve produced a video on this to explain all about it.

 

The state of the battery is another consideration – and hopefully, you’ve disconnected it or fitted a battery isolator or master switch along with a trickle charger to keep it topped up. If the battery fails to fully recharge, then it may be better to replace it. 

MGOC Spares stock 6-volt batteries that are suitable for the MGA, MGB, MGC and V8. They are supplied pre-filled with electrolyte and delivered the next working day to your home or workshop (England and Wales destinations only).
 

Preparing an MG for motor season: Your checklist

1. Fluid checks

Checking the engine oil via the dipstick and making sure there’s coolant in the radiator is part of a weekly check for most MGs, but it goes a little deeper if the vehicle hasn’t been used for a few months. 

The coolant, for instance, should be checked for contamination, topped up if it’s low and replaced in accordance with manufacturer guidelines. Ideally, the blue-coloured coolant should be changed every two years, whereas the pink-coloured fluid is every five or six years, although MGOC Spares offers ForLife Coolant that’s effective for 10 years or more. 

The brake fluid can be similarly tested with a Gunson brake fluid tester, which measures the quantity of water in the fluid – brake fluid is hydroscopic, so it absorbs water, which results in corrosion and damage to internal seals. Some manufacturers recommend it should be refreshed every couple of years and we recommend it should be replaced entirely every five years. 

Engine oil should be refreshed at least every year, but instead of waiting until the end of the summer season, why not start with a service? 

Oil degrades regardless of whether the engine is run or not. And components such as filters can also break down over time, so investing in a comprehensive service kit before you hit the road will help. 

Carrying out an engine service on your MG can be a fun way to spend a couple of hours and gives peace of mind. 

2. Rubber checks

Rubber deteriorates over time and through heat cycles (cold winter days versus heat from the engine), so squeeze all the rubber coolant hoses in the engine bay (before running the engine) to look for perishing and leaks. New, made-to-measure coolant hoses can be ordered in kits to fit to specific MGs.

Twist the auxiliary drivebelt (fanbelt) to inspect it and ensure its tension is roughly a quarter of a turn.

The tyres need to be meticulously checked because they are all that keeps the car on the road. Start by checking their pressures using a pressure gauge and measure the depth of the tread, which should be at least 1.6mm in the UK. 

Look and feel for bulges and damage to the sidewalls (both sides), and also check the four-digit date stamp displayed near the dimensions of the tyre. 2312, for instance, means the tyre was manufactured in the 23rd week of 2012. Tyres should be replaced every six or seven years.  

MGOC Spares keep a range of quality tyres on the shelf to suit your MG, from Falken and Yokohama.  

Roll the car forwards a little to check the tread of the tyres where it made contact with the ground when stored. If it seems to be flat (called a flat spot), this may re-form, but could result in a tapping sound when driving and shaking may be felt through the steering wheel. 

It may be wiser to replace such a tyre, but in the future, use tyre savers when storing a vehicle, which help to avoid this problem.

 

3. Brake test

After rolling your MG to check those tyres, make sure the vehicle can be easily moved. If it’s a battle to move it, the brakes may be dragging, which could result in them overheating. 

Whilst it’s wise to store a vehicle with the handbrake off and the wheels chocked, problems can still arise, which may mean the brakes need a stripdown and check over. 

Similarly, check the brake pedal is firm and doesn’t sink to the floor, which could suggest there’s a fluid leak somewhere. And check the clutch pedal can be operated to select gears.
 

4. Flies and summer showers

Even if you hope to avoid driving your MG in wet weather, the windscreen wipers will inevitably be needed at some point, even if it’s to remove the splatter of dead flies. Unfortunately, the wipers and washers on classic MGs are not as good as on modern vehicles, but there are some products that can help. 

First, using a good-quality screen wash helps to degrease the windscreen. Fitting new windscreen wiper blades and arms will ensure they are up to the job – old rubber blades drag across the glass instead of clearing it with the arm providing tension against the screen for a clean sweep. 

See our video on how to safely replace wiper arms and blades to learn more.

Ensuring the windscreen washer jets provide a strong enough spray of screen wash is a problem on some MGs, such as chrome bumper MGBs and Midgets and the MGC. Upgrading to a later, Lucas-style electric washer kit will help.

Whether you get caught in the rain or not, applying a product such as Rain-X helps to disperse the rain more efficiently. To help you learn more, MGOC Spares has produced a video on how to use this product properly.

5. Bulb checks

A quick check that all the bulbs for the indicators, brake lights, rear and headlights are working takes a matter of minutes. Blown bulbs are often straightforward to replace, but sometimes damp or corrosion is the problem that’s just as quick to spot. 

6. Greasing up

Spend a few minutes spraying a light grease over the locks and hinges for the doors, bonnet and bootlid. This will eliminate any squeaks and prevent them seizing. Products such as Corrosion Block and ACF-50 include a rust inhibitor (also known as an anti-corrosion lubricant).

Applying a smear of red rubber grease to the dust covers for the suspension and steering, plus the rubber mounts or bushes for the suspension will help to keep them supple and prevent them drying out and cracking. 

And if you have a grease gun, pumping some multipurpose grease through the grease nipples for any trunnions, ball-joints and propshaft UJs will help to keep them moving freely.

And finally…

Before you’re ready to venture out, run the engine up to temperature to listen for any abnormal noises (exhaust manifold blowing, top-end tappet rattle), to check the oil pressure (if a gauge is fitted) and to monitor the coolant temperature. 

Store some tools (in a tool roll), hose clips, gaffer tape and cable ties in the boot and make sure you have breakdown cover and a fully charged mobile phone to get you home if needed. Make regular local shakedown runs to pick up milk and a paper in preparation for longer tours. 

A little preparation is all it takes to ensure you want to drive your MG for the summer – instead of dreading the next problem that may arise.

Who are MGOC Spares?

At MGOC Spares, we provide dedicated parts and accessories for classic MG vehicles, including the MGB, Midget, MGC and many more. 

With thousands of products in stock, we are your one-stop shop for all your classic car needs. Our wealth of expertise means that you can trust us to find the right part for your classic MG vehicle – whatever it may be.

Need support finding the right parts for your MG? Contact us today, we're happy to help!