MGA Service Schedule
The periodical maintenance table shows the maintenance schedule advised by the MG Car Company in their technical publications at the time of MGA production. It therefore relates to cars in regular use, as they would have been at the time, and does not account for occasional use or cars which are stored for some time. Some interpretation may therefore be necessary to account for typical MGA use today. It is suggested that for cars covering low annual mileages, the 1000 mile (1K) service should be carried out at 1 month intervals while the car is in use, the 3000 mile (3K) service at 3 month intervals, and so on.*
In addition to the periodical maintenance described in the table, the following checks should be made weekly:
- Check oil level in engine and top up if necessary.
- Check water level in radiator and top up if necessary.
- Check brake fluid level and top up reservoir if necessary.
- Check battery electrolyte level and top up if necessary.
- Check windscreen washer reservoir and top up if necessary.
- Check function of original equipment: exterior lamps, wipers and indicators.
- Check tyres for tread depth and any damage, including cuts in fabric, exposure of carcass, lumps or bulges.
- Check tyre pressures, including spare, and regulate if necessary.
- Check tightness of wheel fastenings.
| Body |
1K |
3K |
6K |
12K |
| Lubricate door hinges, bonnet lock and operating mechanisms |
|
x |
x |
x |
| Check and tighten if necessary door hinges and striker plate securing screws |
|
|
x |
x |
| Electrical |
1K |
3K |
6K |
12K |
| Check battery cell specific gravity readings and top up to correct level |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Lubricate dynamo bearing |
|
|
|
x |
| Check headlamp beam setting and reset if necessary |
|
|
|
x |
| Wheels & Tyres |
1K |
3K |
6K |
12K |
| Check tyre pressures and check wheel nuts for tightness |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Change wheels round diagonally, including spare, to regularize tyre wear |
|
x |
x |
x |
| Check wheel alignment |
|
|
x |
x |
* Low-mileage cars: the intervals in this schedule are the factory's, written for cars in regular everyday use. With many classic MGs now covering fewer than 3,000 miles a year, Roger Parker suggests a pragmatic alternative based on long hands-on experience: on very low-mileage cars the lubrication service can be carried out once every 12 months, pumping each grease nipple until fresh grease emerges rather than giving the usual three or four strokes, with an intermediate greasing every six months as a belt-and-braces option. Both approaches are sound. Read Roger's full reasoning in Classic MG Lubrication Part One and Part Two coming soon.
Castrol LM, the grease specified on this page, is no longer available. Roger Parker suggests Castrol High Temperature Grease (1503AD) as a replacement wherever LM was used.
Lubrication Chart
Note: Ensure that the car is standing on a level surface when checking the oil levels.
Every 250 Miles (400Km)
(1) ENGINE. Check the oil level with the dipstick and replenish if necessary with Castrol Classic XL20w/50 oil.
Every 1000 Miles (1600Km)*
(2) GEARBOX. Check the oil level with the dipstick and replenish if necessary with Castrol Classic XL20w/50.
(3) REAR AXLE. Remove the filler plug and replenish to the filler plug level with Castrol EP90 oil.
(4) STEERING. Give three or four strokes of grease gun filled with Castrol LM grease to the nipples on the steering joints.
(5) PROPELLER SHAFT. Give the coupling and sliding joint nipples (as fitted) three or four strokes of grease gun filled with Castrol LM grease.
(6) HANDBRAKE. Give the cable nipples three or four strokes of grease gun filled with Castrol LM grease.
(7) CARBURETTERS. Remove the cap from the top of each suction chamber and add a few drops of SU Carburetter Damper Oil.
(8) HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. Inspect the fluid level in the master cylinder and replenish if necessary with similar grade of fluid to that already in the system.
Every 3000 Miles (5000Km)
(9) ENGINE. Drain off the old oil from the sump and refill with fresh Castrol Classic XL20w/50 oil. CONTROL JOINTS, DOOR LOCKS, HINGES. Lubricate with oilcan filled with light oil.
Every 6000 Miles (10000Km)
(10) DISTRIBUTOR. Withdraw the rotor arm and add a few drops of light oil to the cam bearing and advance mechanism, through the gap around the cam spindle. Add a spot of oil to the contact breaker pivot and smear the cam lightly with Castrol LM grease.
(11) OIL FILTER. Release the filter bowl, wash in fuel and fit a new element.
(12) GEARBOX. Drain off the old oil and refill with fresh Castrol Classic XL20w/50.
(13) REAR AXLE. Drain off the old oil and refill with fresh Castrol EP90.
(14) WATER PUMP. Remove the oiling plug (if fitted) from the water pump and lubricate sparingly with Castrol LM grease.
(15) FRONT HUBS. Prise off the hub grease retaining cap, refill the cap with Castrol LM grease and replace securely.
Every 12000 Miles (20000Km)
(16) DYNAMO. Add a few drops of light oil through the oil hole in the commutator end bearing.
(17) STEERING. Give up to ten strokes to the nipple on the rack housing and two strokes only to the pinion shaft nipple with Castrol EP90.
MGA 12,000 Mile Service Kits
Working through the 12K column above means ordering eight or nine separate consumables, and it only takes one wrong distributor part to leave the car on axle stands waiting for a second delivery. The MGA service kit collects them into a single boxed pack, matched to the 1500, 1600 and 1600 Mk II pushrod cars. The Twin Cam is handled separately, as its engine architecture and spark plug specification differ throughout.
Each kit contains:
Two versions are available. The MGA service kit with air filters (ASK1C) adds the air cleaner elements, and suits a full 12,000 mile service where the elements are being renewed at the same time. The MGA service kit without air filters (ASK1CA) covers everything else, and is the one to choose if your car runs non-standard filtration or the elements were changed at the last service.
MGA Cooling Hose Kit
Cooling hoses harden and crack with age, and a hose that looks sound on the outside can be soft or collapsing inside. Our cooling hose kits renew every flexible hose in the circuit in one go: the top and bottom radiator hoses, heater hoses, bypass hose and, where fitted, the overflow and expansion tank hoses, with clips. The hoses are polyester-reinforced and rated to 135°C.
- MGA – cooling hose kit (CHK010)
The Twin Cam uses a different cooling layout, so check with our sales team on 01954 230928 before ordering for a Twin Cam. Browse the full range of cooling hose kits.
Workshop Tools for MGA Servicing
Very little of this schedule calls for specialist equipment, but a few items make the difference between a job done properly and a job done approximately. A grease gun is essential, as the 1000 mile interval touches a dozen nipples across the steering, propeller shaft and handbrake. Feeler gauges cover both the valve rocker clearances and the contact points gap. A hydrometer is the only way to read battery cell specific gravity as the schedule intends, rather than guessing from a voltmeter. Our workshop tools range covers servicing equipment for classic MGs.