MG Midget 1275 & 1500 Service Schedule

In addition to the periodic maintenance the following checks should be made weekly:

Check/top up engine oil
Check/top up brake fluid reservoir
Check/top up battery electrolyte
Check/top up cooling system
Check/top up washer reservoir
Check function of original equipment, i.e. exterior lamps, wipers, and warning indicators
Check tyres for tread depth, visually for external cuts in fabric, exposure of ply or cord structure, lumps and bulges.
Check/adjust tyre pressures, including spare.
Check tightness of wheel fastenings.

Carry out the services indicated by 'x' at 3,000 mile (3K) or 3-month intervals, at 6,000 mile (6K) or 6-month intervals and at 12,000 mile (12K) or 12-month intervals. Items marked * require specialist workshop equipment to carry out accurately. Items marked † are explained in the note on low-mileage cars beneath the tables.

This schedule covers both the 1275cc and the 1500. Very few mechanical components are shared between the two, so check your chassis number before ordering any service item: the 1275cc (GAN4/GAN5) uses the BMC A-Series engine and ribcase gearbox, while the 1500 (GAN6) uses the Triumph 1493cc engine and single-rail gearbox.

Engine	3K	6K	12K
Check/top up engine oil - Castrol XL20W 50			x
Renew engine oil and filter		x	x
Renew carburetter air cleaner elements			x
Top up carburetter piston dampers - SU damper oil		x	x
Check/adjust carburetter idle speed and mixture settings*		x	x
Renew fuel filter			x
Renew engine filler cap			x
Check/adjust valve clearances			x
Check cooling/heater systems for leaks and hoses for security and condition	x	x	x
Check/top up cooling system - Forlife/antifreeze	x	x	x
Check/adjust operation of screen washers and top up reservoir - Castrol screen wash	x	x	x
Check driving belt; adjust or renew	x	x	x
Lubricate accelerator control linkage (and pedal pivot) - check operation		x	x

Ignition	6K	12K
Clean/adjust spark plugs	x
Renew spark plugs		x
Check distributor points; adjust or renew	x	x
Lubricate distributor	x	x
Check/adjust ignition timing and distributor characteristics using electronic equipment*	x	x

Transmission	3K	6K	12K
Check/top up gearbox (1275cc: XL20W 50; 1500: EP90) and rear axle oil (EP80/90)		x	x
Check/top up clutch fluid reservoir - Castrol Response Dot4	x	x	x
Lubricate propeller shaft†		x	x

Steering & Suspension	3K	6K	12K
Check steering rack for oil leaks	x	x	x
Check hydraulic dampers for fluid leaks - Castrol medium damper oil	x	x	x
Check condition and security of steering unit joints and gaiter	x	x	x
Check/adjust front wheel alignment*		x	x
Lubricate all grease points, excluding hubs - Castrol LM Grease†		x	x

Brakes	3K	6K	12K
Check visually hydraulic pipes and unions for chafing, leaks and corrosion	x	x	x
Check/top up brake fluid reservoir - Castrol Response Dot 4/ Silicone brake fluid	x	x	x
Check/adjust foot brake and hand brake operation	x	x	x
Inspect brake pads for wear, discs for condition		x
Inspect brake linings/pads for wear, drums/discs for condition			x
Lubricate hand brake mechanical linkage (and cables)†		x	x
Clean servo filter element			x

Electrical	3K	6K	12K
Check function of original equipment, i.e. interior and exterior lamps, screen wipers, horns, and warning indicators	x	x	x
Check/top up battery electrolyte	x	x	x
Clean and grease battery connections		x	x
Check/adjust headlamp alignment*	x	x	x
Check, if necessary renew, windscreen wiper blades	x	x	x

Exhaust, Fuel & Clutch Pipes	3K	6K	12K
Check clutch pipes for leaks and chafing	x	x	x
Check fuel system for leaks, pipes and unions for chafing and corrosion*	x	x	x
Check exhaust system for leaks and security	x	x	x
Check fuel filler tank connections	x	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.

MG Midget 1275 & 1500 Lubrication Chart

Note: Ensure that the car is standing on a level surface when checking the oil levels.

Weekly
(1) ENGINE. Check the oil level with the dipstick, and top up if necessary. After switching off the engine always allow a short period of time to elapse before checking the oil level.

Every 3,000 miles (5000km) or 3 months Optional Lubrication
(1) ENGINE. Drain and refill with new oil.

Every 6,000 miles (10000 km) or 6 months†
(2) ENGINE. Drain and refill with new oil.
(3) ENGINE OIL FILTER. Remove the disposable cartridge, fit new.
(4) CARBURETTORS. Top up the carburettor piston dampers.
(5) ACCELERATOR. Lubricate accelerator control linkage, cable and pedal fulcrum.
(6) DISTRIBUTOR. Lubricate all parts as necessary. Do not oil the cam wiping pad.
(7) REAR AXLE. Check oil level, and top up if necessary.
(8) GEARBOX. Check oil level, and top up if necessary (1275cc: Castrol Classic XL20w/50; 1500: Castrol EP90).

Give three or four strokes with a grease gun:
(9) STEERING TIE-ROD BALL JOINT
(10) FRONT SUSPENSION (6 nipples)
(11) HANDBRAKE CABLE (1 nipple) AND MECHANICAL LINKAGE

(12) DYNAMO add a few drops of oil through the oil hole.
LOCKS AND HINGES. Lubricate the bonnet release safety catch and all locks and hinges. Do not oil the steering lock.

Every 12,000 miles or 12 months
(13) STEERING RACK (Early cars with an oil nipple fitted) Give 10 strokes with an oil gun
(14) WATER PUMP (Early cars only) Remove plug and add grease. Do not over-grease

Every 30,000 miles or 36 months
(15) STEERING RACK (Later cars - from Car No G-AN5-114643) Lubricate steering rack - should be carried out by a qualified mechanic.

MG Midget 12,000 Mile Service Kits

MG Midget 12,000 mile service kit The 12K column above calls for a string of separate consumables, and ordering them line by line leaves room for one wrong part to hold up the whole service. The Midget service kits collect them into a single boxed pack, with the contents matched to your engine and oil filter type. Each kit covers the routine consumables for a full 12,000 mile service, including engine oil and sump plug washer, oil filter, spark plugs, contact points, condenser, SU carburetter damper oil, fan belt and rocker cover gasket.

Each version is available with or without air filters:

1098cc – with air filters (MSK1C) or without air filters (MSK1CA)
1275cc with bowl-type paper element oil filter – with air filters (MSK2C) or without air filters (MSK2CA)
1275cc with spin-on canister oil filter – with air filters (MSK3C) or without air filters (MSK3CA)
1500cc – with air filters (MSK4C) or without air filters (MSK4CA)

MG Midget Cooling Hose Kits

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.

Up to 1967 – cooling hose kit (CHK4)
1275cc cross-flow radiator with square heater box, 1968–1970 – cooling hose kit (CHK5)
1275cc cross-flow radiator with round heater box, 1970–1974 – cooling hose kit (CHK6)
1500cc (not USA specification) – cooling hose kit (CHK7)

Browse the full range of cooling hose kits.

MG Midget Ignition Service Kits

Worn points, a tired condenser and a tracking distributor cap cause more poor starting and rough running than almost anything else. Our ignition service kits renew the distributor wear items together, matched to the distributor fitted to your car:

1098cc and 1275cc, 25D4 distributor – ignition service kit (ISK5)
1500cc, 45D4 distributor – ignition service kit (ISK6)
Distributors with sliding contact points – ignition service kit (ISK7)

See all Midget ignition service kits.

Workshop Tools for Midget Servicing

Most of this schedule needs nothing beyond a decent spanner set, but a few items are worth having before you start. A grease gun is essential, as the 6,000 mile interval covers eight nipples across the steering tie-rod, front suspension and handbrake cable, and the early steering rack takes an oil gun rather than grease. Feeler gauges cover both the valve clearances and the distributor points gap. A hydrometer is the only way to read battery electrolyte condition as the schedule intends, rather than guessing from a voltmeter. The items marked * above need workshop equipment to set accurately and are usually worth handing to a specialist. Our workshop tools range covers servicing equipment for classic MGs.