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Having built a new MED 1380 type R engine for my coupe I am finding oil consumption a bit mystifying. Using about one pint/100 ish miles and no evidence of burning the stuff I have resorted to looking for leakage.
There is no static leakage.
After running the engine for 15 mins or so with clean newspaper underneath there is oil staining the following morning or sooner. (I only checked it the day after)
Both breathers are open to atmosphere.
I do suspect the dip stick and hole that it sits in and suspect that I have an A Series dipstick sat on the hole in the block with no seal resistance to speak of.
Is the A+ dipstick different and if so where can I get one from?
Any suggestions would be appreciated
Thanks in antissipation
Malc Jones (181)

Yeah that does seem like a bit of oil to be getting through, you would notice if it was burning it, as for the dipstick I can't remember what changes were made between A and A+ but what we use to do when I raced Miglas was to put a heavy O ring on the dipstick and then use a spring to hold the dipstick in,

Other areas to watch for leaking oil is obviously the two drive shaft seals, the gear selector seal, then the other one that goes is the rear main, but you would notice a sliping clutch if this was the case unless you were using a ceramic paddle plate.

also look at the fuel pump mounting seals on the two 1380s Ihave sean (both MiniSport) it was leaking out of there, probably due to the long stoke "spashing" in the oil. Worth sealing well up with a blanking plate an fitting an electtric pump (assuming you haven't already).

Thanks each for that info
I'm told I have an A type dipstick in an A+ block
The A series block has a sleeve inserted in the block casting into which the dipstick is located.
The A+ block has no tube insert and the dipstick (which is different) inserts directly in the hole in the block casting.
Whilst the rubber/ plasting cone seal on the A Series dipstick fits snugly into the steel tube addition to the A Series block, the A+ dipstick has two "O" rings of different size at the position of seal with the hole in the block or so I'm told, and these seal directly in the hole in the block with no need for a steel tube (cost saving exercise when the A+ block was designed) alledgedly.
However the A Series dipstick appears to just sit on top of the hole in an A+ block without any useful sleeved seal.
Is this right and if so, does anyone have a spare A+ dipstick for sale.

Umm, it's late but I think that means your oil level will be low if you fill it using the dipstick as a guide?

I bought a new A+ dipstick, very fancy thing it was too, Chrome plated with red annodised alloy end two "O" ring seals along the seat where it matters and a very good seal it is too. It still leaks oil after running but not there. So, convinced that the culprit was the crankshaft oil seal or the timing cover that it locates in, I proceded to strip down everything from that end of the engine bay and engine with the engine mount removed and engine jacked up at that end only to find that everything aforementioned was bone dry and had not been leaking.
After kind accommodation by my local garage the engine was run whilst over the pit whereupon oil was seen to be running slowly but surely down the front end of the gearbox casing (ie/ left hand side). The timing cover backplate and the subframe in this region made exact location a little aukward but we are fairly convinced now that the leak is coming from the engine to gearbox seal involving the half round seal at the front main bearing cap. That's a lot of hassle 'cos it means engine out and major stripdown again which I will do but not before the trip to Stoneleigh. I'll put up with a bit of oil useage untill then.