MG Car Repair: Oil in carb, manifold vacuum, hydraulic resistance

Question
i have a 1975 MG Midget "Special" (thats what it says on the sides of the car). Is
it bad to run the car on little oil in the carb? Every time i put oil in it, the oil level
that is in it starts to get low kinda fast. Is this bad?

Answer
Hi Ian,
The method of filling the carb is to fill it so that the level is about 3/8 inch below the inner edge of the tube. Yes, it will soon exhaust much of the oil. The standard method to check the oil is to unscrew the cap and lift it up about an inch and push it down and if you feel hydraulic resistance, there is enough oil in it. It usually does not need any oil added more than once every month or two depending on how much you drive.

The oil serves three purposes. One to lube the shaft, Two is to restrict the quick upward movement of the piston on a quick throttle opening (takes the place of an acceleration pump on a conventional carburetor) Third is to dampen the pulses of the piston at idle due to manifold vacuum pulses.

Howard