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MG MGF Technical - A £700 jet wash?!

I've read elsewhere that there is a risk of damaging ones ECU when a jet wash is used on an MGF! Does this warning refer to the vents above the engine? How can I wash the car and be confident I won't damage anything?

I will be picking up my first MGF in 12 days! :d (very excited about that).
C H Perkins

Mr Perkins,
Please leave a first name, we are all friendly here.

The jet wash, as with any high pressure blast of water will get in just about anywhere.

Rain water and the garden hosepipe will pour into the vents over the boot but should run off so that should not pose any problems, it doeesn't for me.

What will though is the high pressure you may direct to the sensitive areas of the electronics, starter, alternator, multi plug sockets, such as the ECU. etc.

If you need to jet wash your engine, wrap them up in a good polythene bag and try to keep the water away from them, splashing should not hurt.

If there is any wetness dry it thoroughly and give the areas a good spray of switch cleaner, not WD40.

If you have any oily areas I would advise spray or brush on de-greaser then just hose off, again keeping sensitive areas wrapped.

Enjoy your F when you get it.

Adrian
Adrian Clifford

Hi,

*joke mode on*
You can damage nearly everything with a jet wash gun ;)
Depends on how near you get with it ...
*Joke close down*

No, I think you got told this by any paranoyd guy.
I any way, you risk to get troubles according to water ingress to the engine ignition system on to of the engine. Below the upper engine vents are the ignition coils located.

Jet wash principals with the MGF/TF:
It's no good idea to direct jet wash the rear lamps regarding water ingress to the boot.
Leave out the engine bay jet wash, unless you haven't a couple of hours time to wait until the engine fires up again.
Never jet wash the door window with direct jet.
Never jet wash the _expensive_ hood.

I think most of the sensitive MGF/TF owners wash the car by hand with bucket and lots of water.
I admid, once a year in spring I join an automatic car wash with hardtop on.
Other owner in DE use to use car wash locations with _fabric brushes_ (spelling?) instead of the ususal plastic brushes.

btw, where are you located in DE ?
:-)
http://www.mgf-register.de

Regards
Dieter


Dieter

C,

The MGF is such a small car that it only takes 1/2 bucket of warm soapy water and a large sponge to wash it all. Then rinse with normal garden hose.

A high pressure jet wash is not gentle on the paint and it can strip it off if you get too close with the nossle.

You will become "one with the car" and "bond" better with your car washing it by hand :-)

I actually enjoy washing mine!

Cheers
Branko.




Branko

When I joined up perhaps I was a bit too formal! I didn't realise that 'C H Perkins' would have been shown in here too. Adrian, you assume correctly I'm male, but that might not have been the case! The C H is for Chris Henry...(although I jokingly say that it's Heinrich to some people, as I am a Brit in Germany)

I've had about 14 Triumphs (Still currently have a '72 2000 and a Very low miles '81 TR7) so I already know about the perils of jetwashing and the assosiated lumps of paint flying off in all directions. I'll be very careful. As Dieter will know, it's probably more popular to go to a garage and wash your car in Germany than in the UK due to the strict rules about poluting the environment with soap suds and the like. I don't actually want to jet wash the engine, that would be overkill, I was just talking about the car itself. I'll make sure I rinse sensitive parts from quite a distance.

I'll be picking up the F in England and driving it back to where I live near Chemnitz (way out East near the Czech rep). Then I'll be driving the TR7 to England where it will stay as my car in England. The 2000, which is currently in Kent will be sold. Anyone want a tax exempt auto Burgundy Triumph 2000?
C H Perkins

Chris,
You will find that the engine area stays relatively dry even after washing so you should not experience any problems there.

Drop into a local event before you go, where are you (based) in England ? If it is Kent there is a very active F scene down there, have a look at the F Register site and go the South East F'ers.

Have a good trip when you go, I'm sure Dieter and his friends will like to keep in touch with you.

Probably not much call for the 2000 on this site, check the bottom of the page and put it on there, under Triumph.

Adrian
Adrian Clifford

Yes, I'm normally in Kent when in Blighty. I was just reading about the trip to Monaco organised by the SE Fers actually. I'll be in the UK just from the 8th - 15th (approx) of June.

On the way back I may go Harwich - Cuxhaven, or more likely, the more traditional Dover - Calais. If the latter, then I think I will almost pass Dieters door step on the way to Chemnitz!

(there's very little going on in the Triumph section)
Chris Heinrich Perkins

Hi Chris,

indeed, you pass http://mail.map24.com/hef when going back to _west-poland_ ;)
See your email inbox for the Phone number and address.
We get home after June 9th from our trip to south Tyrol and vistors are welcome in _Bad_Hersfeld.
:o)

Dieter

Chris,
Look up the SE area MGCC midsummer BBQ at Hookwood, Surrey on the 12th of June.

Let me know if you are going, we'll meet there.

Check out prices on Norfolk Line, Dover to Dunkerque, shorter crossing than Cuxhaven, better driving than Harwich. Prices will make your eyes shine.

Adrian
Adrian Clifford

Know how you feel, Chris.Didn't think mine would come up as H R Bridge,awfully formal, and embarrasing !! Now changed.
roy bridge

Dieter: Should be no trouble popping by to you en route! Did you email me? Nothing yet. There is a small chance I may end up at Cuxhaven if I have to visit Hanover on the way.

Are you actually a mechanic by trade Dieter? I mean do you work on MGF's and such like, or is it purely a hobby thing? Forgive me if I could have found out the answer to that on your website.

Ich weisses einfach nicht! What's the world coming too when probably one of the most technical, thorough and briliant web resource on a 100% British car is run by an auslander! I wonder if it works the other way, and the best 911 website is a British one? (probably not!)

And you're not Dieter Bohlen are you? ;-) Sorry

Adrian: Well you are a friendly lot aren't you. I have lots to do it the UK, people to see, places to go. When I'm over there I am usually obliged to see parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, friends etc. If it's a nice day perhaps I'll see if I can bring a friend.

Roy: They don't make it very clear do they. You join by entering your initials and surname and at first you don't realise it's linked directly to your posting ID. Then you look a bloody fool....And were weren't the only ones.
Chris Heinrich Perkins

Chris,

apology, I missed to email, see now.
No, I've no profession with anything about cars. Just an enthusiast ... OK, well educated very curious mechanical engineer though. ;)

The adverts on site are from a dismantled wreck I bought 4 years ago and advert-affiliate links are to get in a few pence to finance 700Megs webspace ;)

Just a silly old bloke with bad english skills in need to improve this skills continously.
Check my first mad questions in the archives from 6 years ago and you'll understand what I mean ( .. almost not) ;)
My webside? is not a homepage but only a collection of technical items and some descriptions and images of meetings.

Years ago we new very few about the MGF and with help of this BBS, some speciallists with most different technical skills and the other webmasters like Rob, SF, Erik, Tony etc. we got it ;)
Had also the advantage to live some years near Neuss/Rhine area _near_ to our MGR importer ...
That's all... nearly.

Will be nice to having a cup of tea at Hersfeld
(You get the tea, me drinks coffee made by Saeco)
:o)

Cheers
Dieter
PS. lets have a look to your MGF ride height then. I've got the pump at home.
Dieter

Thanks Dieter,

Proper milk in the tea please, it simply tastes awful if you use the long life stuff that is more readily available here ;-).

So you have a hydragas pump device, cool! So is the standard ride height too high at the front then? I mean, what do I know, I haven't even driven it yet!
Chris Heinrich Perkins

>So is the standard ride height too high at the front then?

No, it's all a _depends on_ in relation to the tracking, Toe Angles and wear of bushes and ball joints.
Will explain this technical stuff with help of legs and arms when you get here. A short test ride with your MGF at speeds up to 80 mls/hour tells all the truth with it.

Take care and be sensitive on your first ride. Special on wet roads. I think you are a experienced driver, of course you are.
Don't worry with your skills if you don't feel good with the steering on your first ride.
If you feel unsecure in any way. It's not you, it IS the car. This can be adjusted with the ride height, or repaired due to worn bushes etc.

Check before you start:
Front wheels tyre profile must be even over the tyre width. Uneven tyre wear is a proven failure and directs to wrong ride height on first hand.

The car must feel rock-stable at 140 mls/hour on the Autobahn. But don't speed more then 80 mls/hour if you feel unsecure, whyever.

Regards
Dieter
Dieter

It'll do 140mph?! I thought the max was 130.

I've never owned a car that wasn't RWD, even though most of them had less power than 145 horses, but I'm sure i'll be ok. The TR7 I currently have is certainly no Dodge Viper, but it slides out very easily on wet bends too.

I'll take it easy, thanks for caring.

I'm looking forward to meeting you.

Chris Heinrich Perkins

This thread was discussed between 28/05/2005 and 29/05/2005

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