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MG MGF Technical - Cooling liquid comsumption

Two week ago I saw that the cooling liquid was low on my TF 1.6, so I refilled it. From this point, I have been checked every day and I add every day at least 1 liter.Daily, I have also checked the engine oil and by the moment there are no evidence of HGF.
I drive 60Km a day by village road not to fast.
Could please anybody have idea what itīs happening.
Any suggestion will be very apreciated.
Greetins from Palma and Mery Christmas.
Alejandro Lopez

Alejandro,

If you are losing this much so quickly, you must sort this problem out imediately. You are in danger of overheating and an HGF if the leak suddenly gets worse.

It must be leaking from somewhere. Get the engine up to temperature and then check underneath for drips from any of the hoses and pipes. Any split hoses? Check out the engine bay. Check the pressure cap on the expansion bottle. You need to find the cause.
Tony

The chances are either a leaking pipe or the water pump needs replacing (not uncommon on TF’s), don’t drive the car until the problem has been found and rectified otherwise you do risk a HGF.
C Tideswell

Fix it or you will get a very expensive HGF
Neil

I donīt have evidence of liquid leakeage,but when I finish my trip I check the expansion bottle and itīs seem to be at correct level.When the engine cool down I recheck again and then it has dissapered like if it had been boiled. May it be caused by the cap or the thermostat?
Alejandro Lopez

Alejandro... I've just had almost the same thing. There's an elbow of pipe coming out of the engine on the underside of the car. Mine had loosened only slightly. It's wouldn't drip, but under pressure it was spitting out.
Get it pressure tested or on axle stands and have a look underneath. A litre of coolant a day? Soon you'll have spent enough to replace the head gasket yourself!!
S J Knight

From two days ago, I refill only from time to time a 1/4 of liter or so.Engine temp is ok all the time with the oil temp over the normal working value (less than 120š).
My problem is that here in Palma there is only a MG dealer and i donīt trust so much in their tech. This is the reason why I am trying to isolate the fault before going to the garage. Any other idea?
Alejandro Lopez

I must be known as the plastic-bleeding-screw-guy, so here I go: have you checked the plastic bleeding screw at the top of the radiator.

Also note that evaporating cooling liquid has a typical scent, so it could help if you go around your car while sniffing.
Erik

I have checked bleeding screw and evidence of leaking and nothing found. I have observed that there are no return of cooling liq. to the expansion bottle. Itīs like the liquid remaining in the engine for any reason.Also i notice when i unscrew the cap the liquid return to the expansion bottle.
Alejandro Lopez

....can we moderate the language, guys!

But, if not, surely it should be "bleeding plastic screw"???

>;oD
S R Kenyon-Edwards

>>> But, if not, surely it should be "bleeding plastic screw"??? <<<

??
Erik

Replace the expansion bottle cap!!.

They are a known weak point, and can allow coolant to escape under pressure when driving, hence no obvious signs of leakage!!
Mark.L

The coolant will return to the bottle when the cap is loosened. It's natural. Like popping a balloon, and all the air rushes to go out of the little hole made!
Keep checking, the cause is there somewhere. I've had a pressure test done to the car and that ruled out HGF. However even after that, AND bleeding the system the level is lower than usual. Any thoughts there guys? Or am I just crying over spilled coolant??
S J Knight

Alejandro,

Check out this page on Dieter's site...

http://www.mgfcar.de/expansion_tank/index.html

It may be of some help. As Mark says, if you can't find any leaks, replace the cap. And maybe invest in the new expansion tank + the coolant level alarm.
Tony Thompson

(Erik...the word "bleeding" is sometimes used as a swear word in English....)
S R Kenyon-Edwards

@ S R Kenyon-Edwards: OK, now I understand your posting about moderating the language. I shall not swear in English, I shall not swear in English, I shall not swear in English, I shall not .... (1000x) ;o)
Erik

This thread was discussed between 20/12/2005 and 23/12/2005

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