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MG MGF Technical - MGF BREAKDOWN - COOLANT LOSS


Hi guys! well, I have my MGF VVC in Sweden. Unfortunately it had to stand outside during the whole winter season. (-30'C)

Now in April, when having about +20'C, I decided to start my beloved MGF. It started without any troubles. And I drove it normally and quite slowly that day.

The day after, when having pressed the accelerator quite hard, I started to smell some sweet kind of smell. I thought it was a normal guf but when I saw the white smoke coming out of the engine bay I knew something was wrong.

I stopped immediately and opened up the engine bay so it could cool down. apparently the coolant liquid was all gone.

I towed it to my garage and have had it there since. I tried to locate the fault but without being able to lift the car it was impossible. what I could find out is that when pouring in some water into the coolant container it started flushing through and to drip on the right side in the area under the fan.

Conclusion, I think because of the cold some pipe or rubber hose have been torn. because the coolant liquid had been sprayed all over the back of the car.

Anyway, please help me... Being in sweden we do not have any mechanics that are familiar with these cool cars.

Cheers

Phil

Fubu_box

Hi Phil,

Unfortunately, there is a chance that the head gasket has failed - a common area for this to occur is on the right front corner of the engine block :o(

I hope that this is not the case, but the way to check for this is to remove the engine inspection cover, and look at the area around the cylinder head. If the head gasket has failed in the area I suspect that it has, it should be pretty evident - as shown in this photograph: http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/hgf_pages/HGF_images/leaking_HG.JPG

More on HGFs here: http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/hgf_pages/HGF.htm

Hope this helps - and I hope that the coolant loss is in fact just a damaged coolant pipe...
Rob Bell

Rob, my car is a 1995 ( number 254 off the prod line according to Dieter and his VIN history ). Im unsure if previous HGF on the car ....but....when opening the bootlid and looking at the engine / head from the back of the car there seems to be "traces" of a blue instant gasket looking material where the block meets the head at the very right hand side of the engine.


Im thinking the car has suffered HGF in the past and this is some extra sealant oozed out when the heads been put back on.


FYI the cars done 60K miles now with a recent tracknight thrown in without any mishaps.


Whats your opinion?....PS Sorry for kinda hi-jacking the thread fubu-box
D Jamieson

Certainly sounds likely that a HGF has occured in the past, doesn't it? A little bit alarming if 'instant gasket' has been applied to the head gasket - it seems to me to be something of a bodge. It isn't necessary if the gasket has been replaced - so why has someone deemed it necessary to use it???

Wierd.

But if it seems to be holding, then perhaps the maxime "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" applies...
Rob Bell

If you put water in the coolant container, does it come out relatively fast or does it just drip out. If it just drips, it could be HGF, if it comes out fast(ish) could it be a hose.

On the down side, hgf may have occured after losing all the coolant through a burst hose.

Hope for the best,
Johan
Johan Slagter

Phil, tell us where you are in Sweden as there are in fact some really good garages that can handle any breakdowns including the dreaded HGF !

BR, Carl.
Carl Blom

Hi,

Probably not the right topic, but plan long term stay in Sweden (Are -winter, Sigtuna - summer).

Any advice on garages in those areas that can handle TF, and any advice on handling -25C in winter.
steve penny

Steve. I drove both an MGA and an MGB under similar conditions. I would recommend either. Know nothing about the MGF series because they do not export it to the US. Les
Les Bengtson

Well Hi Carl.
I live in Stockholm.
As they only have PIKAB, which is a bit dodgy....I would like to know where I could go. Anyway, what car do you have? I have an MGF VVC. I am wondering about changing to a new exhaust system.. Is it worth it? I have a Throphy TB and an ITG Airfilter. Will it give improvement? Anyway, where do you live in Sweden? Maybe we could meet up.


See ya
Fubu_box

BTW,

The water, when pouyred into the container, runs through very quickly. However, I stopped the car immediately after having seen the smoke. There was still alot of coolant liquid in the container at that point. As I was parked, all the coolant liquid ran out under the car. I would guess that not an HGF is the case. Just an hose or something. Have anyone got pictures of what is seen under the MGF ? Especially under the right backtyre (behind the wheel when driving a right-hand (UK std) car)

Cheers guys!
Fubu_box

Carl Blom,

Sorry for you who don´t can read swedish...

Kan du ge tips på någon bra MGF verkstad i nordvästra skåne? Jag har provar både MG servicen i Ängelholm och Helsingborg utan tillfredställt resultat. Var i sverige bor du?


/Magnus

magnus

This thread was discussed between 25/04/2003 and 02/05/2003

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