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MG MGF Technical - Second HGF- Very unhappy.

Hi,
What I have been dreading finally happened.
My late 2000 year model MGF with 70,000 KM on the clock suffered her second HGF last week. The first HGF occurred under warranty after about 1 year of ownership. Last week I gave my wife the MGF (as she had a flat battery!) and then received a call from her 1/2 hour later saying the car was full of smoke in the middle of the freeway!
I spoke to the mechanic and he says it will cost about $3000 to fix. I was kicking myself as if she didnt have a flat battery I would have driven the car and probably would have noticed the temp go up much sooner...
On well...cant do much about it now... I was wondering if many people have suffered 2 HGFs? Cheers from Australia.
Daniel M

When was the water level last checked? Have you fitted a low level alarm?
Scanning these pages as I do, it would seem a second HGF most commonly follows a bad repair of the first one quite quickly, or is a secondary one due to loss of coolant - which is nothing to do with the repair.
Charless

The first HGF occurred about 4 years ago or so. To rub salt in the wounds, the car was serviced about 1 month ago so all the levels were checked! I usally also check the coolant level myself every few weeks or so.
Daniel M

> the car was serviced about 1 month ago

Bloody classic. If they replaced the coolant. the silly sods don't bleed the system properly, resulting in an airlock.
Ddraig G

In Melbourne, new headgasket, water pump all belts less than $1500. Find a new mechanic.
Andrew W Regens

Daniel,
Amongst the other problems I am dealing with the head gasket is just starting on the way out, for the second time.
The first one did 4/5 years the second 3/4 years.
The guys in the trade reckon 4 years is not bad.

These prices may not apply too well in oz, but for info the head gasket set is going to be £56, the new bolts £31, the cambelt £20 - £107 in parts, labour is 8/9 hours and is quoted at £350 -£400 depending on what's found, plus maybe a head skim.
Total £500 budget - in Aussie dollars somewhere round $1000, as Andrew Regens says 'find a new mechanic' - and perhaps split the job up, get prices for the parts from a good small spares shop, get a quote for the labour if you supply the parts, & haggle for a cash discount.
Have you read the articles on the causes of HGF and what to do about it ?, they are well worth a read.
I am about to modify a thermostat as recommended to help prevent HGF no 3.
Regards,
GramH
N HUGHES

IMHO Ddraig's finding is the cause of most HGF, my TF135 which I had just purchased had allthe fluids replaced by a local service station and some 1100km later I had to replace the HG. This on a car with just 31000km.
By the way my workshop charged a total 10 hours labour for replacement HG, including new belts, waterpump replacing oil and filter and redoing all fluids.
Andrew W Regens

Ddraig,

As I mentioned I had the car serviced only a month ago. At the time I asked whether it was worth changing the coolant and he said no but said he tested it and it was OK. I am not a mechanic, so I am not 100% sure how he tested it. I did have the coolant changed a couple years ago.

I have only just moved to QLD and so really don't know too many places to take the car. I have taken it to Mg Automotive in brendale who also did the previous 2 servicings. I have not had a problem with them before. They seem honest.

When I got a quote from them they estimated between $2500-$3000 including changing all pipes, cam belt etc.
According to him, there is a better, improved head gasket which he will be using.

On the bright side, the cam belt needed to be changed (as it was over 5 years since the last HGF) so this is an opportunity to do it.

Funny, though, I was chatting to my wife and said even if someone offered me a new car, I wouldn't want it as I am too attached to my MGF!! I absolutely love driving it and as you all would know (my car is now nearly 8 years old!) it still look great and turns heads.

Regards

Daniel





Daniel M

Maybe I should modify the thermostat or do something different to prevent HGF number 3.....In regards to the cost, it is hard to shop around as I need the car for work and I want to have it back as soon as I can. I think I just have to "cop it sweet".

For future reference does anyone know of other MG places in Brisbane they would recommend as honest and fairly priced? Any other words of wisdom to prevent another HGF? I have done abit of reading on the subject ...but there doesn't seem to be one simple solution.

Thanks

Daniel
Daniel M

Re:Modifications to the K Series.

I have fitted a late MGF low coolant alarm,a Davies Craig electric water pump, 2 Kenlowe capilary senders set to create an earth path to the engine fan at 90 degrees with the engine running and the other with the ignition off the sender creates an earth path via a change over relay down to 70 degrees to the ewp and fan,which means after engine shut down,the ewp and fan run for appx 4 mins, the passing coolant pulls away exhaust heat that would normally soak into the head and block.I have also fitted the Freelander remote thermostat to prevent heat spikes ,a digital temperature gauge ,also a must, to monitor the engine temperature if the temperature rises over 93 degrees,(it never has,as far)it is switch off and investigate time.

This engine is in a working Licensed London Taxi,which is heavier than the Freelander,carrying up to 5 people with luggage,working long periods in London traffic,the engine runs on LPG and petrol.

Hope these mods help someone,all these mods came on the internet.

Simon
SCJ Connolly

Hi all,

Got the MGF back on friday.

Mechanic showed me the old headgasket. Appeared to defect in the rubber lining on one side. I was abit surprised to see it had the standard head gasket installed as it was replaced in about 2002 and I hoped they would have used a better one-maybe one had not been developed then.

According to the mechanic, he does one HGF every month!

Regards

Daniek
Daniel M

This thread was discussed between 18/08/2008 and 23/08/2008

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