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MG MGF Technical - TF HGF

Colleague's TF 135, 12 months old, 18,760 miles, All usual symptoms steam, coolant loss etc. on M3 last Friday - HGF just diagnosed by dealer.

Thought these were sorted?
Mike

I don't believe the HGF problem will ever be solved.
The difference in expansion between steel through bolts and an alloy engine is just too great.
Short head bolts and separate short bearing cap bolts is really the only final answer.

Mick
M F Anderson

Was it fixed under Warranty????
SimonKE

One got head gasket failure even in the days of cast iron blocks and heads so the problem has always existed and no doubt always will - it is after all a 'safety valve' for the engine.

Ted
Ted Newman

With new MGF cars, with the latest changes, still having HGF problems time will tell which of us is correct.
The problems of throughbolt design and HGF are not just MGF related. I have had the same problem on other throughbolt engines such as Alfa Romeo. HGF is extemely rare on cast iron engines or alloy engines with short bolts.

Mick
Mick

>>Was it fixed under Warranty????<<

She's still waiting
Mike

Guys,

I know that they should change the coolant fluid when they replace the HG, but I don't think that they ever did - as it's still like a brown colour.

It's been fine since, this was about 5 months ago now. Do you guys think that I should have it changed or do it myself?

Regards,
Mike Gibson
M R Gibson

I have always maintained that the BBS reports on HGF blew the whole thing out of proportion BUT I have been shot down in flames by those unfortunate enough to suffer or those just interested in making mischief (MEGA take note) so I have kept quiet on the subject and just enjoyed my F - now seven years old and NO head gasket failure.

BTW it has had the newer manifold gasket fitted and it has always been maintained my a mechanic that knows what he is doing *F*wise - unfortunately that dealership has given up on Rover and I have to find another, or do it myself.

I still think that the 'K' series engine is a delight.

Ted
Ted Newman

An HGF is either a symptom of a fault elsewhere in the engine or cooling system, or it may be the gasket itself that is bad (or of course a combination of both)

I think that in many (most?) cases it is the gasket's inferior construction that causes the HGF. The thin bonded-on sealing strip loses adhesion from the bright s/s base plate either from age, overheating or contamination, permitting coolant to leak either to the atmosphere or into the crankcase/lubrication system. A traditional leak between the combustion chamber/cooling jacket is very rare in the K engines.

An improved head gasket would for sure cure the problem. Expensive spring steel gaskets exist, even for the K engine <http://www.raceline.co.uk/supersteelframes.htm> Next time I have my cylinder head off I will try one. Until then it would be interesting to hear from those who have fitted one.
Jon

I THINK I agree with Ted??

IMO

BBS members are a very small but vociferous %age of MGF owners. They/We tend to post our problems on BBS before looking in the book or even thinking about the problem.

Non BBS members are a very large but quiet %age of MGF owners. They tend to go to their dealer when they have a problem and get it sorted.

I think this BBS can be interesting, ammusing and educational but it can also be annoying.
JohnP

Hi all,
there is a car-insurance poll released last week about reability of different manufact. as regarding to engine / electrical / other mechanical failures that is related to roadside breakdown and with insuranse paying for the repair.. Unfortunatly worst on that list was Rover /MG -cars with the K-series engine with over 4 breakdowns/ 100 cars and all engine-related :( (Sorry but it is all in swedish.) Also Audi / VW-group was in the same leauge.
Totally agree with Jon in Norway - the adheision between the rubber and polished steel canīt be that good. Doesnīt the Mike gasket have a lot of thru-holes that better binds the plastic seal on both sides ?

BR, Carl.
Carl Blom

It's to be fixed under warranty - they are replacing (not skimming) the head as well.

Mike

Just a quick note on the commonality of HGF. I know 8 MGF owners. 8 out of 8 have had a HGF between the 30K-50K region. I think that speaks volumes.
Garry

Gary,
very interesting, but I also know 8 people (well actually it's 11 if you include the TFs) who have MGF at work. NONE of them have every had HGF. Three of the cars are of the 96/97 vintage. Speaks volumes also.

It's an issue, but a certainity.
David Mills

This thread was discussed between 29/04/2003 and 07/05/2003

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