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MG MGF Technical - Thermostat query

Hi
Does anybody know how difficult it is to replace the thermostat on an F, i've gone and lost my workshop disk :-(
Cheers
Wayne
Wayne D

It's an ar*e. but not particulaly clever
Will Munns

The thermostat housing(black) is hidden under the inlet manifold (which is black) in the darkness of the engine bay.
It has three 8mm head bolts (black) two of which are reasonably accessable and one of which is hidden round the back in a place that is almost impossible to get a ratchet on and only big enogh to get about 3 degrees of movement on a spanner (which means for a box spanner, in one way, twist, out, turn over, twist, out ....)
Go to halfords and get yourself a 8mm ratchet spanner just for this bolt!

The thermostat housing has a metal pipe push fitted to it, it leads around the end of the engine and is bolted to the block in 3 (could be two) places with easily accessable 8mm headed bolts, undo these, now pull the whole assembly off the engine (only a little movement, try not to disturb any hose clips). Poke the thermostat out.

The new thermostat comes with a new gasket which sits on the thermostat, be careful when fitting that you do not pinch it, or it will weap and require a new gasket (and taking apart again (grrrrr).


You will have to do all of this blind as the inlet manifold gets in the way - does your digital camera have a webcam mode? if so could you get the PC close enough to see what you are doing using it?
Will Munns

Cheers Will
I'm going to do the job tomorrow so thanks for the tips, does the inlet manifold have to come off?
Wayne D

Nope, instructions above are exactly what I did, except for the metal pipe bits as I don't have them anymore.

Apart from the draining of the system and the bleeding process the above is all you need to do, if I were to do it on the F I would probebly not take the engine cover off (most of the access has to be thru the grill whatever)
Will Munns

Thanks Will
Wayne D

Hi Wayne,
it is as Will say´s an a¤se,but can be slightly more relaxed by using a flexible screwdriver type of tool that takes the 8-bit. What´s the correct name for this tool in U.K ? / Carl.
PS. The tool is pictured together with info on Dieters site!
Carl Blom

Hi Carl

I've got a set of "flexible head" ratchett spanners from Halfrauds so hopefully they will do the job, i've had a look on Dieters site and i'm sure i will manage it :-0
Does everyone just flush the cooling system with clean water or is there any recommended chemicals? might as well do it properly!
Wayne D

If filling with the same coolant then (with heater on full) a drain, fill water, run 2 mins, drain, 1/2 antifreeze, top-up with water.

If chaning to OAT then I would suggest a more comprehensive flush (more cycles) with a full temp cycle at each stage (up to hot radiator, then 30 mins cooling), making sure the water runs clear before filling with new coolant (and adding the warning coller)
Will Munns

Hi,

oh yeahh, this brings the broken thermostat in my car back in my mind. *another backlock*

Anyway, added Will's advise to the site.
http://www.mgfcar.de/thermostat/index.htm
Thank You.

Regards
Dieter
Dieter K.

Wayne, you need to start this years Santa Claus letter.
I have always said that the most expensive best tools are the cheapest.
Snap-On make the best hand tools on the market. they have the right tool, the right quality but unfortunately the wrong price. On the plus side, you can start the job on a Sunday morning and go down the pub for a beer at lunchtime rather than worry if you will finish the job to go to work on Monday.
For the 'F', accessibility is the problem so 1/4 drive 12 point sockets with extensions, T bar and ratchet will do most jobs however the Universal Sockets (a socket incorporating a universal joint)are excellent in confined spaces.
I have no Business connection with Snap-On but used them for 40 years on Aircraft where the designers sole object was to make it as b****y difficult for the engineers as possible.
I retired with a nice Imperial tool Kit and the 'F' as a retirement present to myself. Now I have had to buy D*****d metric tools for the 'F'
http://www.snapon.co.uk
Geoff F.
G. Farthing

Hi Geoff
I'm an aircraft engineer myself (Avionics) in the navy at the mo! but just about to join the civilian ciruit so i'm in the process of buying my tool kit, everyone i speak to recommends facom tools as the snap-on ones are very prone to wear which the "lifetime" guarantee doesnt cover. The Halfrauds pro tools arent bad either and they are slightly cheaper,

Cheers for the comments guys

Wayne
Wayne D

The halfords stright ratchet spanners fit this job, a univeral joint did not, simply to bulky to get around the thermostat housing.

IIRC the flexible head ratchet spenners have larger sholders, so you may find them more difficult to use. Whatever, start with the most difficult bolt!
Will Munns

This thread was discussed between 05/01/2005 and 06/01/2005

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