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MG MGF Technical - Another HGF victim

1996 MPI
K&N
Milltek
61000mls

I caught it before it went bang!! The car has been loosing water since 3 month and the water temp rose on a more frequent basis above normal even after just 10 min of driving.

So I brought it to the dealer. Head off. Result: Leak between the lining 2&3 cylinder

Gonna have the Super Satur HG put on and I hope it is as good as everyone claims.

Jorg
JP Mendgen

My car was picked up by the AA today for the same :0( It didn't go with a bang more of a fizzle. Should have it back in fine form next week :0) My car is the same age 1996 32K Oh well, at least it shouldn't happen again.
tim woolcott

My sympathies to both of you...

Keep them on the road,

Valter.
Valter

Tech-speed have already started........ no hanging around there then....
tim woolcott

When u catch HGF early, is it a much cheaper repair job than when it gets further and you see steam and mayo?
mgf bloke

Steam and Mayo means a big clean up job at best and further engine damage at worst, so yes, catch it before it blows!

Dave
Dave

I have a 1996 mk1 - would having the HG replaced be worth doing as a preventative measure?


mgf bloke

I was just about to do it as a prev measure.

So no harm done if you intend to keep your car for more years.

It will happen sooner or later.
JP Mendgen

MGF Bloke,

If you're thinking of a preventative replacement and you're thinking of keeping the car long term, you may want to take the opportunity of having the head breathed. (Tip don't tell the missus too much though) Dave Andrews, well respected here and by the Caterham and Elise community or Mike Satur or Peter Burgess to name the top three I know.

I've decided to go the DVA route. 155-160 BHP out of an MPi (not bad really)
tim woolcott

>>would having the HG replaced be worth doing as a preventative measure?

IMHO, if it ain't broke etc. Just check the water level regularly. Any drop of level needs investigating and this can help you catch an HGF early, as Tim and Jorg have done. I nearly managed it. After some water loss I had a slightly leaking water pump replaced. Unfotunately this wasn't the cause and just as I realised the loss was still occurring the HG let go.

Dave
Dave

I think Dave is probably correct in the wait and see attitude. I've always had a slush fund ready for the work to be carried out so it's rather less painful than it might have been.
tim woolcott

Hi Jorg,

sorry about the gone gasket.

Regards
Dieter
PS please register to http://www.shame.4mg.com

Dieter K.

>>would having the HG replaced be worth doing as a preventative measure?<<

I'm in agreement with Dave here - don't touch it, unless you are having some other head work done.
Rob Bell

Hi Tim,

On the way to Atherstone this morning (Carlyon Road where they used to make KH Splitters) I was chasing a 2.5 Vectra. Had to come to a halt on the A5 because of a car turning right. Looked in the rear view mirror and you guessed it. Steam everywhere. Turned left and parked. Water level had been dropping a bit over the last few days so I had just checked it before starting out. Looked underneath and water dripping from LH side of engine.

Made a swift emergency call to Tony Thompson in Hants who kindly provided the number for Techspeed (thank you Tony). RAC then towed me to Techspeed who had the car up on the ramp pronto. Top hose gone sir, no probs, how about some new metal pipes under the car and a new rad? Old pipes and radiator are corroded but not yet gone. OK, ready next week.

Saw your car in there, still breating on the engine by the look of it. Shame about your hood.

Nice people at Techspeed. I literally laughed all the way (to the bank :¬)))) Roy ran me home ten miles for free.

cheers

Bruce
Bruce Caldwell

Bruce,

So that's why I haven't heard from Roy yet..... Really glad you didn't come another statistic.....

Tim
tim woolcott

>>>>When u catch HGF early, is it a much cheaper repair job than when it gets further and you see steam and mayo?

Very often the first thing you *can* see is steam!

I had a very sudden HGF in a 11 month old F that'd only done 14K miles. I checked the coolant level every day as I put my bag in the boot (that day, I checked it three miles before the steam appeared), and checked oil every week. No strange guage readings before or during the HGF. Pressure tester straight on at B&G and hot water pissing out of the engine as soon as Ron gave the tester a single squeeze. I assumed it'd just be a straight HG replacement, but no - head was warped so much that it couldn't be skimmed.

Thank **** for the one year warranty I got with it!
David Bainbridge

Looks like my 130 quid AA waranty is going to cough up for the Head Gasket replacement... :0) Money well spent on this occasion.

tim woolcott

Bruce

Did you get the number of the Vectra by any chance? My old one, a 2.5 Blue SRI P 650 LDA, has at least 9 outstanding speeding tickets in and around Birmingham. Seems like whoever bought it at the auctions forgot to tell the DVLC.
David Dewick

David Dewick,

Wasn't your old one. It was silver.

Bruce
Bruce Caldwell

Just had a HGF at 25000 miles!! Car only 18 months old, religiously checked water levels every week, or before a long journey. First I knew of it was when the water temp rose rapidly in a traffic jam. Checked the oil & water and found a very slight trace of mayo, with a loss of coolant. Took it to the main dealer who confirmed it.(And also paid all the bills, cos it's still under warranty!)
David Evans

sorry about the gone gasket.

Regards
Dieter
PS please register to http://www.shame.4mg.com
Dieter K.

I've just dropped my 1.8i XReg in at the dealers with suspected HGF, got a little mayo and water level dropping slightly, but car still running.
Purchased in Sept 2000 and done 39,950miles, i.e. just out of extended warranty.

What are my options if it has gone (still praying it hasn't), and what are the costs?

Regards
Justin
justin bassett

Get it replaced, or errm get it replaced (and get some engine mods whilst you're there)

MGR £400-600
B&G about the same
Techspeed may be cheaper (and better/more experenced)
Will Munns

>I've just dropped my 1.8i XReg in at the dealers with suspected HGF, got a little mayo and water level dropping slightly, but car still running.


Get them to pressure test the cooling system. That will establish conclusively where its going: to the outside world from a leaking joint (or radiator!), the HG leaking over the alternator, into a cylinder or into an oilway. It may require leaving it pressurised overnight. Proof of leak into the cylinder can be found by cranking it over with the coils disconnected -> wet plug!)

Hopefully its the first: its certainly not unknown for the MGR clips to allow leakage. HOWEVER... if air gets drawn in, then it could well develop into a HGF due to an airlock.

Neil.
Neil

This thread was discussed between 01/04/2003 and 07/04/2003

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