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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGF Technical - HGF stories

Again we have a preponderence of HGF stories.
We must get to the bottom of this problem as a group. These HGFs will start to kill off cars which were perfectly servicable but as they get older they will just be junked.

I notice from Dieter's site the new Head gasket and lower oil rail from Land Rover. As they used K series in their Freelanders they will be trying to design their way out of the issue too!

Is this the ultimate solution if you get an HGF?

Once you've had one HGF it seems that they will keep coming back. I had the same issue with a BMW and eventually just sold it to get rid of the problem.
Neil

>>Once you've had one HGF it seems that they will keep coming back.<<

I don't know if this is indeed the case. My understanding is that once you've had a HGF, few people get a second one (provided the it's repaired properly).
David Clelland

Neil - as was said in another thread it more likely that LR are not designing the cure but taking over what MGR/Powertrain were doing at the time of their demise.
Ted Newman

I've had this (namely these are Powertrain parts) confirmed from my 'sources' - these are retro-fitable to all earlier K-series.

BTW you HAVE to fit BOTH the gasket AND the oil rail to obtain the benefit of either.
Rob Bell

I've not checked in on this site for some time, in fact since since I had secondary HGF a few months back, and you were all fab, so thank you...

Just wanted some advice really, if anyone could assist? I'm rapidly reaching MOT and service at the end of this month (Y reg MGF, 24k, 2x HGF failure!) and am at a loss to know where to send my beloved MGF. Having had issues with the MG Dealer locally, over afore mentioned problem, I'm reluctant to go back and shell out with them, thorough gritted teeth!

I live in Fareham, Hamphire UK and would be happy to trek a little way for someone who may have a genuine interest in these poor little cars, to carry out whatever's required?

Any advice welcomed, more 'history' available if required.
Thank you
Karen

I make an annual trek for mods,and once every five years for cam belt change, to Mike Satur's in Rotherham. I often leave the car with him and return a week later but that is because I always drop the car in on a Saturday. 3 hours each way but well worth it. I am afraid I lost faith in my local garage year's ago and over time I have started to do things my self like the standard service or pumping up the suspension (bought the Liquid Levers kit as I was tired of being ripped off £45 for a pump up by my local Hartwells. Indeed just pumped up the suspension this last weekend. 10 minute job, no air in system and at the right height - in my experiece Hartwells never got it right).
Julian

Ye Gods Julian, £45. My local garage man (one man business) pumped up my suspension while I waited (I held the tape measure) and didn't want to charge anything. I pressed a tenner into his hand. He had never done an MGF before but said it was no different from pumping up a Metro - in fact the valves were easier to get at.
Mike
Mike Howlett

If heaven forbid my HG Fs I will go the Land Rover route. We cant just go replacing dubious parts. There is something wrong with these engines to keep blowing gaskets so we should change them to the lastest specs when they do go.

Neil

Neil
I agree and from a recent experience of mine I think it
all down to a badly designed cooling circuit.
Early in January I had the head gasket fail on my 2002 TF160. Luckily for me it failed as I pulled away from a road junction,I stopped and trailered the vehicle home.
On examination the head gasket had blown out the seal just above the alternator. There was still water in the header tank with no trace of oil and no water in the oil. I removed the head and checked it for flatness this was ok, I then reassembled the engine with a new gasket and started it. As the engine warmed up it over pressured the cooling system and there was no circulation to the radiator. I then suspected the thermostat,which when removed was jammed closed.
As the thermostat has no form of bypass and can only circulate through the heater matrix overheating is inevitable. I hate to think what damage would have been done to the engine had this occured a few minutes later.
Des
Des

Julian - you could try Chris & Vince at Camerton Auto Repairs near Bath

They are the good ex Hartwells guys who bailed out a while back - 10 years of F/TF experience.

Just done a very reasonably 15k service on my TF

They also fettle the engines for Tim Fenna's k-series midgets.

Probably a bit far for Karen tho.

jt
John Thomas

Hi Group bought a head set for my HGF its made by British Best Gaskets.
The next day Landrover issued new gasket so im trying to obtain "New" gasket. I rang Landrover they hadnt heard of this new gasket but reccomended calling MG dealer. On calling mg dealer 28 were due yesterday they havent yet arrived and they dont know when they will.They dont have anyone to ask although they have heard of this new gasket. Catapillar are the MG suppliers. any advice so i can crack on

many Thanks
Dave Smyth 1

It's a Land Rover Fix so I would expect it to come from the LR network

Neil

Dave, ordering by part number from your local LR dealership will probably yield a more positive result:

New headgasket LVB500190 £23+VAT or Û44 + tax
New oil ladder LCN000140L £29+VAT or Û52 + tax
Rob Bell

Thanks Rob will do
Dave Smyth 1

Rob Bell wrote:
<<BTW you HAVE to fit BOTH the gasket AND the oil rail to obtain the benefit of either.>>

Is there no value in just fitting the gasket alone? I do not wish to strip the engine to fit the oil ladder on the grounds of cost so is there any benefit in asking for the LR gasket too?

Thanks Tony
Tony White

See the other thread marked 2nd HGF, it contains vital information regarding the MLS gasket, shim and rail.

Dave
Dave Andrews

>Is there no value in just fitting the gasket alone?

ironically you do want to strip the sump off!
no end of muck will be in the sump from an HGF
AND you dont want to have to go through another HGF do you.

When and if HGF comes to visit A19NJW it will get the full Land Rover monty!
It sounds to me like the proper engineering solution we have been looking for.

It just isnt worth "ruining the ship for a ha'porth of tar!"




Neil

I take it back

It now looks like you can reuse the original rail with the new LR Gasket and shims

The new rail apparently makes little difference according to Dave Andrews, nevertheless the sump would probably benefit from a clean out after a particularly mucky HGF


:-(

Neil

Thanks Neil for the mention of sumps and gunk. Lots of good advice to think about.

Tony
Tony White

This thread was discussed between 15/02/2006 and 23/02/2006

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGF Technical BBS is active now.