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MG MGF Technical - Mayo in Coolant

I have been looking through the archives to find out about mayo in the Coolant, to find out exactly what is looks like, but could not find a definative answer.

Some people say it is a dark sludge. Can someone please confirm what it would actually look like.

Also, is the coolant supposed to be orange on a 2001.
Steve Green - KX51 NUH

Have just checked the coolant bottle, and the coolant is quite low, less than 1/2 what it should be, with a little muck inside.

Should I just top this up, if so what with. I noticed at the beginning of this week, that the Engine Temperature Light (flashing yellow engine on the dash), flashed for about 5 seconds, but has not flashed since.

There is no mayo on the the oil dipstick or on the oil cap.

The car is a 2001 with 32k on the clock.

Any advice on this would be appreciated.
Steve Green - KX51 NUH

Mayo appears light brown and has a very creamy appearance to it. See http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/hgf_pages/HGF_images/mayo_everywhere.JPG - it shows the mess it leaves in the area of the cylinder head/ cam ladder

What you are describing does not sound like mayo - which is the good news. Bad news is that I don't know quite what to make of your problem. You're still inside the manufacturer's warranty period, so I suggest you ask your dealer about the warning light, and in the mean time top up the coolant level with some water, and watch it like a hawk.
Rob Bell

Hi Rob,

Have checked again, the muck is a kind of browny / purply colour (only way I can describe it).

The level of the coolant is way below the minimum level (or that is what it looks like). I have noticed lately that the blower in the car, has not been as hot as it used to be, does this have anything to do with it.

There has been no leakage that I can see, and no coolant around the coolant cap.

Is it OK to top it up with water.
Steve Green - KX51 NUH

Hi Steve,i do hope it's not, what consistency is the muck is it creamy? or could it be rust residue or something,you say you've heard it's dark sludge but i think it's light in colour hence the Mayo term,fingers crossed for you,Dave
DC Morris T6 DCM

Hi Steve, if you can get the car up in the air a bit I think it would be worth having a look at the rad and under body pipes, while they should not be correded on a car so young they may have sustained som damage.

>> is the coolant supposed to be orange on a 2001

dunno about on a 2001, but mine is orange, Roy @ Tehspeed described it as 'the 4 year stuff' so i guess you should be OK with that
Phil

Steve,

Get the local garage to put the MOT emissions sniffer into the expansion bottle and test for traces of combustion. Any positive reading will indicate that the head gasket is leaking combustion gases into the coolant. This is an early sign of HGF. A slight oily residue around the inside of the expansion bottle is an even more obvious sign.

Your coolant has to be going somewhere and unless you can find a leak in the cooling system then it is breaking through the head gasket into the combustion chambers or oilways. :-(



Dave

I would dscribe the sludge as a light coffee colour.

Mine is a 2001 and has orange coolant. It is OAT (organic) fluid.

Who said cars wern't environmentally friendly. ( oh really... well my MG only eats organic coolant!!!!)
Billy Bob

The sluge will be greasy if it is HGF, put it between your fingers and rub. rust is sharp and grainy (but there really shouldn't be rust there either.

Unfortunatly a trip to the dealer I fear
Will Munns

>>Have checked again, the muck is a kind of browny / purply colour (only way I can describe it).<<

Odd - any way you can take a picture and post it to one of us?
I don't *think* this sounds like mayo - but would have to see to be sure.

>>The level of the coolant is way below the minimum level (or that is what it looks like). I have noticed lately that the blower in the car, has not been as hot as it used to be, does this have anything to do with it.<<

Sounds as though there is now air in your cooling system - and the heater is becoming air-locked. At the very least your car's coolant needs to be topped up and re-bleed (heater on full heat)

>> There has been no leakage that I can see, and no coolant around the coolant cap. <<

Okay - this makes the cap a less likely suspect of your coolant loss.

>>Is it OK to top it up with water. <<

Yes, this is fine.

I'd definitely recommend a warrenty call to your garage Steve - something is certainly going wrong and needs urgent attention. In fact, I'd be somewhat reticent to drive the car at all - and insist on a flat-bed collection to avoid any further potential damage.
Rob Bell

Have booked the car in for Monday, garage is only about 5 mins away, so will probably drive it.

Will top up with water before I start though.

Will let you know the outcome, thanks for all the quick responses.
Steve Green - KX51 NUH

...Dealer mate!!

Neil W

Yep, have to, so I can keep the Warranty going.
Steve Green - KX51 NUH

Well, have just spoken to the Garage, and they are half way through replacing the Head Gasket, - all under warranty, thank God.

Well, at least I caught it before the enginer went - BANG !!
Steve Green - KX51 NUH

bleeding heck,so it was then,lucky for you it's covered by warranty Steve,another one for hall of shame then!!, see you soon Steve, Dave
DC Morris T6 DCM

Well the car is back, finally, and everything done, and didn't cost me a penny....:-)

That was one way of getting a coolant and oil change done for nothing....:-)

Lets hope it never happens again, and I will definately be keeping an eye on my coolant levels a bit more often.

Thanks for all the advice and help people.
Steve Green - KX51 NUH

Nice one Steve, Dave.
DC Morris T6 DCM

This thread was discussed between 23/10/2003 and 30/10/2003

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