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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Head off again?

Keep seeing water here... looks like it's leaking from the HG at the front of the head.

I've checked and re-torqued the head but this hasn't made any difference. Should I whip the head off and try a new HG or should I have the head checked to see if it needs a skim? The last thing I want is water leaking in to the cylinder.


TonyJH

Tony. Could it be leaking from the bottom of the temp sender union and running along the head?

Bernie.
b higginson

Hi Bernie,

I did my best to check that but you're right. Do you use PTFE on that union of do you just leave it as an interference fit?

Thanks!

Tony
TonyJH

...also I did run my finger under that union and couldn't detect any sign of moisture.
TonyJH

The adapter should be used with a sealing washer between it and the head however I use a bit of ptfe as well.

The bulb of the temp capiliary is an olive type fit and should seal itself, however again I suppliment this by wrapping a bit of PTFE around the temp bulb where the raised "olive" type section is just to be safe.
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Tony,
a very simple but effective way to check if the leak is from the bulb or adapter is to wrap a bit of tissue around each in turn

I think I added a bit of thread lock to bulb fitting on mine to stop it leaking (yet more poorly made parts)
Nigel Atkins

Thanks all! It's dark now so it'll have to wait until next weekend but I'll order up a new sealing washer (I know I've removed the adapter before and I haven't changed that washer) and re-assemble everything with a bit of PTFE tape. I'll try the tissue paper trick when I've done that.
TonyJH

Another possibility is from the water pump flange.

It may also be a bit more obvious where it is coming from when the engine is warmed up and the cooling system pressurised.

Guy

This thread was discussed on 12/02/2012

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