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MG MGF Technical - Coolant loss

Hi

wondering if anyone can help here -- i have checked the archieves and all seems to be pointing to a leak somewhere in the system

i have a '99 VVC MGF - over the last 2 weeks i have noticed that the coolant levels drop - sometimes as much as half the tank -- ie very little left in there

AFAICT there is no mayo or other substance on the dipstick - the only strangish effect that i have noticed is that the heaters in the morning seem hotter than usual ????

There is no rise in temp on the gauge and nothing else seems out of the ordinary - sometimes a little vapour coming out of the exhausts first thing (i put this down to two things 1. the cold and 2. i know that there is a rattle (very slight) from the exhaust system and i think that its the valve thing as immediatley upon starting there are emissions from each exhaust and i thought that it was only supposed to be one of them until the valve thing moved -- i am guessing that this has fallen off [?] and is rattling slightly in the system !)

so anyone got any thoughts please ?

Cheers
EvalSlayer
EvalSlayer

Most obvious things to look for are:-
Radiator, coolant pipes, hose leaks. Stand your car on brown paper to give you some clue as to the location of the leak.
Additionally, you could have a reservoir cap that is not holding pressure. Easy and cheap to replace and should be job #1.
Your car should have zero coolant loss.

HTH

Tony
Tony Harrison

Also, your car does not have a valve on the exhaust (only TFs have these) and gases should come out of both tailpipes at all times.
David Clelland

""""" Also, your car does not have a valve on the exhaust (only TFs have these) and gases should come out of both tailpipes at all times. """""


Not if you only have 'ONE' big man


'buky fur thi pensinurs'
Retirement officer

cheers for the info -- ill place paper under the car tonight to see where the leak is :)

and thanks for the update on the gases -- i knew that i had read it somewhere but could not remember the exact details

thanks
Evalslayer
EvAl Slayer

I hate to be the one to spoil the party and I hope you find the leak, but these were my symptoms as weel and it turned out to be a HGF. No mayo on the oil dips stick, temp never went above normal. Just kept losing about i/2 pint every two weeks. It is worth getting a cabon monoxide test on the expansion bottle, to see if any fums are present.

Good luck

Andy
aj harris

how do

well thanks for the info

the paper test showed that there was a leak coming from the front of the car -- further inspection showed that the rad had sprung a leak.
Just my luck - not a pipe or a connection but the rad.

Anyhow 2 days later and the F has a new rad on. Coolant levels now seem to be constant and no marks on the floor

hopefully thats the end of it :)

now all im left wondering is what the rattle from the exhaust is ???

Cheers

EvalSlayer
EvAl Slayer

Hello
Well it could have been worse.
I think a new rad is ITRO £145.

Regards

TH
Tony Harrison

The rattle form the exhaust will be one of 2 things.

1) The baffles have gone

2) Or more likley its a spare penny in Clellands retirement pot



Geordie Boy

Is somebody retiring?
David Clelland

To everyone that knows me, if you haven't already guessed from Mr Hiorns and Mr Garnick's comments, I'm taking early retirement on 31st March and the aforementioned people are greener than their respective MGFs.
David Clelland

I suspect my head Gasket is on its way out as i have small internal coolant loss.The dipstick shows mayo the engine tappets sound more noisey on cold start up ? Can someone advice on cooling system pressure as i have tester & want to check .Before i dissmantle.

Which leads me to. A good source for a new gasket,water pump,idler i seem to remember reading an article in the mg car club magazine of a race head head gasket being the best many thanks for ant advice
Dave Smyth 1

This thread was discussed between 22/01/2006 and 27/01/2006

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