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MG MGF Technical - Engine Lining issue. Help!

I am currently having a serious problem with my MGF. I have been told by my mechanic that the lining of the 2nd and 3rd piston shafts are turning and thus I am going to need a new engine. He believes this to be a manufacturing fault. Has anyone ever come across this before and what is my likelihood of being able to get some money back from Rover given that the car is W reg and nearly four years old. It has less that 35,000 miles on the clock though.
Jennie Strickland

If it has full MG Rover service history then you *may* receive a partial offer of a goodwill payment, but it depends on the circumstances. If not then a more affordable alternative would be a secondhand engine from someone like MGF Centre.
David S

Very unlucky Jennie - a rare fault indeed. Might well be manufacturing related - certainly worth asking your dealership to champion your case for you and take this to MGR as David suggests.
Rob Bell

>that the lining of the 2nd and 3rd piston shafts are turning

Hi Jennie,

wrote this as well to the German Forum...
I think the reason for turning liners could be caused by dropped liners. Dropped down into the engine block by some tenth of mils.
That fault is indeed more common with the K-Engine not only at the MGF ... _whyever_.

My theories relate to problems with the adhesive material at the lower end of the liners. This should seal and keep them in place (IMO).
May be there's got applied to many when the engine got made and over the time the uneven pressure to the metal rings of the cylinder gasket pushes them down into the engine block ??

Who knows....

Apology, not much of help though. Go for the goodwill way as suggested.

Regards
Dieter

Dieter K.

Jennie, if your engine has covered 35k miles without a problem I doubt it was a inherent manufacturing defect. Perhaps the gasket has failed and the engine has overheated at some time, do you have full knowledge of the previous history of the car?? If the engine hasn't overheated then the reason for the liner movement is a mystery without full forensic investigation by a engine specialist.The liners can be replaced quite easily providing the block is not damaged if it is then alternative liners can be fitted for around £300.if the block is removed from the engine.HTH.
Mike
mike

You state <my mechanic>. Does this mean that you are not using an MG-R Dealer or Approved Repair Shop ?? If so, I do not believe you will get much help from MG-R. Any good engine reconditioning shop can repair your block or fit a new block, pistons, bearings and gaskets. This would be much cheaper than a new engine or a new secondhand one.
Geoff F.
G. Farthing

Thank you all for your help.

My mechanic is an ex rover engineer and a rover enthusiast and so knows his stuff. I will mention Mike, your idea about replacing the lining and see what he things. I believe that the fault has not been seen before 32,000 miles is that the two people who had the car before me did only extremely short distances in the car. As I live in Manchester and work in Newbury during the week I have been doing much longer distances in it and I guess have been really working the engine. I have been careful though as I was aware of possible coolant issues with the model I have always been careful to monitor the temperature and check coolant.

I am going to contact rover and see how I get on.

Thanks

Jennie Strickland
Jennie Strickland

Aye I am pretty sure this is what happened to my engine as when removing the head the gasket was intact. However one of the liners was that free in the block that it just pulled out with the ease of a hot knife thru butter. That engine had previously suffered HGF by the way.

I replaced the engine. Should of put one of those VTEC ones in. A goodish K series engine ( if there is such a thing ) could be got for not much more than 750 pounds.
Me

This thread was discussed between 19/12/2004 and 20/12/2004

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