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MG MGF Technical - Heater Coolant Loss

I am losing a small amount of coolant (Approx 0.5 - 1.0cm in the expansion tank) about every 300-500 miles.The carpet on the drivers side gets damp after a while and when I dry the carpet and insulating material the liquid coming out matches the coolant green colour. I can only think that I am losing coolant through the heater connections/matrix.Would a dose of radweld through the system seal, what I hope is a minor leak, and would it do the radiator any harm.
Thanks for any advice.
James Forbes Simpson

<echo on>
NOoooooooooooooo
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Sticking goo in the system is a sure fire way of gumming up something badly. Radweld is a temporary solution at best.

The coolant clips have probebly worked loose, try adding a jubalee clip to the hose.
Will Munns

James, the thing here is to establish is whether the wet carpets is due to coolant leakage or, perhaps more likely unfortunately, a leaking heater seal allowing rain water into the car :o(

Coolant is coloured, smells and tastes sweet (if you're feeling that brave!)

NEVER use rad weld: you are going to cause problems else where if you use that ghastly stuff.

Investigate the cause of coolant loss: leaking expansion tank cap, leaking radiator bleed screw, corroded radiator, corroded under body pipes, leaking coolant hoses, leaking inlet manifold gasket and even head gasket failure can all cause the water loss you've witnessed... and unfortunately, all are more common than water leaking from the heater matrix :o(
Rob Bell

> the liquid coming out matches the coolant green colour.

Sounds pretty damning to me. A leaking matrix is not unheard of, leaking pipes are more common (still quite rare though)
Will Munns

Thanks Will & Rob.

Looks like an investigation behind the glove box is called for although I suspect the radiator could do with bining and a new one fitted although the temperature has always been stable at just under the half way mark on the gauge and I have reluctant to fix wot aint broke - so to speak.


James Forbes Simpson

>just under the half way mark on the gauge and I have
>reluctant to fix wot aint broke - so to speak.

that gauge is useless, the scale reads 0->70ish and 100ish->very hot. All temps between 70 and 100 are bang on just below centre, so you don't know if the engine is 'running hot' you only know if it is cold or boiling over
Will Munns

Keep us posted James :o)
Rob Bell

Finally got round to having a look and the hose clips were loose. I have replaced them with jubilee clips and hope that solves the problem. The radiator does look rather sad but there again it is nearly 9 years old and there appear to be no leaks so I will persevere until it is terminally ill.
James Forbes Simpson

Replacement radiators aren't that expensive, James, and given the havoc that a major coolant loss can wreak upon your engine with very little warning, I'd be tempted to get a new one fairly swiftly. Mine gave up the ghost at 6 years; you've done well already!

Jamie
J Wakeham

I'm 100% with Jamie here James - not replacing the rad now could prove a false economy if failure results in HGF!
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 15/11/2004 and 17/11/2004

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