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MG MGF Technical - HGF - How do I know if it has been replaced?

Sorry if you have a deja vu problem but some of us are recent converts to the F world.

How can I tell if my Sept 96 VVC has already had an HG replacement? I mean without spending a lot of money?
JohnP

You can't tell- well not without taking the head off, which will require a new gasket when you put it back on!
What you might like to check is the inlet manifold gasket, it should be green not black (you shold be able to see the gasket around the mainafold), the black ones rot and drop coolent into the engine- so if you have a leak and don't know where it could be the inlet manifold gasket- £200 to replace.

Will
Will Munns

Will, the VVC's have a different inlet gasket,still prone to leaking though!Mike.
mike

I've also read somehwere (can't remember where), that some staining within the expansion tank is a bad sign - though I can't quite understand why that was supposed to be: so many other things would cause a similar symptom.

'How much would it matter?' is the other question. If it had failed prior to your getting the car then there is some measure of possible comfort in that it will have been fixed (though obviously you can't know how well fixed until...). If it's a recent failure on an older car, you may even find that you have an improved gasket.

Just keep an eye onthat coolant level!

E ('96 VVC)
Ed Clarke

JohnP,

Why not ask the previous owner or the dealer you bought it from. They may tell you.

Bruce
Bruce Caldwell

You would think the service history would tell you - but it probably doesn't. Many such failures would be covered by MGRs warranty and the owner would not get a record of the work done (at least I didn't).
So what use is a 'full MG Service History' ?

It would be useful to know if the head gasket had been changed - especially if the head has been skimmed.

Steve
Steve

>>So what use is a 'full MG Service History' ?<<

Quite. Especially on the very early cars when by all accounts many of the dealers mechanics didn't have a clue what they were dealing with. Thus the genesis of things like Paul Lathwell's Dealer Guide.

E
Ed Clarke

ed,
<Paul Lathwell's Dealer Guide>
where might i be able to find this please?

thanks
tony
tony

http://www.dotcomoff.demon.co.uk
Andy Gilhooley

Thanks eveybody - it was really a 'comfort' question. I know that it could fail again even if already replaced or could never fail.

I guess I might try the dealer but they didn't even bother to check under the hardtop to see if there was a soft top and if it was usable (yes there was but it needed a new window and a new zip).
JohnP

This thread was discussed between 27/05/2002 and 28/05/2002

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