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MG MGF Technical - hgf with no sign of failure help please

I recently had what can only be descibed as a Hgf but when my mechanic took off the head the gasket looked fine but the water was in the oil ???? (mayo)... any other things cause this .....
Phil Armitage

The coolant can get into the sump if a cylinder-liner is cracked or the bottom seal faulty. Did he check liner height and overall health of all 4 liners ?/Carl.
Carl Blom

thanks i will let my mechanic know your suggestion....any and all ideas on the matter are appreciated
RP Armitage

were you acually using coolant?

If the thermostat was fualty and/or you only do short trips then plain old condensation can cause milky oil.

Failing that, a poor previous gasket replacement where the crank was turned with the head off may have unsettled the liner goo, or a cracked liner, or block or head.
Will Munns

I lost coolant in a 3 mile journey
topped it up and did the same journey abck then left it there for recovery...as the mayo was evident
RP Armitage

Yikes! Really you lost all coolant in 3 miles?
OMG my car is losing a small amount of coolant and I endured public transport hell yesterday (tube and rail lines closed for engineering works etc) instead of drive it - thought I was being over the top but maybe not?
KS Gould

Would have to agree with carl and will.
Gone through the same this week.
Did not get the head taken off but 2 garages have said the same....cracked liner or goo failer ( Thanks again Will for your advice)
my symptons were the same..dumping water into the sump ...loads of mayo and rapid water loss.
No hydro carbons in the water on the sniffer test and none on the dye test.
Basically Phil , i need a new engine, the more they look to find the problem the more it will cost.
I,ve been lucky (yea right!!) in the respect that i,ve not had the head taken off with the added cost ... but two garages i,m sure can,t be wrong one of which is recommened by the mgoc. Mime was losing a small amount for a few months but i searched in vane to fine the leak and put it down to a faulty coolent cap. It got worse rapidly though ,did the mech do a sniffer test or dye test to check fot HGF before taking the head off as this imho should be standard before doing anything else (am i right guys?)
I really hope it is something else , but i fear your in the same boat as me.I would love to get her all fixed up but fear i,ll end up breaking for spares.
The garage said mine was one of the best examples for it,s age they have had in and looked "mint" what a shame they said. Mgf a lovely car but the engines are crap. Not my words but there.
Good luck Mate
Mel..
PS if you want a bloody good moan if you face the the worst ,please feel free to email!!
m e johnson

well so far so good ...head DID have to be Skimmed all put together
have decided the landrover head gasket and oil rail and to use "4 life" coolant ...and also fit the low coolant warning mod and also add "water wetter".. (red line product)My Mechanic said no probs with the liners or block although he didn't pressurise
I should get the vehicle back ...monday or tuesday and wil let you all know the ins and outs whether aok....wish me luck
RP Armitage

RP, the extent of preventative measures you are taking begs the question why have you missed out Rovers two fixes : metal dowls and prt ?
Jon Baker


RP, Good luck mate i really hope all is ok.
This all leaves me confused thou ( again!!)
Mine is the same, dumps water into the oil which is very quick, 3 miles and the bottle is emty and the oil is like pissy ice cream. No HGF say two garages it is deeper down, one says cracked block or cracked piston liner, other says goo failiar.
No hydro carbons in the water on two separate tests by two garages.
one used the dye test the other the sniffer test.
I,ve also been told that a HG can still go and if it is water/oil area on the gasket it is possible that a dye/sniffer test won,t pick up the hgf?????
Car does not over heat and runs great , no loss of power but can,t be drove more than a few miles without a oil and filter change and water top up.
If you top up the water bottle it slowley drains away and the oil/water on the dipstick rises???
If yours ends up ok i,ll be even more confused ( fingers crossed for you)
I think i,ll end up just going for the re-con engine as it has cost £260.00 up to now and it is atill knackered.
Two garages i,m sure can,t be wrong ???
"CAN YOU HAVE A HGF AND NO STEAM,NO HYDRO CARBONS IN THE WATER BOTTLE,NO OVER HEATING???"
Thanks Mel
( trying to clutch at the last straw before his wallet is empty on a new engine ;0))))

m e johnson

Hi ...Just to let you guys know ...I got my car back and its ok ...FOR NOW hahaha (£700 in the end it was skimmed only 13thou ...so not visisble by eye I had the low coolant Alarm System done (brown & Gammons)...and Mel get it looked at properly mine gave no sign of the hgf but thats what it was I also had the Landrover mod ie the oil rail (sump) and thier Head Gasket ...Good Luck Mel
RP Armitage

Good outcome Mate.
Thanks for letting us all know .
Cheers Mel..
m e johnson

This thread was discussed between 03/09/2006 and 13/09/2006

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