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MG MGF Technical - Just bought car - change coolant or leave alone?

Hi,

I've had my '96 VVC for a couple of weeks now and I'm very happy with it. The car was the previous owner's pride and joy and he really seemed to look after it. However, he left all servicing to his local Rover dealer.

Normally if I'd just bought a second hand car I would do a full service (change fluids, plugs, leads etc) so that I would know that all servicing's up to date. With the F, though, I'm not so keen mainly due to cost (why change leads at £50 a set just in case?). I'm fairly happy that most things have been done correctly, but there's no specific mention in the history of the coolant being changed - just things like "carry out 12,000 mile service". Given how tetchy F's seem to be about cooling, and given that the antifreeze isn't the flourescent green colour I've seen on other cars, is it worth getting it changed as a precaution, or better to leave it well alone? The car doesn't overheat even in very heavy traffic (which it spends 3 hours a day in) and I'm reluctant to encourage an HGF! Maybe wait until the next service is due in December and then get it done?

Thanks,
Tim.
Tim Jenner

Tim, what colour is your antifreeze ? mine is a orangy colour, IIRC the spec for anitfreeze in the later cars is different to the earlier ones, but I'm unsure if this affects the colour also.
Mike
Mike

Tim,

the main colour, whether orange or green indeed relates to different types (don't mix).
The change to the orange newer type is no must.
I've decided getting in the old type as well. Anyway, one sign of the coolant condition is how clean it occurs.

>and given that the antifreeze isn't the flourescent green colour I've seen on other cars

As Mike said. If it's an orange it's OK.

I assume you mean the occurance of the green coloured ???
It should be possible seeing the bottom of the coolant expansion tank through the tank filler hole. If it's *dark green* or with any unknown derivates then I would go for a soon change. The problem of to old coolant is the going corrosion inhibition.

Change to orange OAT or to green old standard then. Easier is the old green, cause they need not flush the system.

Regards
Dieter
Dieter K.

Tim

If the previous owner had the car serviced via the main dealer - the coolant should have been replaced every 2 years as part of the main services and they also recommend brake fluid change at same time. My 98 VVC uses the 'yellowy green coolant'.

The 5 year service is the big one - replacement of camshaft drive belts and spark plugs (but many replace plugs before then)

My car was fully serviced via main agent but HGF still occured just prior to 5 year service so managed to get belts changed whilst they were doing head gasket.

'If its not broken' may be left well alone but if you do get coolant changed make sure it is bled properly either at garage or see archives on how to ensure all air expelled from system or you may cause what you want to protect against.

Keith

Keith Williams

>>> Easier is the old green, cause they need not flush the system <<<

Although the suspension fluid is green as well. So what's failing if the garage floor has some green liquid under the F ;o)

Erik

oh, just forgot: I would leave it if the cooling is in a good condition. It's a tricky thing to change it and if changed (put the heater on full heat)

Erik

Thanks for the responses everyone. The coolant almost clear with a hint of greeny orange - it's easily clear enough to see the bottom of the expansion tank and for it to be tricky to see what the level is. Other cars I looked at when trying to buy had really bright green coolant. What exactly is the difference between the OAT and the green coolants? And has anyone tried 4-Life coolant? I gather it changes colour when mixed with exhaust gases (early HGF warning) and never needs changing.

Tim.
Tim Jenner

ITYM 'never' needs changing (10 years?)

>and for it to be tricky to see what the level is

The level is actually most easily seen with the cap off (wait till the engine is cold), looking down thru the cap you should see a two stage step, the level should be between the two steps.
Will Munns

Sorry, I wasn't very clear - it's not easy to see the level with the cap off, looking into the tank as described by Will. I'll try to get a photo at the weekend - trouble is I'm driving the car so much it's rarely cool enough to take the cap off! :)

Tim.
Tim Jenner

http://www.mgfcar.de/expansion_tank/dcp_0987.html
regarding the max.-min. steps. The marks are molded to the tank, but hidden due to the mad mounting direction.
Dieter K.

The question of whether you need to replace the coolant would depend, I think, on the condition of the coolant mix. Correct me if I'm wrong guys, but one of the reasons for changing every 2 or 3 years, is because the mixture can breakdown and become acidic and can begin to affect the alloy metals in the engine block and elsewhere.

The key thing is to have the specific-gravity checked and if it's within tolerance, then perhaps okay. Also, if the previous owner kept a log book, and serviced the vehicle iaw manufacturers recommendations, then you should examine when the coolant was last changed both as a measure of time and mileage.

Hope this helps,

Jim
Jim

This thread was discussed between 26/05/2003 and 01/06/2003

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