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MG MGF Technical - Manifold or Head

Hi everyone...

Thanks for the speedy response from the last question, Dieter, I shall get drilling and filing asap.

Perhaps this is beyond the scope of an amateur tinkerer, however after a short drive in high temperatures yesterday the car came in hissing like a pressure cooker, and once stopped, barfed a stream of coolant out from underneath, it seemed to come from the cabin side of the engine but I couldn't be sure.

This is always a brown trouser moment for an MGF owner, however there was no cream on the oil cap, no water in the reservoir under the bonnet, no power loss, no wheezing from the engine and the temperature didn't rise much (although I got it home pretty sharpish swearing like a trooper).

The manifold gasket has gone before, (a standard feature on an older MGF), as has the filler cap seal, my question to the guru's out there is how to spot the difference between a manifold leak, a coolant pipe leak and a HGF.

I think it's definitely time for a new radiator (Maybe Mike Satur's oversized version), and I have heard a rumour that you can get an improved manifold gasket as this is a common problem.

Can anyone give me any pointers? Is Mike's radiator worth the extra cash?

Cheers, Jim




J. A. Farrington

Does your radiator fan still work, as this can be a cause for the trouble.

Johan
Johan Slagter

>> The manifold gasket has gone before, (a standard feature on an older MGF), as has the filler cap seal, my question to the guru's out there is how to spot the difference between a manifold leak, a coolant pipe leak and a HGF. <<

The only way to tell is to remove the engine inspection cover and then carefully inspect the perimeter of the engine and the hoses. If nothing is immediately apparent, it is safe to briefly start the engine assuming that there is no mayo in the oil, as is the case here.

Unfortunately, I fear the worse here, and suspect that you'll find a jet of coolant emerging from the area of the alternator :o(

A new radiator is a good investment, but because cooling capacity is not the cause per se of HGFs, I don't believe that there is any benefit of fitting an oversized one.

Regarding gaskets - the best version is probably MG's latest version, that comes complete with metal locator dowels in place of the original plastic items.

The other change I'd consider is a remote thermostat kit - either the Eliseparts one, or the new MG PRT thermostat that Dave's retrofitted to his F.
Rob Bell

Thanks for the advice people, will check the radiator fans asap, Rob, what should I be looking for when looking around the engine bay?

All the best

Jim
J. A. Farrington

Check not only the fan.
The mad front fan fuse is almost the true problem.
Change in any way.

... this is instruction for all !!

Fuse including instructions and website donation @
http://cgi6.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&userid=mgf-net
So far the advert ;)


Dieter K.

Many thanks for the advice people.
Just heard from the garage that it was one of my cooling pipes that has given way, and that it was not the HG. Am getting the rest of the pipes replaced while he's at it. What a relief!
Could anyone add to the list below of things to do to ensure that the HG doesn't fail:

What I've got so far:

Replace fuse 6 under bonnet with 20A.
Check / clean / replace sensors.
Replace pipes.
Get a new radiator.

All the best

Jim

J. A. Farrington

Looks like a pretty comprehensive list there: when you say 'replace pipes' you mean all the hoses AND the steel under body coolant pipes Jim?
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 31/07/2004 and 03/08/2004

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