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MG MGF Technical - Phew - I was lucky to spot this water leak!

Stopping in my drive after a short, top down round trip of just a couple of miles left me with an impression of an unusual smell from the car. Lifting the boot and sticking my nose over the engine bay I noticed a small wiff of steam rising from behind the induction pipe between the ITG box and the Throttle body! Looking under the car I saw, with a sinking feeling in my stomach, the puddle of liquid. Looking back to the entrance of the drive I then saw the long, tell-tale line of damp road surface.

Well, in the past I've had two HGFs. The first a massive oil/water mix and classic cloud of steam in the rear view mirror accompanied by mayo all over the dipstick. The second was a classic water pissing out above the alternator (and this after fitting the Mike Satur gasket and steel dowels).

The first HGF was also quickly followed by a split hose (main engine outlet) spraying coolant all over the bulkhead. So I guess you could say I'm familiar with losing coolant!

Anyway, ten minutes later I had the engine cover off and found that moving the heater bypass/return hose caused a spurt of coolant from the side nearest the engine. To say that I felt better is an understatement!

Thank god it was just a couple of miles round trip. There was still plenty of coolant in the expansion bottle and the engine couldn't have got too hot. With the way that the water temperature gauge is damped, if I'd been on a long journey I doubt I would have known much about the water loss until the engine had competely overheated.

Dave

>Anyway, ten minutes later I had the engine cover off and found that moving the heater bypass/return hose caused a spurt of coolant from the side nearest the engine. To say that I felt better is an understatement!

Dooh, that hose is prone to fail obviously. I think you are the fifth or more I heard of since 98.

Well done, however !

Cheers
Dieter
Dieter K.

Phew !!

Close call Dave!

Stu


Stu

Nice one, Since owning the F my nose and ears have become much more highly tuned instruments!
Will Munns

Bloody hell that was close..... Sometimes being over diligent in checking the fluids has its benefits, I'm with you in that one.....
tim woolcott

Well, I've now got the hose off - a few bruised and scraped knuckles in the process. Those sprung clips are a pain aren't they. Some jubilee clips will replace them methinks.

I have to admit to never having done any mechanical DIY on the car before. Local MGR dealer for the first three years and TechSpeed since have totally looked after the car. I guess my confidence is growing with having been on this BBS for nearly six years reading everything from all the gurus - thanks guys.

Nevertheless, I'm now going to call TechSpeed and get their best advice on replacing the hose, filling with coolant and bleeding properly. I'm sure my mind won't be at rest until I call in at their welcome shores once more and they re-check it all for me!

I'll take a few pics of the split hose if anyone wants them - Rob? Dieter?
Dave

>I have to admit to never having done any mechanical DIY on the car before.

He he he, now you've started... This time next year you'll be porting your own cylinder head!

Welcome to the alternative to the dark side, the oily side 8-)
Will Munns

Thanks Will, the oily side as well as the darkside it is then! Mind you I don't think I'll ever make the sparky side. I had enough trouble following your simple EPAS switch mod. Still, I must say it works a treat, although again I must admit I only switching off EPAS on the track! Maybe that's why I can't lower my hood from inside the car ;-)
Dave

Close call Dave!!! Well found though - and yes, I am definitely interested in any pix you might have.

Crikey - am I going to need to check all my hoses soon? I guess this hose failure is age related?
Rob Bell

Rob, it does look age related, as the split is in the thickest section of the heater bypass/return hose where the 90 degree bend joins one of the other pipes. It's so thick you can't squash it between your fingers at that point unlike the rest of the hose. There is no obvious perishing, just a 3mm split.

This is the second hose that's split. The first was the main engine outlet hose. However, both have split within weeks of work on the engine. The first was after my first HGF and this one within weeks of the oil cooler fitting. So, maybe they don't like being moved around once they're old.

Roy of TechSpeed said he has seens several such splits of recent weeks. Dieter made the same comment in this thread.

Anyway, the old hose is off, but I can't get a new one from my local MGR dealer. They've rung around for me and there isn't one in this part of the world, so they've had to place a factory order!

Dave
Dave

<<Roy of TechSpeed said he has seens several such splits of recent weeks>>

Mine was one of them. Caught it just in time. hardly any coolant gone. Clouds of steam and embarrassment!

Bruce
Bruce Caldwell

The next service is looking increasingly expensive if I have to budget for a complete cooling system overhaul! GULP! :o(
Rob Bell

We are all together on this one Rob!

Ted
Ted Newman

Pics For me please Dave when available,just for poss future ref as this prob becoming more common ,thanks Dave.
DC Morris T6 DCM

OK Dave, I'll take some pics for you and Rob. It looks like it's going to be next weekend now before I can do anything, as no-one locally has a new hose and I'm away on biz all next week. The old hose is loosely back on the car to protect against the elements whilst I await the new part.
Dave

This thread was discussed between 04/09/2003 and 06/09/2003

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