MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGF Technical - Pride comes before a fall. HGF

It was quite Friday 13th, but nevertheless the 13th
it was when my head gasket blew.

Whenever someone mentioned this problem, I sympathised
and hoped they would stick with the car as it is a
lovely car to drive.

I bought this 2001 model with 36k on the clock and
nearly 2 years later, it had reached just over 67k
when it blew. Because of this site, I knew of the
problems, even invested in a Sinking Fund (just in
case it happened), had the car regularly serviced and
looked after by a trusted MG mechanic, checked the
oil and water regularly, but alas to no avail.

Checked everything Saturday, did not use the car
Sunday, went to work today and was on my way home
for lunch when the engine suddenly sounded a bit
rough, so pulled into the side and stoped the engine,
oil temp and water gauge were reading normal, but
tons of mayo everywhere.

So got the car onto a low loader and taken to the
garage I use for my mechanic to let me know the
worst.

Will be in touch

Bill Pearson
W.A. Pearson

Sorry to hear about yet another HGF despite all the care and attention. Good luck with it Bill and keep us posted.

Steve P

Sorry to hear Bill
On the plus side at least the head has not been "cooked" so it should just be a light head skim and perhaps go for the New L R Gasket.
You probably already know but the water pump and cam belt pre tensioner are best done at the same time if they are the original.
The first time mine went (previuos owner) was at around the 60,000 5 year old mark.
Good luck bill it doesn,t sound to bad.
Mel..
m e johnson

Ugh! Sorry to hear the bad news Bill. Hopefully you've caught it early and the bill will be well contained...
Rob Bell

Hi!

Thanks for your support. The came belt, tensioner
and water pump were changed at just over 63,000, so
it is galling that it went pop just over 4,500 miles
later.

Stewart at the MG Little Houghton garage said he
would be starting on it today. Have yet to hear
from him (is that good or bad!) but I will bite the
bullet and speak to him tomorrow.

Meanwhile I have had to borrow my wife's 1995 Eunos
Roadster to get around my various business calls.
This has 87k on the clock and has never had any
problems, but at least she is being magnanimous
and not smirking or saying "told you so" as in the
past she has had to borrow mine when her car has
been in for service, mot etc.

Regards - Bill
W.A. Pearson

Visited my car today, engine in bits. My MG man
says the head has been sent away to be professionally
skimmed. Seemed to think that there may have been
a bodged HGF repair prior to my buying the car
which had done 36,000. No mention of it in the main
dealers service manual that came with the car and was
stamped at the correct service intervals. I remember
at the time phoning the previous owner (in the log
book) and speaking to his wife who said her husband
was out and would get him to phone me and I phoned
again with the same response, so whether he was
feeling guilty that I might be ringing up about HGF
again (truth was I just wanted to verify the mileage).
He must have put the car in as a part ex and the main
dealer then sold it onto me (at auction), so not his
problem. Still I did another 30,000 miles (my wife is
having nightmares that we bombed around Europe in it
in June and that it could have happened then - I told
her that I did have recovery/breakdown insurance which
is fact) before it happened.

My MG man hopes to have the car back together by
next Wednesday for me to collect and no doubt pay
the bill.

Will be in touch

Bill
W.A. Pearson

Hey guys just wanted to introduce myself I am Ronnie Kendall. I just purchased a Blue 2001 Steptronic (Mgf) with 38.000 on the clock.(3rd 0wner) At 37.500 the dreaded H.G.F. I can honestly say I did not see it coming.I was lucky enough that only the Headgasket needed changing. I have noticed that i drive a little bit stressed out now because I am watching the temp every 5 min. I have lots of questions about the F and I have noticed lots great advice being shared here.
Kendall

Hi Ronnie and welcome to the BBS. It's all too easy to get paranoid about the HGF issue, I know cos I have suffered with it for the last 8 years of MGF ownership :)

The chance of a HGF happening for a second time is much reduced. However my advice is, do keep an eye on your coolant level and fit a Brown & Gammons low water level sensor kit (assuming you haven't got one already) for peace of mind. Then most importantly - relax and enjoy your car, you made a great choice :)

Steve
Steve P

Thanks for the advice Steve. I will look into buying a level sensor kit. 8 years is a long time.I have only had my (mgf) for 1 month I guess I was just unlucky. But You are right its a great car the style the handeling The attention, is fantastic. I have always wanted an MGF. Where I come from they dont have them (u.s.a) so I am very lucky to own one.
Kendall

Bill

Your first post mentions the engine running rough. This could be caused by the mayo not lubricating the big ends properly and the bearings starting to pick up. Now would be a good time to check these bearings, while the stretch bolts have been removed already.

Chris
Chris

Hi! Everyone

Got my "f" back last night. Heavy price though, just
over 1100 quid, 750 of which was labour. But he did
all the things that should be done and the car engine is sounding lovely and taught and I'm back in love with the car once again. If as the sole proprietor/mechanic he has done his job well so that
I don't have this problem again for a long long time,
then I won't mind paying the top price.

Bill Pearson
W.A. Pearson

Hi , Bill
would be interested to know what was done fot £750.00 labour.
I was led to believe hgf was approx 10 hours work at approx £37.50 plus vat ....so that would be about £440.00 inc vat.
Was it done at a main dealers??
GlaD you are back on the road
Mel
m e johnson

If the head needing skimming all the valve gear would have to be removed and refitted. For a VVC that means setting up the extra VVC timing. Plus of course the cost of the skim...
Jon Baker

Hi!

The garage I use is MG owners club recommended.
He is the sole proprietor/mechanic, so he is the only
person working on your car. Parts came to 426
which included send out the head to a specialist
firm for the skim (that was 180) Replaced the head
gasket and bolts, water pump, timing belt, oil filter,
flushed out the engine and cooling system, new
oil and coolant.

I must admit(from reading previous costings
mentioned on this site) that I was expecting a bill
of 700/1000 tops, unless I had really knackered the
engine. It is not a vvc, but a bog standard 1.8i.

He has done quite a few "f's" and hasn't had any
back yet, which suggests he does do a good job or is it that they don't go back to him if they have
further problems because of the cost!!!!!!!!!!! Ah!!!!!! His previous normal servicing costs seemed
reasonable and competitive. My car was with him
from the 13th until the 23rd.

His garage is like the one out of "Heartbeat" in a small village near Northampton. He has got all the
modern gear, but specialises in restoring MG cars
of all types and ages.

I think you are always at a disadvantage when hgf
happens. Yes you could opt to have your car
towed home (rather than to a garage) whilst you
tried to get quotes and then get that garage to
tow it to their premises, but you rely heavily on
local knowledge of who is good with MGf's and
there are not many in this area.
W.A. Pearson

Hi,BILL
£180.00 for the head to be skimmed..i think that is way over the top.
I paid £30.00 for a pressure test and skim.
I realise the garage i got mine repaired at are as cheap as chips (like you no one really arround hear).
As you say the main thing is that the replacement lasts.
I suppose all garages have there own prices and you can,t put a price on a "job well done"
Enjoy your mgf.
Cheers
Mel
m e johnson

Pride owning an F? I believe we all need to be very humble. The F is lovely but there is no other car around that will for sure experience a gasket failure.
Groote Dick

The bill does seem a bit hefty, three years ago HGF on a VVC cost me £786 at a main dealer, including £40 for the head skimming. The labour sub-total was£446. Even allowing for inflation.......
John Hebb

This thread was discussed between 13/11/2006 and 07/12/2006

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGF Technical BBS now