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MG MGF Technical - Still losing coolant after new HG

I posted a couple of weeks ago after my 1999 T reg (42,000 miles) VVC MGF had a HGF and an expensive visit to the garage. The cylinder head was skimmed and I have been driving it for about 2 weeks. I have noticed the coolant level falling. Garage said it might be trapped air and to keep an eye on it. I checked the rate of loss on Friday and it dropped about 2mm after a 30 mile journey (measured when engine cool). Should I be worried??
Tony D'Emanuele

Tony,
If the garage have said "it might be trapped air and to keep an eye on it" I'd take it straight back and tell them they can check it and "keep an eye on it themselves". Cheeky gits.
Trapped air means they didn't do the bleed properly.
Wouldn't want you to have another HGF old bean. Also, it it warps the head again, it may now not be possible to do a further skim.
Good luck.

Paul
Paul Lane

I'm sure that after Sam Murray had his HGF a few months ago he asked if the type of fuel being used could have anything to do with it. Well here's a funny thing. At the start of this year I started to lose a little coolant so I put it into the garage and had it pressure tested overnight. Everything seemed to be OK other than the cap which was suspect and it was duly replaced with a new one. Since the car only gets used at weekends, I tend to check water and oil before use. I was still losing a little coolant. Anyway, about the time this all started I changed to Optimax, thinking that it would help to keep the engine clean. Now hear's the funny bit. When I went to Le Mans during the summer, I started off with a full tank of Optimax, filling up with ordinary petrol on the way there. When I got to the campsite I had to put a little water in the header tank. However, when I got home it was still fine (only used ordinary petrol on the way back). Coolant loss started again when I filled up with Optimax. I attended an F Register Committee meeting in September, filling up with ordinary petrol en-route (750 miles at motorway speeds) - no coolant loss. Started to lose coolant again as soon as I use Optimax. Yesterday Gerry Hiorns and I went for a last thrash before winter and I filled up with Esso unleaded. Now, lets just say that we weren't holding back and when I say that I had all four wheels off the ground on the "rollercoaster" at Loch Long you'll get the picture. Checked coolant this morning and it hadn't moved at all. So maybe Sam has something and I'm going to stop using Shell's finest to see if it makes any difference.
David Clelland

I've used Optimax since I took delivery of my car in January 2002.

My recent HGF was due to a leak in a heater pipe which runs the length of the interior of the car.

I have not experienced any coolant loss apart from this.

I'll be interested in your findings David.

Sam
Sam Murray

Just as an update my June 02 TF 160 with 22k has just been diagnosed with HGF. I noticed a severe lose of coolant and toppped it up and then after a 20 min drive noticed it had gone down by 2-3 cm. I also didn't have any "mayo" in the tank or dipstick but did have a "light coffee" style sludge on th dipstick. All this only 6 weeks on from it's 1st service!

P.S also noticed a slight oil leak under when once it was put on the transporter to the dealers!
Darran

Tony, a falling water level necessitates further investigation: I wouldn't drive the car assuming an air lock - you risk further, even more expensive damage.
Rob Bell

I picked up my car on Wed after a new HG and cam belt and they told me to keep an eye on the water level over the next couple of weeks as it will drop but will then level out.

HTH!
Darran

This thread was discussed between 16/11/2003 and 21/11/2003

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