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MG MGF Technical - Up-date on coolant loss

Hi!

No doubt some of you read about my problems over
my car's coolant loss and overheating, plus the
engine warning light remained on.

Many thanks for your imput and suggestions as to what
might be the problem or problems to resolve the situation and my car is now back on the road and so
far behaving itself.

First of all the engine warning light turned out to
be a defective lambda emissions sensor. This was
meant to have been replaced when I bought duff
petrol from one of the supermarkets over a year ago.
My MG mechanic suspects the sensor was not changed,
probably cleaned up and a petrol cleaning additive
put in to solve the problem and although I was
re-imbursed by the supermarket, the car over the
past year never idled at a constant rpm. With a new
sensor in place, it does now.

Regarding the overheating/coolant loss, the powers
that be at "Swavesey reckon that this sort of problem was common in 2000 and 2001 build cars as the tolerance for engines in this period sees a greater
chance of minor leakage of combustion gasses into the
cooling system which falls short of being a full
blown HGF, but could be on its way in due course.
My MG mechanic did all the checks for blockages,
no running hot or cold in places, renewed all the
coolant and bled the system thoroughly for air locks
etc. As I say all appears to be good in town and
motorway driving.

One suggestion was to purchase an engine (either from
e-bay or a breakers yard) for about £500 and put that
in, if the current engine has another HGF (which would
be its third). Your advice please on whether you can
drop an engine in from a later F or TF, can you use the same electronics or would you have to adapt, etc.

Or do I just cut my losses, sell the car and get a
TF or Honda S2000!!!

Regards

Bill Pearson

W.A. Pearson

Hi Bill,
Pleased that you have eventually got to the bottom of your engine problems, even if you feel that it could all go pearshaped again.
I would have thought that sticking with what you know would be the cheaper option rather than buying a s/h engine on Ebay and not knowing what you are getting. I think you have to ask yourself - do I love driving this car? If the answer is yes then keep what you've got and investigate (get quotes, including one from MGOC for comparison) to replace the HG with the very latest LR version (including the ladder), checking the head for trueness and having it skimmed if necessary. What will all this cost?
Also,fit a low coolant alarm if you have not already done so.
Changing a car is an expensive exercise on its own. What will the replacement car cost you? How much will you get for your F? Etc. etc..

I bought my 1996 F five years ago. The head gasket was gone when I bought it. With that done and an uprated cambelt etc., it's been absolutely fine ever since - touch wood!
I absolutely love driving the F.
Good luck.
willyphixitt
W A Nixson

Hi!

Thanks for your comments. I will be sticking with
the car as I do enjoy driving it and have done
50k in it since I bought it S/h in 2005 with 36k on the clock. The head gasket went at 67k and the replacement LR version has been fine, head skimmed and checked for trueness at the time (car has now done 88k). New alloy inlet manifold to replace the plastic one at 85k. So I shall see how we go.

Inherited my late wife's 1995 Eunos Roadster which she
bought with all the Mazda speed add ons in 2000 and this, touch wood, has never caused her or me the
problems that my "f" did. Is regularly serviced and
just needs tyres and brake pads replacing, as and when.

I am a member of the MG and MX5 car clubs in Northampton and appreciate all aspects of both marques
and particularly the companionship of the members.

Bill
W.A. Pearson

This thread was discussed between 30/08/2008 and 31/08/2008

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