New HGF and still overheating

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bumper213
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New HGF and still overheating

Post by bumper213 » Tue Sep 18, 2012 1:41 pm

Hi I am a damsel in distress. My lovely MGF VVC Yreg, whom I love driving recently had the head gasket go some weeks ago. Last done 10yrs ago.

Had it replaced, pressure tested, new thermostat etc.,

Sadly two weeks later it overheated, a O ring seemed the culprit BUT two weeks later it overheated again. Always after been in queues of traffic. Oil was always clear. However last time all water disappeared from header tank.

Amended thermostat, but garage and I know we havent resolved source of problem as currently putting in 1 litre water every 6-7 days, to keep it topped-up. Temp guage stays bottom of guage until at traffic lights when it sdtarts to climb to two points below halfway.

So clearly problem not gone away.

Any thoughts, all welcome.

Christine

churchsquare
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Re: New HGF and still overheating

Post by churchsquare » Tue Sep 18, 2012 3:05 pm

Hi,have you changed the inlet manifold gasket ? if not that may well be the problem,we do quite a few ,Davek Racing Red

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Tipper
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Re: New HGF and still overheating

Post by Tipper » Tue Sep 18, 2012 4:35 pm

Try the following:-

1 New expansion tank cap
2 Check radiator cooling fan works
3 Make sure the garage are bleeding the cooling system via all 3 bleed points, three times...bleed all three, bleed all three and bleed all three again!

Good luck!

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3 DUCKS
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Re: New HGF and still overheating

Post by 3 DUCKS » Tue Sep 18, 2012 7:11 pm

Tipper wrote:Try the following:-

.
3 Make sure the garage are bleeding the cooling system via all 3 bleed points, three times...bleed all three, bleed all three and bleed all three again!

Good luck!
does your heater blow hot air ? if not it could be the above quoted comment.


3D.
TF 160

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hawkstringer
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Re: New HGF and still overheating

Post by hawkstringer » Tue Sep 18, 2012 7:34 pm

I had an issue where the fan would not come on. Was not the stat, I took it to an auto-electrician who traced the fault to a relay. (£35 quid)

As well as this I have flushed my coolant twice in the past 4 years, and refilled 50/50, coolant first. Let the engine up to temp and left the expansion cap off til i was happy that all the air was out. Took it for a spin for 5 mins then topped up coolant as required. All been fine. never actually bled any points, maybe I have been lucky. also put the blowers on full heat to open up matrix etc.. make sure gets hot. I may also question the headgasket re-fit in your case. I have heard that know once they have gone on the VVC they do like to make a habit of it. The head can be reworked and supersteel headgasket fitted ££££££££

New to forum hi all!!!

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Keith Williams
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Re: New HGF and still overheating

Post by Keith Williams » Tue Sep 18, 2012 7:50 pm

hawkstringer wrote:As well as this I have flushed my coolant twice in the past 4 years, and refilled 50/50, coolant first. Let the engine up to temp and left the expansion cap off til i was happy that all the air was out. Took it for a spin for 5 mins then topped up coolant as required. All been fine. never actually bled any points, maybe I have been lucky. I may also question the headgasket re-fit in your case. I have heard that know once they have gone on the VVC they do like to make a habit of it. The head can be reworked and supersteel headgasket fitted ££££££££
If you are adding more coolant and flushing it into the system you may get away without a bleed but I think you have been more than lucky if you have never bled your car after a coolant change. Incorrect bleeding is more than likely to create an over heat of the engine which could lead to potential HGF or engine failure. There will be very few people who would not recommend a full bleed after the coolant is changed or if the cars is topped up after a major loss of coolant. It is recommended in the workshop manuals.

There have been instances of poor quality gaskets been fitted due to manufacturing faults in them but I have never heard that VVCs have a habit of failing once they have gone once.
1998 MGF VVC, 2001 Trophy 160 & 2013 MG6 GT TSE

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hawkstringer
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Re: New HGF and still overheating

Post by hawkstringer » Tue Sep 18, 2012 8:37 pm

Sorry, what I meant is a few people from another members club, had the headgasket on the vvc keep failing 3 times in a year for one chap. But they were overworking it before getting it up to temp. Also think they were a bit heavy footed. :0)

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Mike H
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Re: New HGF and still overheating

Post by Mike H » Tue Sep 18, 2012 9:39 pm

It's difficult to comment without knowing what 1 litre of water every 6/7 days means in terms of mileage etc, but a couple of years ago it took six weeks, yes, six weeks, to fully bleed the coolant system on the TF after HGF, as reported in this thread here.

It is critical that the bleed procedure is carried out to the letter, and even then, as in my case, and with an experienced, rated Dealer, it is not foolproof :lol:

On the assumption there are no obvious leaks, then it *may* just be a case of ensuring that it is bled, re-bled and bled again, then run, and the procedure repeated etc etc as mentioned above, until it is sorted.

It does sound as if you need some professional experience to help get to the bottom of this.....
Audi TTS owner
Former MGTF 135 owner
Former TF 160 Sprint owner
Former ZS180 owner
Former MGF owner

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Mike H
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MGF Register Region: Cotswolds
Model of Car: 2010 MGTF135
Location: Cotswolds/Torbay

Re: New HGF and still overheating

Post by Mike H » Tue Sep 18, 2012 9:39 pm

It's difficult to comment without knowing what 1 litre of water every 6/7 days means in terms of mileage etc, but a couple of years ago it took six weeks, yes, six weeks, to fully bleed the coolant system on the TF after HGF, as reported in this thread here.

It is critical that the bleed procedure is carried out to the letter, and even then, as in my case, and with an experienced, rated Dealer, it is not foolproof :lol:

On the assumption there are no obvious leaks, then it *may* just be a case of ensuring that it is bled, re-bled and bled again, then run, and the procedure repeated etc etc as mentioned above, until it is sorted.

It does sound as if you need some professional experience though to help get to the bottom of this.....
Audi TTS owner
Former MGTF 135 owner
Former TF 160 Sprint owner
Former ZS180 owner
Former MGF owner

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