MGtf K series , overheating again, things to check? NLC

Jamie84 · Post by **Jamie84** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 7:34 pm

Hi guys , the cap has blown off the coolant tank on the MG again . Its happened a few times now , last time a pipe came off the system , so there is great pressure building up in the system somewhere .

Is there a set order in which we could check possible faults.?

thermostat ?

My dads is a bit more mechanically minded than me , he has the car in bits in the drive . Dont really want to be ripped off again by garage.

Head gasket has went before ,dont think its gone just yet this time.

Any suggestions to things we can check ourselves?

Thanks

Jamie84 · Post by **Jamie84** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 7:40 pm

cant get a hold of ali at the moment

ceejam · Post by **ceejam** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 11:16 pm

Try bleeding the coolant circuit, the I have always found the K series to be a pig to get all the air out!

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 11:24 pm

Head gasket has gone.

If its blowing hoses off and the cap is popping all the time its classic head gasket fire ring leak.

You need a block tester to confirm, someone up there has my old kit (Mac?) it sniffs for exhaust gasses in the coolant, I would bet it would fail

Also check the oil and water for mayo but unlikely.

Sorry mate

Jamie84 · Post by **Jamie84** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 11:53 pm

spoke to ali earlier , Told my dad to sell the car when it was running but he will never listen to me

Gonna try and replace the coolant tank cap tomorow, thinking perhaps the little valve thingy inside may be gubbed? , dont think its been changed since car was bought.

MGtf was the reason I didnt buy early s2 elise . Honest, the car is utterly pure sh*t.

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 12:02 am

Bear in mind that if the tank is being pressurised by cyclinder pressure a better newer cap might just find the next weak point in the system and blow another hose off...

Block test it. The only way to be sure...

Did it actually blow the cap off the tank??

Jamie84 · Post by **Jamie84** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 7:58 am

if left running any longer then yes it would have blown off , managing to kill the engine while the air is whistling from the sides of the cap. Could hear air hissing from inside the car while driving

doesnt sound good does it ?

has been treated for head gasket twice before .

robin · Post by **robin** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 8:29 am

Assume it's HGF - sniffer in the coolant tank will confirm as Mr Humble suggests - any garage will have one of these if you cannot track down the kit.

Liner heights will be low. You can change the gasket as often as you like and it will do the same thing. By now the head will be soft too, probably.

The correct solution will either be:

(a) scrap/sell the car
(b) remove the head, hardness test and skim or replace as required, check liner heights, remove and "deck" block to correct liner heights.
(c) find a suitable donor engine and install that (usually second hand donor engine cheaper than (b), but you could be buying yourself into the same problem).

Cheers,
Robin

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 8:58 am

Its fecked...