MGF Water Loss Issues!

GreenMint

GreenMint

GreenMint

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Lets try and avoid MGF bashing before we even start thankyouplease! :)

My girlfriend's MGF split a water hose a few months ago, she saw some steam in the rear view mirror, pulled over, and the car basically discharged all water in a nice neat pudde!

A few days ago she was driving along fine, parked, opened the boot to see a bit of steam coming out of the engine bay (Not the engine), each time she parks anywhere (Not over using the car, but she had to drive back to work and then back home) she left a smallish puddle, similar to an aircon dump, maybe a bit bigger, but she looked at the car just now, a line of water trace has come from the garage to the outside drains, and the coolant tank is empty bar som sludgey crap at the bottom.

My mind tells me fill it with water and drive to the local (2-3 miles) garage, to get it checked over, is there any better/other suggestions (Don't say MX5 or New car! ;))

Cheers!
 
You any good with a set of spanners? Open the bonnet and have a look for any rusty/stained water marks.

Unless you know how quickly it's leaking, I wouldn't drive it. If you do decide to drive it, fill it with coolant and then bleed the system before doing so... my K's have always had a bleed nipple on the big coolant outlet on the front right hand side of the engine, I'd imagine it to be a similar set-up on the MGF.

Driving it without bleeding the coolant could create an air block and localised heat spots... never a good thing, especially on a K.
 
Sadly I'm as good with a set of spanners as George Dubya is at politics :(

Will have a look around it and have a think, i'll see what i can do about getting to the bleed, just hard on a low car, no tools aside from the basic jack etc..

Will have a think though, cheers mate :)
 
Try here: http://forums.mg-rover.org/

You should be able to see where the leak is, as it should be using the orange/pink coolant which tends to leave dye spots where it has dried. Why oh why is she still driving it when it leaves coolant puddles everywhere though!!!!
 
She only drove it home, as it was only a tiny drip for a start, gonna go outside take a pic now, its coming from the front end of the engine by the looks of things!

Pics incoming!
 
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Yeah, I wouldn't drive that.

I've never seen an MGF engine bay before and after looking at a few pictures online, I wouldn't want to... looks tight in there!

Could be a number of things really... from a split hose to the water pump. Have you ever had the cambelt and water pump changed? What's the mileage?
 
Mileage is about 65K, camblet was changed within the last 10K, Radiator was changed due a stone chip in the last 6k, but was told the water pump didn't need doing, so assuming that it was done near the end of the previous owner's tenure with the car.

Dilemma now is getting it to a garage then!
 
On both the 214s I had, the water pumps started leaking at around 75,000 miles. From looking at the pictures, the water does seem to come from the left hand side of the engine which is where the water pump is situated.

Fill it up with water very slowly (minimising the change of blocking any air in the pipes) and start it up once the expansion tank is half full. Put the cap back on and let it warm up normally while keeping an eye under the car.

If it's pouring out, I wouldn't drive it. If it's the odd drip now and then, I'd take the risk (but don't hold me responsible if you get HGF :p)
 
I would also hazard a guess at the water pump, or it could be the inlet manifold gasket which would also come from the front left hand side of the engine.

If you are going to drive it to a garage then stick some coolant in it and leave the expansion cap loose to prevent any pressurisation of the cooling system (which will minimise coolant loss). Assuming it's not pouring out as agw says.
 
Hi,

A friend had a water pump let go on his around that mileage. Might be worth getting that looked at, and as already said, the leak looks the right area (as much as you can tell from the photo's)

Sorry to be of little help but thats my best guess.
 
wrong side of the engine for the water pump.

There is a water housing and several pipe connections up that corner and if you had one split before the chances are one of the many other ones has developed a small split.
 
The main coolant pipes that run through the tunnel under the car from the engine to radiator are also prone to corrosion. Stainless replacements are available.
 
I once repaired an MGF that had 8 completely separate water leaks. Yes the owner had neglected it for a long time but 8 individual water leaks is unbelievable.

Where yours is leaking could be one of a few faults, might be better to find a garage who work on these regularly and ask them to check it for you.
 
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