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MG MGF Technical - Oil in header tank and wierd thudding noise

Hi can anyone help?? I have just purchased an MGF 1.8 '99' model from a local garage, but im experiencing what i think is a couple of problems; 1. i noticed that the car seemed to warm quite quickly, on inspecting the coolant level i noticed that there was alot of pressure in the header tank!! the car was not overheating though, is this normal? also i noticed the coolant seems to have traces of oil in it, the dealer says someone accidently put oil in there and that the pressure build up is the nature of the MGF cooling system?? (The engine oil is very clean, no mayo).
2. While driving as im slowing there is a continuous dull 'thudding' noise from the wheels, i can hear it and feel it slightly through the steering wheel and pedals. the car has just been MOT'd and front pads and discs replaced, rear pads also replaced. i jacked the car up and checked for any wheel bearing movement or noise but none found and wheels spin freely, no obvious problems seen behind the wheels. Please help if you can as car has a couple of months left on warranty and i would like to get this issues sorted now. Could anyone maybe suggest a good place in the notts area i could get a full check of the car done?
Thanks alot.
Glenn

Hi Glenn,

Not aware of anyone around Nottingham, and you're equidistant between the MGF Centre in Wolverhampton and Mike Satur in Sheffield, both highly respected operations.

Can you tell whether the oil in the coolant is clean or dirty? That would indicate whether a forked tongue may have spoken...

Baffled on the thudding noise, does it follow the rpm of the wheels or is it constant? Constant would suggest the ABS might be the source. It may be worth jacking up the hub to slightly above normal ride height, i.e. simulating the loading up under braking, and feel around the inside of the wheel for anything fouling, maybe a balancing weight hitting the brake line when it flexes under pressure?
Mike Hankin

Hi Glenn, some time ago someone on this board recommended Marhill Service Centre, 42 Marhill Road, Carlton, NG4 3AH, 0115 9870313, for MG servicing. Apparently the manager, Alex Solecki, is an ex Rover-MG mechanic and knows what he is doing. I've not used them myself (I had my car trailered to the MGF Centre for my HGF), but might be worth a call.

Cheers, BIll.
wjf farnsworth

>> 1. i noticed that the car seemed to warm quite quickly, on inspecting the coolant level i noticed that there was alot of pressure in the header tank!! <<

No worries - your dealer is right, this is all pretty normal. The K-series has a small coolant volume and is designed to warm up rapidly :o) Pressure in the expansion tank is also natural - it is a feature of all sealed cooling systems.

>> also i noticed the coolant seems to have traces of oil in it, the dealer says someone accidently put oil in there ... (The engine oil is very clean, no mayo).<<

A little more alarming, but as Mike says, if the oil is clean (i.e. not dark brown or black) then the dealer could be right about someone erroneously putting oil in the wrong place!

>> 2. While driving as im slowing there is a continuous dull 'thudding' noise from the wheels, i can hear it and feel it slightly through the steering wheel and pedals. <<

Sounds like a tyre problem to me. Had this before myself: if you brake hard and lock a wheel, the tyre can develop a flat spot. Driving the car afterwards is like driving it with wheels the shape of 50 pence pieces - rather annoying.

Hmm - second thoughts, a thudding noise? Not 100% confident, but I'd still go and check the tyres.

>> Please help if you can as car has a couple of months left on warranty and i would like to get this issues sorted now. Could anyone maybe suggest a good place in the notts area i could get a full check of the car done? <<

As per who Mike and Bill suggest - although I don't have any experience with the chap that Bill suggests...
Rob Bell

Thanks guys just read your replies, i will check the oil in the expansion tank today and i will try the fella in Carlton for the noise i think, might get him to check for HGF or to drain, flush and refil my coolant aswell while he is there.
Again thanks alot, Quality website.
Glenn

Hi again
Just for anyones information i got the car checked out at Marhill's (thanks WJF) he says that the head gasket is fine but it has recently had the gasket replaced and there is still oil in the cooling system from the original failure...good news!!
The noise i was referring to was a worn wheel bearing on the n/s front wheel, strange noise for a wheel bearing falure.
Thanks.
Glenn

Thanks for the feedback Glenn - and great news.

Would recommend you get the cooling system flushed out once again - having oil emulsion residues floating around the cooling system isn't necessarily a good idea!
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 14/06/2005 and 16/06/2005

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