Our MG-ZR Head gasket has gone..

Mcfi5dhc

I have an MGZR which had HGF a couple of years ago. The HG, Cambelt, and new rad all came in at 700 and they charged me extra labour included in that for having LPG, so your 1st quote was high - the mobile bloke sounds good though.

Being a 2005 model, does it have the dashboard warning light for low coolant? I thought all facelift models had this.

You don't get HGF without losing coolant, so there will be another problem to fix (probably radiator or hoses) as well - just bear that in mind,

As he isn't coming til 24th, be really really careful driving it - first sign of a traffic jam, pull over, and engine off - you may have HGF at the moment (you may not as well!), but if you cook it, your engine will be !!!!!!ed. Personally, I wouldn't move it an inch.

Also, have you been checking the oil? a) it will have stuff that looks like mayo on it when you take the cap off if you have HGF. b) ZR's use quite a bit of oil even when running fine. This could account for some/all of the noise if it is low.

Finally, if you read my other posts, you'll see a garage "ripped me off". About 20,000 miles ago, MGZR was smoking, they diagnised HGF again. BIL fixed for a few quid, instead of the hundreds garage wanted. As you'll notice on here, everyone assumes every problem with an MG is HGF - unfortunately, so does every garage. Start the car with bonnet open. Just behind the engine is the plastic inlet manifold - check for leaks (ie gases) coming out of there

Hope some of this helps.

M

PS, I don't think anyone else mentioned it, but you said your brakes were making a noise??? The pads have a sacrificial strip of metal on them that grinds on the discs when they are low. Just get someone knowledgeable to check that your pads aren't too low (for a while its still safe to driveif they are a little bit low - cheap to replace if they are too low though).

By the way, don't go to Kwik Fit for any of the above (or ever)

gabyjane

Mcfi5dhc wrote: »

I have an MGZR which had HGF a couple of years ago. The HG, Cambelt, and new rad all came in at 700 and they charged me extra labour included in that for having LPG, so your 1st quote was high - the mobile bloke sounds good though.

Being a 2005 model, does it have the dashboard warning light for low coolant? I thought all facelift models had this. Yes it does..been coming on for months but again sods law been fine for weeks? whats the norm for topping them up?

You don't get HGF without losing coolant, so there will be another problem to fix (probably radiator or hoses) as well - just bear that in mind, Thanks will do

As he isn't coming til 24th, be really really careful driving it - first sign of a traffic jam, pull over, and engine off - you may have HGF at the moment (you may not as well!), but if you cook it, your engine will be !!!!!!ed. Personally, I wouldn't move it an inch.
Would the gauge tell us this? it is always on half way would it start going up or not?

Also, have you been checking the oil? a) it will have stuff that looks like mayo on it when you take the cap off if you have HGF. b) ZR's use quite a bit of oil even when running fine. This could account for some/all of the noise if it is low. will get dh to check this again tom and repost

Finally, if you read my other posts, you'll see a garage "ripped me off". About 20,000 miles ago, MGZR was smoking, they diagnised HGF again. BIL fixed for a few quid, instead of the hundreds garage wanted. As you'll notice on here, everyone assumes every problem with an MG is HGF - unfortunately, so does every garage. Start the car with bonnet open. Just behind the engine is the plastic inlet manifold - check for leaks (ie gases) coming out of there
I agree every slight prob the garage jokes 'it's the HG'..very boring tbh! we knew they went when we bought it so our tough luck hey!

Hope some of this helps.
It does thankyou

M

PS, I don't think anyone else mentioned it, but you said your brakes were making a noise??? The pads have a sacrificial strip of metal on them that grinds on the discs when they are low. Just get someone knowledgeable to check that your pads aren't too low (for a while its still safe to driveif they are a little bit low - cheap to replace if they are too low though).
Thanks, they have checked them and are adamant no probs so?!

By the way, don't go to Kwik Fit for any of the above (or ever)

I wont we once sat in one for 5 hours awaiting a tyre change..never been back since!!

Mcfi5dhc

Hi

Norm for topping up: zero (ever)

Therefore you have a leak somewhere. Maybe during the harsh weather over winter, you didn't have enough antifreeze, and something has broken. Almost certain you will have HGF, sorry

By the way, my zr is slightly older, and doesn't have the sensor. However, I modified the car so that I have one. I have never seen the light on whilst driving, if I ever did though, I would stop straight away (literally hard shoulder of motorway, or ditched at the side of the road). Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I can't criticise you. However, after it is fixed, take note of the light - each time it goes on, it'll cost you £300

If the temp guage goes above normal (which on mine is about 1mm below halfway), damage is done - even if its only for a few minutes.

On the bright side, once youve paid your £300ish, you should have no more problems. Most of the things that go wrong on the ZR are pretty easy to fix, even for a dunce like me

gabyjane

Mcfi5dhc wrote: »

Hi

Norm for topping up: zero (ever)

Therefore you have a leak somewhere. Maybe during the harsh weather over winter, you didn't have enough antifreeze, and something has broken. Almost certain you will have HGF, sorry

By the way, my zr is slightly older, and doesn't have the sensor. However, I modified the car so that I have one. I have never seen the light on whilst driving, if I ever did though, I would stop straight away (literally hard shoulder of motorway, or ditched at the side of the road). Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I can't criticise you. However, after it is fixed, take note of the light - each time it goes on, it'll cost you £300

If the temp guage goes above normal (which on mine is about 1mm below halfway), damage is done - even if its only for a few minutes.

On the bright side, once youve paid your £300ish, you should have no more problems. Most of the things that go wrong on the ZR are pretty easy to fix, even for a dunce like me

Hi thanks for the reply.

Well our light comes on quite a bit..why the £300? dh only tops it up to the minimum line so once it has gone down the light comes on i guess due to the sensor in it?, he did it 5 days ago apparantly and not on yet.
The temp is always fine and like yours half or just below, this morning i went to work and it got to half maybe quicker than normal but it was very warm outside and i guess im just probably noticing it more than i would check it now due to worrying.
I kind of wish i had left the origional apt for next week as if it goes i am stuffed job wise..any lights or probs though its not going anywhere!

Mcfi5dhc

gabyjane wrote: »

Hi thanks for the reply.

Well our light comes on quite a bit..why the £300? dh only tops it up to the minimum line so once it has gone down the light comes on i guess due to the sensor in it?, he did it 5 days ago apparantly and not on yet.
The temp is always fine and like yours half or just below, this morning i went to work and it got to half maybe quicker than normal but it was very warm outside and i guess im just probably noticing it more than i would check it now due to worrying.
I kind of wish i had left the origional apt for next week as if it goes i am stuffed job wise..any lights or probs though its not going anywhere!

The light should never ever go on. It is not normal for the car to lose water, so you have a leak. If after you have had the car fixed, and the light comes on, and you carry on driving, you'll get a head gasket failure again (within minutes). That is why I said it'll cost you £300 every time you see the light.

If you see the light, stop immediately (safely) and call AA and get car recovered. If you haven't got AA/RAC/Another, now is a good time to get it!

Surely, if its losing water (which it is), DH should fill to the max? How long have you just been topping it up with water (and just water)? The car needs coolant, not just water. For the sheer minimal cost of it, I just use neat coolant from Halfrauds with zero water added, though adding water in an emergency is fine.

It was good to read your last sentence - its not worth the risk of cracking the head (car written off) for the sake of a five minute journey.

Keep us updated when its fixed

gabyjane

Hi Mcfi5dhc thanks for the reply.

The light has been comng on for months, we had it checked ages ago and the garage said it was fine so we left it. Maybe we should have queried it but didn't.

Went out in it today and got half way to where i was going and the light came on again and i topped it up with water as was all i had..must stress though we don't just use water..sorry if not explained properly only in an emergency. The light went out and away we went (i know ill get shot down for using it and stupid i know but..) Got home and it had dropped again so dh has topped with coolant.

I have told dh to top to the max..i would and did today. Not using it now until tuesday and then it will be a 10 min journey..stressed every time i get in it tbh and constantly checking the heat guage and lights etc..will more than likely smash it up from not looking what im doing! thanks for the reply and roll on the 24th x

real_mechanic

Mankysteve wrote: »

Well it leaking coolant so if you run out it'll over heat and warp the head if eh head warps as best it can be skimmed at worse new head not worth risking. It also possible for pieces of head gasket to stuck in a water way but unlikely.

Other problem is coolant leaking into the cylinder, liquid don't compress unlike gasses and this will do all kinds of horrible damage.

im glad some1 has said that you only skim the head if it has overheated badly to many people make this mistaqke and wot happens when head is skimmed it increasers compression resulting in the head blowing up 6 12 months down the line

real_mechanic

gabyjane wrote: »

Hi Mcfi5dhc thanks for the reply.

The light has been comng on for months, we had it checked ages ago and the garage said it was fine so we left it. Maybe we should have queried it but didn't.

Went out in it today and got half way to where i was going and the light came on again and i topped it up with water as was all i had..must stress though we don't just use water..sorry if not explained properly only in an emergency. The light went out and away we went (i know ill get shot down for using it and stupid i know but..) Got home and it had dropped again so dh has topped with coolant.

I have told dh to top to the max..i would and did today. Not using it now until tuesday and then it will be a 10 min journey..stressed every time i get in it tbh and constantly checking the heat guage and lights etc..will more than likely smash it up from not looking what im doing! thanks for the reply and roll on the 24th x

have you checked oil to c if it has gone creamy or the collant to c if oil floating on the top

gabyjane

Hi update!

Today we had it fixed..except we didn't! we have waited 3 weeks for the bloke to come out and he did mend it BUT then he found a prob with the heater which is now not working..there are hot spots in the pipes and he said obviously that was not a good sign. To cut a very long stressful day short the work he did needs redoing..the cylindar needs replacing or the head?..it is drivable he says but short distances and he cannot do for 4 weeks so i am again stressed as stuck in limbo. Took it out earlier to collect some friends and the ticking noise (which stopped for weeks and then reappeared last week) was supposed to have gone was worse than before so not a happy bunny as shelled out just under £400 this morning and feel we are in a worse position than before.
Am calling the bloke in the morning to have a chat but not great really!! It's the waiting and having to use it really..the week he comes i dont need it for weeks so bleeding typical!

squack

sorry but it sounds like it needs to be crushed