MG ZR late model head gasket issue

[mlj]

Does anyone know if the last models of the mg zr my2006 still have issues with the headgasket like on rovers and younger mg's?

If so I presume its cheaper to get it fixed before it goes, rather than later.

Any info is a help.

[anonymous-user]

Well you can say its cheaper to get it done before it goes because if it goes and you dont realise you could be looking at a new engine. However it is not certain that the headgasket would blow, i know a few people who have had MGs and the headgasket hasnt failed. You know the old saying, if it aint broke dont fix it.

[MGSteve]

There is still a risk of HGF even on later cars. The gasket on my 2005 TF failed last year at 50K miles, but I spotted it very early so the repair was relatively inexpensive. If later ZR's are like later TF's then they will have a low coolant level alarm to warn you of any loss issues.

Replacing a perfectly good gasket is waste of money though IMO, so I would leave it well alone.
If it blows get it fixed, if it doesn't you have not spent money unnecessarily.
Just check the coolant level regularly and get any changes in level investigated ASAP.

Should you have problems be wary of profiteering garages who are all too keen to make money from MGR owners. My GF was told her MGF had HGF by a dealer when it was loosing coolant, and was quoted £800 to fix. Fortunately she had a second opinion and the coolant loss was found to be due to a leak from a £3 O-seal on the thermostat housing.

Edited by MGSteve on Saturday 13th November 23:09

[MGJohn]

These cylinder head gaskets rarely ever actually fail, they are invariably first damaged by some other agency such as coolant loss and subsequent engine overheating.

I've recently bought quite cheaply a 2002 Rover 25 with HGF but otherwise in good shape ~ it will be my younger son's first car .... the work involved renewing and repairing the engine's cylinder head gasket I made the subject of this PH thread:~

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

My November 9th posting on that thread reveals my discovery of why the cylinder head gasket failed. The Water Pump had worn and when that happens there's a steady loss of engine coolant which gets progressively worse and total coolant loss can be very rapid say at Motorway speeds and if the unwary driver fails to spot the coolant loss in time, not only the gasket can be damaged but the engine itself. This can happen on any car of course if the owner does not keep an eye on things. It's much more frequent on other cars than is generally appreciated.

So, if you plan to keep the car for a good while yet, I would pre-empt the chance of a "They all do that" so called HGF and get it AND the Water Pump renewed at the same time... just in case you are unlucky and get caught out with a wearing Water Pump.

If it aint broke why fix it can be an unwise course of inaction .... I like to mnake a certainty of things.

On my MG ZS I bought new in 2003, about a year ago it started to lose coolant ~ not much, but in a month the level would drop.... must be head gasket ... so I replaced it myself with the MLS version and head saver shim. In so doing I removed a perfectly sound Payen Cylinder head gasket.

Not long after my repair, as my wife pulled up on arrival home from a longish journey, I noticed a waterfall of coloured coolant from under the Timing Belt side of the engine. The Pump had simply worn out and the coolant was escaping fast. Had that happened at the satrt and not the end of my wife's journey and she not noticed it at Motorway speeds .... all my good work could have been undone in seconds of overheating.

The previous coolant loss was the initial wear in the pump allowing a little to escape each time ...

Both cars are running beautifully now .... with their new Water Pumps ~ 25 quid each ~ and their cylinder head gaskets still intact...
.