MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGF Technical - To KN or not to KN, Also 3rd Party Gaskets

Since my car will be out of commission for a while until I get my engine replacement, I am thinking of treating myself when I get it back and installing a KN Filter kit. I have read many articles about this filter on this board, but would welcome any advice, especially from you mechanic types out there about wether or not this kit will put more wear on any part of the engine (I would imagine not, but I am no mechanic). What it boils down to is me being absolutely terrified of another HGF.

I have also noted on Mike Saturs site a steel Head Gasket for sale for 25 quid which is claimed to be better than the original. Does anyone have any idea if this is a valid claim ? Will this gasket reduce the chance of another Failure or will it just be the same ?


david quigley

The effect of the filter is well proven, so is the sound increases that accompany it! It may be prudent to hold back for a short while and see what develops in the area of the 'mk 2' K&N kit which is finally dealing with the valuable issue of drawing in as much cooler (i.e. non heated engine bay air) air as posible as this provides a useful boost to torque and general power development on top of the power gains previously mentioned with the original K&N kit.

In respect of Mike's gasket, I have no personal experience of it but Mike is not known for producing things that do not achieve what they are intended to do.

Rog
Roger Parker

Mikes head gaskets are of better construction than the stock gasket and address one of the main problems on the fire ring. I have used them on about 8 or 9 engines so far with no failures, these are all high revving, high specific output engines giving between 185 and 240BHP.

Dave
David Andrews

Very good replies and I am glad to hear that the MS head gasket is better - I do not need one at the moment but will certainly remember that.

But tell me - I have not practised my art on modern cars but as I now own my MGF (as opposed to my company owning it) I do intend to carry out my own maintenance and the first couple of jobs that are lined up are cam belt replacement (the car is now 5 years old but low mileage 20,000) and drive shaft oil seals which are allowing a mist of oil to escape - do you (Dave and Roger) think whilst getting into the bay I should change the head gasket or 'not fix what aint broke' certainly back 30 years or more one would have lifted the head to de-coke and check but this does seem to be something that is done on modern cars.

Ted
Ted Newman

Leave the head alone unless the gasket has failed, most K heads require a skim when removed since they are a thinwall casting and are not that stiff torsionally. The bolts *may* also need replacing. There is no guarantee that the result will last any longer then the original gasket.

Older engines generally had lower CRs and cast iron heads which were less prone to distortion. Modern fuels and engine management systems ensure that engines run a lot more cleanly than they did, this minimises carbon build up and the steel inserts in the head slow the burning of the seats.

Dave
Dave Andrews

Ted,

Ditto Dave's comments.

It may interest you to know that the need to decoke engines of old on a frequent basis was actually a direct negative result of the very high levels of TEL (Lead) in petrols of that time. The lead always remained a solid in suspension and the small grains of this built up over time and needed to be removed. In more recent years the actual reduction of TEL actually benefitted engine life far more by removing the need for frequent decokes, yet still providing enough additional valve and seat protection to give a good service life.

Rog
Roger Parker

This thread was discussed between 16/03/2001 and 23/03/2001

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGF Technical BBS is active now.