Another round of “what is this?”… : MGA Forum : The MG Experience

Another round of “what is this?”… #1
Simon Austin Surrey, BC, Canada Sign in to contact 1968 Ford Torino 1977 MG MGB V8 Conversion	Topic Creator (OP) Apr 15, 2024 03:40 PM Top Contributor Joined 19 years ago 15,085 Posts

This isn’t my car but an MGA 1500. Engine had been rebuilt a couple of years ago. It suffered HGF sometime after that which was replaced by the same shop.

The car came in for a T9 gearbox upgrade as well as some other minor issues. The first sign of trouble was the removal of the oil filler cap which showed what you see in the photos.

Along with my co-workers, we have an idea what it is but thought we’d ask here as well. The car’s owner showed this mess to the shop and they said “we added an engine flush after the HG change and that’s what you’re seeing”.

I will mention the oil level on the dipstick has not increased.

Thoughts?

"Speed costs........how fast you want to spend?"

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Re: Another round of “what is this?”… #2
MGA56Joe Joe Walsh CHESHAM, Buckinghamshire, UK Sign in to contact 1956 MG MGA 1500	Apr 15, 2024 05:09 PM Top Contributor Joined 2 years ago 1,149 Posts

My immediate thought is head gasket. When the shop did the job last time did they get the face of the head skimmed?

As for that mess being engine flush.........that sounds like a barrel of bo angry smiley

ocks to me.

Maybe take the car somewhere else this time? Or do the job yourself, it's not that difficult and hopefully there's a good engineering shop near you which could check the head for cracks and skim the face.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024-04-16 01:48 AM by MGA56Joe.

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Re: Another round of “what is this?”… #3
tdgray Todd Gray Uniontown, OH, USA Sign in to contact 1960 MG MGA "Abigail" 1968 MG MGC GT "Lucy" 1971 BMW 2800CS Coupe 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG	Apr 15, 2024 05:53 PM Top Contributor Joined 12 years ago 950 Posts

Um…. Hell no.

Engine flush my ass…. And who would leave that this way.

Run away from those bozos.

That looks like a cracked head to me… water and oil mixed together is what that grey sludge is.

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Re: Another round of “what is this?”… #4
MandoG Greg M Melbourne, VIC, Australia Sign in to contact 1959 MG MGA 1500 1959 MG MGA Twin-Cam	Apr 15, 2024 05:58 PM Top Contributor Joined 2 years ago 381 Posts

Or added radiator flush (rather than oil flush) to the engine oil?

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Re: Another round of “what is this?”… #5
bev sleet Bev S Raunds, Northamptonshire, UK Sign in to contact 1977 MG Midget 1500	Apr 16, 2024 02:41 AM Top Contributor Joined 7 years ago 1,897 Posts

cracked head, cracked block, head gasket blown, take your pick but that's water in your oil without doubt sad smiley

,

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Re: Another round of “what is this?”… #6
Speedracer Hap Waldrop Taylors, SC, USA Sign in to contact 1967 MG MGB Racecar "The Biscuit"	Apr 16, 2024 03:53 AM Top Contributor Joined 18 years ago 43,770 Posts

So instead of a MGA 1500 used engine core being worth $1, now this is 50 cent engine core, LOL

Hap Waldrop
Acme Speed Shop
864-370-3000
Website: www.acmespeedshop.com
hapwaldrop@acmespeedshop.com

Acme Speed Shop www.mgexp.com

MG/ Triumph Performance Street Engines - Cylinder Head Porting for street performance and race - DIY Engine Rebuild Kits With Free Tech Advice - VTO alloy wheels for British Sports Cars, and others

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Re: Another round of “what is this?”… #7
Simon Austin Surrey, BC, Canada Sign in to contact 1968 Ford Torino 1977 MG MGB V8 Conversion	Topic Creator (OP) Apr 16, 2024 09:52 AM Top Contributor Joined 19 years ago 15,085 Posts

The head was skimmed…allegedly. Information from the shop is “suspect” at best.

HGF, cracked head or block are what we’re thinking as well. I’ll keep you updated. Thanks for the responses.

In reply to # 4785505 by MGA56Joe My immediate thought is head gasket. When the shop did the job last time did they get the face of the head skimmed?

"Speed costs........how fast you want to spend?"

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Re: Another round of “what is this?”… #8
MGA56Joe Joe Walsh CHESHAM, Buckinghamshire, UK Sign in to contact 1956 MG MGA 1500	Apr 16, 2024 12:27 PM Top Contributor Joined 2 years ago 1,149 Posts

It may be that the most economic way forward would be to replace the whole engine with an MGB unit that's known to be good. Find someone competent to fit it though. Then put some miles on the car over the summer and see what happens.

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Re: Another round of “what is this?”… #9
59mgaguy John Terschak Wakeman, OH, USA Sign in to contact 1930 Ford Model A "Jenny" 1959 MG 14/28 "Jessie" 1974 MG MGB "Oooops"	Apr 16, 2024 12:36 PM Top Contributor Joined 13 years ago 7,608 Posts

Did anyone check the oil for a milky/chocolate color?

John

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Re: Another round of “what is this?”… #10
tdgray Todd Gray Uniontown, OH, USA Sign in to contact 1960 MG MGA "Abigail" 1968 MG MGC GT "Lucy" 1971 BMW 2800CS Coupe 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG	Apr 16, 2024 03:38 PM Top Contributor Joined 12 years ago 950 Posts

Or another answer to what is this… a boat anchor

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Re: Another round of “what is this?”… #11
MandoG Greg M Melbourne, VIC, Australia Sign in to contact 1959 MG MGA 1500 1959 MG MGA Twin-Cam	Apr 16, 2024 05:07 PM Top Contributor Joined 2 years ago 381 Posts

Simon,
Before declaring it a 'boat anchor' ....
- Is there also oil in the coolant?
- Have you done a compression test?

Many years ago when I worked at a gas/service station, I saw the same when some 'Bozo' had added coolant to the engine oil ... you were told....

In reply to a post by Simon we added an engine flush after the HG change and that’s what you’re seeing

As mentioned in my previous post
If they (Bozo #2) added coolant flush to the engine oil you might see the same.

If no oil in the coolant and compression looks ok, drain the oil and flush out the oil system. then run it with fresh oil (the cheapest you can find - even sump oil from another car) and see if the problem recurs.
Cheers

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Re: Another round of “what is this?”… #12
Simon Austin Surrey, BC, Canada Sign in to contact 1968 Ford Torino 1977 MG MGB V8 Conversion	Topic Creator (OP) Apr 17, 2024 11:35 AM Top Contributor Joined 19 years ago 15,085 Posts

Greg,

I don’t believe there was oil in the coolant but will check with my co-workers as they were the ones to first see this issue.

No compression test done. The owner did state the engine ran well. It was driven to the garage we work out of.

I’m not declaring this engine a write-off without further diagnostic. I’ll be heading to the car later today. The idea of running with cheap oil and see what happens has been discussed.

"Speed costs........how fast you want to spend?"

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Re: Another round of “what is this?”… #13
MGA56Joe Joe Walsh CHESHAM, Buckinghamshire, UK Sign in to contact 1956 MG MGA 1500	Apr 17, 2024 11:49 AM Top Contributor Joined 2 years ago 1,149 Posts

Before doing anything major it might be worth doing a pressure drop test. That will tell you whether there is a problem with the block/head. If each cylinder holds pressure then maybe flush the engine a couple of times with cheap oil and see how it runs then decide on what to do.

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Re: Another round of “what is this?”… #14
Triggerfish Andrew Dineen Earth, North Wales, UK Sign in to contact 1954 Austin-Healey 100M 1960 MG MGA 1600 1970 Land Rover Series IIA 1997 Bentley Continental R & more	Apr 18, 2024 04:01 PM Joined 8 years ago 20 Posts

In reply to # 4785628 by bev sleet cracked head, cracked block, head gasket blown, take your pick but that's water in your oil without doubt sad smiley

What he said! thumbs up

,

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Re: Another round of “what is this?”… #15
tdgray Todd Gray Uniontown, OH, USA Sign in to contact 1960 MG MGA "Abigail" 1968 MG MGC GT "Lucy" 1971 BMW 2800CS Coupe 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG	Apr 18, 2024 05:59 PM Top Contributor Joined 12 years ago 950 Posts

lol…. That was the longest… shortest quote I’ve ever seen grinning smiley

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