The MG gets a compression test!!

Before I go any further, I wanted to give the engine a quick health check due to the loud-ish ticking sound you can hear when its running. For the test, I'll be using one of the cheapest kits you can buy, is it any good......we'll find out!
~~ Products I use during this video ~~
Compression Gauge Tester Kit --- www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
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[@timsmith8687]

I've had a mgtf 135 for around 5 years, the noise you have is definitely the hydraulic tappets. Mine sounds very much the same after a oil change, the remedy I use is Wynns hydraulic lifter treatment which quiets the tappets down.

[@duaneralph2692]

Only issue with that, is the engine will be dependent on that. Changing lifters isn't a difficult job.

[@TheRobynhud]

Lovely video. Watching from Australia. Mgf driver.

[@danielorabona8724]

Thank you for the videos, it has given me renewed drive to get my own TF renovation going again.

[@yellowbird8690]

The fuse box; There is a diagram in the underside of the lid. As for flaring tool, if you are doing the whole car, I would go with the one furiousdriving recently used. I tried the Halfords' one on the factory pipes, didn't get any grip. Might work on copper ones.

[@AllMy78s]

All very interesting, especially as I own the same TF and year... Great videos Lee...

[@bergi8733]

Don't do this test on a cold engine. The engine should be warmed up to operating temperature.

[@garys6583]

Great vid , bring on the next , all good fun lol

[@MySpace05499]

I've got a mgf 1.8 vvc and was told that the tapping was normal... got me thinking now, thanks!

[@jakeedwards5332]

Looking forward to the next video Lee. Had to do brake lines for my last MOT. Thought it was gonna be a real pain to do but was a lot easier than I thought. Great video as always tho 👍

[@wheatleysworkshop]

Thats encouraging! Nice one!

[@simonroyle2806]

I bought my TF as a non runner due to the previous guy messing up a cam belt change. When i did the compression test one cylinder reported zero, so off with head to discover a couple of bent valves, he had only turned the engine over by hand when testing the timing to do this damage! Once that was fixed I got consistent readings over all 4 cylinders. As part of the head rebuild I cleaned all the tappets(they are a FIAT part) and they were initially noisy as hell, it took weeks/months for them to bed in but are now quiet.

[@AcePunk9]

thanks for all vids!! keep it up!! hope you make a vid about srs warning light

[@peterliefman8416]

Its often a wire problem under the seat

[@kenwallace2048]

Lee, the engine does sound a bit like there are valve clearance issues, but if the engine gets quieter as it heats up then I wouldn’t be to worried. Mine gets quieter after a few minutes, I don’t think there are serious compression issues. Ken

[@duaneralph2692]

Anything over 90 is valued fine. Your pressures are great! It will be the tappets ( lifters) Duane.

[@markstacey8474]

Suggest that you run it for longer. Turning on and off isn't giving time for the engine to warm up

[@JimGriffOne]

I get between 132 and 145 PSI on mine, but only due to the fact I've had the head skimmed a total of three times (due to a couple of different head defects). Your results are looking good so far. I reckon the meter is going to be fairly accurate (albeit not super-accurate). Hope you manage to get everything sorted fully. Can't wait to see her 100% on the road! Thanks for sharing your experiences. :)

[@trevorlock753]

My TF sounds tappety after it’s winter slumber, a 30minute run down the A27 fixes it every time!

[@yellowbird8690]

Just had another look for that flaring tool. It wasn’t “furiousdriving”, it was “this week with cars”. Too fancy, maybe?

[@alexwild4350]

My TF was tappety like that. Read in the MG manual it was acceptable to rev the engine to 2,000 rpm until it went quite, but best check that yourself as I can't remember if there was a time limit specified. Since changing the oil its been better though I didn't use any additives and regularly use of the car paid dividends too.

[@TheManifattura]

I have had experience with English engines for over 40 years. Your hydraulic valve lifters are stuck and do not build up pressure due to a clog. Take a look at the products of the Ukrainian company Xado. We have been working with these products for years. There are additives for cleaning and against wear etc. Believe me it works. You can also find these products in England. Greetings from Germany

[@tmulder2157]

Hey Lee, Probably the Hydraulic valve lifter, Use een oil treatment or change the hydraulic lifters and de problem is solved, i had this sound also .

[@henkbakker3588]

Hey Lee, I’m very curious where the tapping sound comes from, hope you find out soon. Thanks for this one and see you soon.

[@JOhn-qz2vi]

Would recommend if you wished to to do another compression test but this time with a little engine oil down each plug hole in turn and then check readings. The readings will increase slightly due to the oil taking up any cylinder or ring wear. If the low reading cylinder hardly increases then its a good chance you have valve wear. The compression tool although cheap may not give you a correct pressure value but it will be consistent across all four cylinders.

[@roystonvehicles9129]

You've bent a valve each pot bud getting the timing out, you should be getting 180 psi min, these engines sound great, lotus used them, you were just spinning each cam when you were tightening the cams, you don't seem to understand that the pistons hit the valves, off with the head, replace bent valves, put engine in timed position and line the cams up before you fit it, you just can't pop it on any old way.

[@computerrossa]

plus loads of spares even two interior wheels

[@gremmygremmington2587]

Around a 15% variance between compression values is acceptable especially on an older engine. The K series can be quite tappety from cold and more so if they haven’t been doing any mileage, might be worth trying an additive for the tappets like Lifter Free by Fortron or similar. If all else fails at least it’ll give you a few videos worth of an engine strip down 😂

[@computerrossa]

Ive got a spare 1.6 tf, 350 made apparently, remapped ecu by k maps, tt mk7 exshaust, pipercross custom kit, new coolant lines and new rad?

[@markfourtyeight]

Nice video Lee, hope it works out for you, just a thought, I made new brake lines on my Cortina 1600E, I bought a kit for flaring, I found the Cupro Nickel Brake Pipe metal very hard to form and easy to kink, I then went for copper much easier to use, I would think you'd need an expensive kit with a pipe bender for Cupro Nickel.

[@wheatleysworkshop]

Thanks Mark, I've heard one or two say something similar, and only have a cheap kit....Great advice...will consider the copper!! 👍

[@thedan2459]

I recently did a compression test on my 2002 TF. I used a cheap freetec guage and got 170 on all cylinders with 5 strokes. Cold engine, very warm day. I'm not so sure about removing spark plugs from a hot aluminium head... But I'm sure there are some experts around that could clarify :) You might have an electrical ground issue with the lights going on like that.

[@Pianoguy32]

i think the tapping noise is to be expected when the engine has barely been used for a couple of years? Mine does it when cold, maybe not quite a loud

[@tollietime]

if it makes 90 its a runner, but don't forget the K series wasn't the wisest engine ever made

[@iansyme3535]

Sounds way too tappety for my liking. If the engine has hydraulic tappets then perhaps they are not functioning properly or are clogged. Otherwise, sounds like excessive valve clearance or wear of parts. Cylinder pressures are rather low (if you can trust the gauge!) but that is another story again.