MG4 Reduction Gearbox Oil Leak

[Harry 17]

C’mon Les.. @Les burrows , you are in the clique ? how’s about half of the next pod cast being devoted to the Gear Box oil, trials and tribulations of the MG4 ??

 

[Steve Chope]

Here’s my answer from Gary!! So they don’t share technical information then. Mmmmm!

Dear Steve

Thank you for your further correspondence.

I do appreciate that you are following independent websites and forums, unfortunately, MG Motor UK Ltd. do not follow these websites.

There are many reasons why not, such as GDPR concerns, Chinese Whispers and believe it or not, people who have no intention of purchasing MG vehicles who love to latch onto any social media thread. It is a minefield for us to become involved with external non official sites which I am sure you can appreciate.

With regards to the concerns I can only advise that solutions for both concerns are imminent. I am sure you can appreciate that we do not share technical information generally.

We are extremely proud of the MG4, and we are not going to allow the vehicle to continue with problems or our customers disappointed deliberately.

I trust that the above will answer some of your questions and we will be able to retain you as an MG owner. I know that these do not detract from the drive and performance of the car, any early niggles will be addressed and the car maintains its 7 year warranty going forwards.

Kind regards

 

[Steve Chope]

Below is the letter I received from Gary Smart at 08:25am this morning and my reply to him for anyone interested. It seems he is no longer replying. Hey Ho.

View attachment 12166

View attachment 12168

Great reply

 

[Harry 17]

Here’s my answer from Gary!! So they don’t share technical information then. Mmmmm!

Dear Steve

Thank you for your further correspondence.

I do appreciate that you are following independent websites and forums, unfortunately, MG Motor UK Ltd. do not follow these websites.

There are many reasons why not, such as GDPR concerns, Chinese Whispers and believe it or not, people who have no intention of purchasing MG vehicles who love to latch onto any social media thread. It is a minefield for us to become involved with external non official sites which I am sure you can appreciate.

With regards to the concerns I can only advise that solutions for both concerns are imminent. I am sure you can appreciate that we do not share technical information generally.

We are extremely proud of the MG4, and we are not going to allow the vehicle to continue with problems or our customers disappointed deliberately.

I trust that the above will answer some of your questions and we will be able to retain you as an MG owner. I know that these do not detract from the drive and performance of the car, any early niggles will be addressed and the car maintains its 7 year warranty going forwards.

Kind regards

For me, if that particular sentence was not within that body of text, I would actually think that was a fair response .

 

[tsedge]

I am, probably an idiot! (…”No, No Harry i hear you say …..) but for info, and may be of help later on down the line, but I am driving my car as normal. Up to 1350 odd miles now, lots of motorway driving and lots of town driving. Fair bit of toe poking here and there as well.

Thus far , not a jot of difference to the cars responses and so far feel all ok.

yes, this may come back to bit me in the backside, but for those who are being really careful, this could be another set of data to add to the mix (drive up to 50 miles an hour is utter ridiculousness in my opinion).

I am trying to wait till the fix is out (Whatever the hell that is????) before I disrupt my working week / life, in order to take it back to the dealership, in order to get it sorted.

I would like to think a warning ssyem would be quick to let me know if some “rabbit was off” within my gear box, long before the thing ceases …… (this could be why I may be an idiot), but seeing as I get many warnings of stuff, that is NOT actually happening, I would like to think the warning lights and bongs are always a little ….erm….. over zealous

Harry, you are no idiot. If my MG4 had arrived I’d be driving around in it until or unless my dealer said I should not.

 

[Harry 17]

Harry, you are no idiot. If my MG4 had arrived I’d be driving around in it until or unless my dealer said I should not.

The dealership have been really good…..offered for me to take it in every day to clean it if I want, but obviously they are waiting on the fix. They have also offered me some spray cans to clean up my driveway should this leak become an issue.

I know there is an issue, and believe it will get it sorted, but I can not see not point (at this moment in time) to waste my time and theirs until we all know what exactly is going on and what to do about it.

 

[tsedge]

The dealership have been really good…..offered for me to take it in every day to clean it if I want, but obviously they are waiting on the fix. They have also offered me some spray cans to clean up my driveway should this leak become an issue.

I know there is an issue, and believe it will get it sorted, but I can see not point (at this moment in time) to waste my time and theirs until we all know what exactly is going on and what to do about it.

Exactly.

It isn’t your responsibility to spot oil leaks and not use your own car in case there is a problem.

It is MG and your dealer’s responsibility to:

• Proactively tell you if there is an problem
• If it is serious, tell you to stop driving.
• Ask you to bring it in for diagnosis.
• Provide you with a courtesy car if it cannot be driven.
• Keep you up to date with information and timescales for a fix.
• Return your car to you as early as possible, nicely cleaned.

If something goes wrong, that’s what the warranty is for.

 

[Jester27]

I am, probably an idiot! (…”No, No Harry i hear you say …..) but for info, and may be of help later on down the line, but I am driving my car as normal. Up to 1350 odd miles now, lots of motorway driving and lots of town driving. Fair bit of toe poking here and there as well.

Thus far , not a jot of difference to the cars responses and so far feel all ok.

yes, this may come back to bit me in the backside, but for those who are being really careful, this could be another set of data to add to the mix (drive up to 50 miles an hour is utter ridiculousness in my opinion).

I am trying to wait till the fix is out (Whatever the hell that is????) before I disrupt my working week / life, in order to take it back to the dealership, in order to get it sorted.

I would like to think a warning ssyem would be quick to let me know if some “rabbit was off” within my gear box, long before the thing ceases …… (this could be why I may be an idiot), but seeing as I get many warnings of stuff, that is NOT actually happening, I would like to think the warning lights and bongs are always a little ….erm….. over zealous

I'm the same as you buddy
Same dealer too but I'm a 150 mile round trip back to them.
I'm approaching 750 miles now and no issues at all.
Car running well, up and down the motorway each shift I work.

Mine looks to have stopped leaking now, so it's either reached a satisfactory level from being overfilled or its got no oil in it ?
50mph sounds like a dealer/maker being over cautious to me too.
Agree though Charles Warner have been great for me too.
Plenty of communication etc

 

[Ian Key]

I’m watching this discussion with interest as I have an MG4 on order.

I assume MG have reduced the oil from 0.9l to 0.7l in order to reduce pressure. I wonder if the powertrain has been recertification tested with 0.7l of oil? Given the speed restriction I assume not.

I think they have reduced the oil volume to try and stop it blowing out of the breather as a temporary measure and when the new one is fitted they will probably increase the oil to 0.9l again.

 

[tsedge]

Below is the letter I received from Gary Smart at 08:25am this morning and my reply to him for anyone interested. It seems he is no longer replying. Hey Ho.

View attachment 12166

View attachment 12168

End of this month is end of October, surely?

 

[tsedge]

I think they have reduced the oil volume to try and stop it blowing out of the breather as a temporary measure and when the new one is fitted they will probably increase the oil to 0.9l again.

Exactly, which should also reassure us that the exact level of oil is not critical.

 

[tsedge]

I do get why MG don't post on forums - it would be a nightmare of people badgering them about everything and playing them off against dealers.

BUT: They should READ the forums and then provide appropriate communications to inform people and correct misperceptions.

 

[Harry 17]

I'm the same as you buddy
Same dealer too but I'm a 150 mile round trip back to them.
I'm approaching 750 miles now and no issues at all.
Car running well, up and down the motorway each shift I work.

Mine looks to have stopped leaking now, so it's either reached a satisfactory level from being overfilled or its got no oil in it ?
50mph sounds like a dealer/maker being over cautious to me too.
Agree though Charles Warner have been great for me too.
Plenty of communication etc

Big Up Charles Warner !!!! LOL

Matt has just this moment called me…….informed me what the rest of us know….. Breather too small, new ones coming in Mid November, I asked if MG UK / China had said whether the car Was ok to drive until the modification, to which he replied, honestly, they did not say. We both agreed, if there was a problem, they would have indicated all MG4’s to stop being used till the new breather cap was fitted.

So all in all, Over the moon with Charles Warner, over the moon with the comms and customer service, miffed to say the least with MG! But again, feel confident, this is indeed a niggle.

To save future face…. Time will tell ?

 

[Hboutdat]

There are many reasons why not, such as GDPR concerns, Chinese Whispers and believe it or not, people who have no intention of purchasing MG vehicles who love to latch onto any social media thread.

Kind of amazed that someone officially representing the UK regional arm of a Chinese owned company would denegrate their brand custodians by using such an out-dated and potentially culturally offensive term in a customer facing communication, but there it is!

Now i'm just sitting here imagining the game and how the communication between MG UK and SAIC ends up with such muddled responses between themselves and dealerships.

 

[Harry 17]

Kind of amazed that someone officially representing the UK regional arm of a Chinese owned company would denegrate their brand custodians by using such an out-dated and potentially culturally offensive term in a customer facing communication, but there it is!

Now i'm just sitting here imagining the game and how the communication between MG UK and SAIC ends up with such muddled responses between themselves and dealerships.

Thank you!

I actually missed that comment. I 100% agree with you on that one. ?

 

[Ian Key]

I'm surprised in this day and age a company that relies on the public for the success of their product doesn't keep an eye on forums and social media just to see what people think of it. Also to see what is being posted about their dealers who the public perceive are MG.

 

[Les burrows]

C’mon Les.. @Les burrows , you are in the clique ? how’s about half of the next pod cast being devoted to the Gear Box oil, trials and tribulations of the MG4 ??

Well harry17I may do the podcast but I have no control over what is discussed on lt really suggestions of what to discuss can be made by anyone when the next one does take place the oil leak issue i am sure will most probably be talked about.

Also Just in case you don’t know harry17 your welcome to join the podcast there is an open invitation on the forum home page from Stuart Wright with details of what to do to log onto it so give it ago why not.
Les

 

[Andy J]

Hi! I've been researching this issue the past couple days as I have an MG4 in order (Norway). Does this seem to be mainly a UK issue? I haven't found much info about this fault in other countries except for that french one mentioned in this thread.

 

[Alb]

I assume MG have reduced the oil from 0.9l to 0.7l in order to reduce pressure.

Internal pressure (atmospheric) will be the same but the reduction in fill level is likely to also reduce the amount of oil that gets anywhere near the breather because there is simply less of it in the first place. There is no forced lub system in the gearbox so the gearing gets its lubrication as a result of being semi-submersed in a sump of oil. The oil will circulate through the gearing from bottom to top through a combination of teeth engagement and splashing.

 

[Harry 17]

Well harry17I may do the podcast but I have no control over what is discussed on lt really suggestions of what to discuss can be made by anyone when the next one does take place the oil leak issue i am sure will most probably be talked about.

Also Just in case you don’t know harry17 your welcome to join the podcast there is an open invitation on the forum home page from Stuart Wright with details of what to do to log onto it so give it ago why not.
Les

I know Les, apologies, it was more rhetorical really. doubt I would be able to add much to the party.

As you say, I am sure the team will be discussing this at length anyway. You are all generally good that that way with ‘hot - topics’ and such ? ?