MG4 Reduction Gearbox Oil Leak

[Deleted member 10041]

They sound like they haven't a clue.

Sadly seems to be the case with a good few dealers

 

[Rip Van]

Its from an ICE automatic transmission, but MG probably has forgotten something like '210'
View attachment 15916

I'm now wondering if something like "210" has been missed out at production on some cars and that could be why some cars don't actually leak, rather than owners driving about blissfully unaware, not looking for the problem.
I'm also surprised there hasn't been more alarm on here about the state of the oil Macadoodle took out.

 

[agy]

Hi all,
From italy the same problem with oil
My car with 1.000 km blocked for the oil leak. Seller total zero assistance and no solutions.
I have the problem with tyres too. Vibrations.

 

[Deleted member 10041]

Hi all,
From italy the same problem with oil
My car with 1.000 km blocked for the oil leak. Seller total zero assistance and no solutions.
I have the problem with tyres too. Vibrations.

Thats the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain with confirmed oil leaks, definitely more than the small amount some are trying to say

 

[Les burrows]

I'm also surprised there hasn't been more alarm on here about the state of the oil Macadoodle took out.

Yeh must admit that worries me more that the leak that can and will be sorted, gearbox oil Is normally almost the same colour after many thousands of miles in my past experience, this looks like engine oil would do after a few thousand mile in a internal combustion engine.
Having said that I have no idea what colour the oil was when it first went in.
Les

 

[Macadoodle]

I'm now wondering if something like "210" has been missed out at production on some cars and that could be why some cars don't actually leak, rather than owners driving about blissfully unaware, not looking for the problem.
I'm also surprised there hasn't been more alarm on here about the state of the oil Macadoodle took out.

It's quite possible. An oil 'mud flap' would seem to be a necessity if you're going to mount a breather in the direct line of spray from the gears.
Not sure if the diff ring gear or the others are force feeding the breather, but at 60 mph you have some gears spinning at maybe 8000 RPM
This box acts like it simply doesn't have anything to deflect this. Design or forgetfulness ? only they know .

As for the state of the factory fill I drained, TBH the colour probably looked worse in the pics than in reality, although it wasn't great for sure.
Break in particles suspended in it, didn't smell burnt or anything, but certainly better out than in.

What worries me more is the fact that the unit relies on oil throw to lubricate the upper components and the breather lets the box leak via this action, until the throw must be minimal.

What's that doing to these components long term ?

 

[bowfer]

It blows my mind that despite this thread and the restricted speed thread, which is starting to get the same responses from additional members, people are still ordering this car.
It has serious endemic issues of a mechanical nature.
Are these people just relying on blind faith..?
Ignoring these threads…?

 

[siteguru]

Yeh must admit that worries me more that the leak that can and will be sorted, gearbox oil Is normally almost the same colour after many thousands of miles in my past experience, this looks like engine oil would do after a few thousand mile in a internal combustion engine.
Having said that I have no idea what colour the oil was when it first went in.
Les

I believe it should have been a light amber/gold colour ... that's what it looked like when I first saw the leak.

 

[Les burrows]

I believe it should have been a light amber/gold colour ... that's what it looked like when I first saw the leak.

Yeh that sounds about right siteguru I agree and about what would be expected for gear oil in general.
Les

 

[tsedge]

It blows my mind that despite this thread and the restricted speed thread, which is starting to get the same responses from additional members, people are still ordering this car.
It has serious endemic issues of a mechanical nature.
Are these people just relying on blind faith..?
Ignoring these threads…?

This car is brilliant. I love mine and it has no issues. There are many happy owners out there and it blows my mind that people think the car is a disaster just because some people have had issues. Your experience is not everyone's experience!

 

[bowfer]

This car is brilliant. I love mine and it has no issues. There are many happy owners out there and it blows my mind that people think the car is a disaster just because some people have had issues. Your experience is not everyone's experience!

My experience…?
Are you actually reading the threads?
You think I’m making up multiple accounts?

 

[tsedge]

My experience…?
Are you actually reading the threads?
You think I’m making up multiple accounts?

I don't think you are making anything up. As I have said before you have had a lemon and a bad experience.

Yes, you are not alone, some others have had a bad experience too.

But guess what, not everyone has (clue there are thousands on the road now) and not everyone thinks the car is a disaster.

I would have thought this was pretty obvious if you had been reading other people's comments across the forums.

 

[Deleted member 9692]

This car is brilliant. I love mine and it has no issues. There are many happy owners out there and it blows my mind that people think the car is a disaster just because some people have had issues. Your experience is not everyone's experience!

Agree with your point @tsedge - your experience not withstanding, I think there is ample evidence that the MG4 has been a “buggy” car for many people. I have auto hold fault this morning, scheduled charging still not working, had to reboot the infotainment yet again this morning, oil leak not resolved yet, waiting for new door handle, drivers foot rest, inability to preheat while charging (I think even you will have that bug, it may not bother you but it does me).

Im not saying the car is an unmitigated disaster but I am saying that there are more faults than there should be and MG customer service is so crap it magnifies issues. There does seem to be a tendency on this forum when people discuss their issues for people to pile on and say “Well I have no issues” and I’m not convinced how useful those posts are. I’m not saying that you were doing that in your post and I actually agree with what you said for the record.

 

[tsedge]

Agree with your point @tsedge - your experience not withstanding, I think there is ample evidence that the MG4 has been a “buggy” car for many people. I have auto hold fault this morning, scheduled charging still not working, had to reboot the infotainment yet again this morning, oil leak not resolved yet, waiting for new door handle, drivers foot rest, inability to preheat while charging (I think even you will have that bug, it may not bother you but it does me).

Im not saying the car is an unmitigated disaster but I am saying that there are more faults than there should be and MG customer service is so crap it magnifies issues. There does seem to be a tendency on this forum when people discuss their issues for people to pile on and say “Well I have no issues” and I’m not convinced how useful those posts are. I’m not saying that you were doing that in your post and I actually agree with what you said for the record.

Interesting, the pile ons I tend to see are those (sometimes even people without the car), take an issue and expand it to "this car is terrible/useless/worthless/buy X instead".

I would ignore it if it made no difference but clearly some people have been put off by reading such comments, so I put in my experience and viewpoint.

 

[bowfer]

I don't think you are making anything up. As I have said before you have had a lemon and a bad experience.

Yes, you are not alone, some others have had a bad experience too.

But guess what, not everyone has (clue there are thousands on the road now) and not everyone thinks the car is a disaster.

I would have thought this was pretty obvious if you had been reading other people's comments across the forums.

As I said to someone else yesterday, you’re assuming that owners not moaning on here are therefore happy.
That’s using an absence of evidence as evidence of absence.
They could be completely unaware of this forum and moaning to the dealers.

 

[Lucky5]

Yeh that sounds about right siteguru I agree and about what would be expected for gear oil in general.
Les

I think I have posted this before but I changed our 24kwh leaf reduction box oil at 15k miles and it was pretty dark and nasty looking. It is approaching 30k miles now and I intend dropping it again, more out of curiosity than anything to see how it looks again.

 

[tsedge]

As I said to someone else yesterday, you’re assuming that owners not moaning on here are therefore happy.
That’s using an absence of evidence as evidence of absence.
They could be completely unaware of this forum and moaning to the dealers.

Funny how this effect only works to support your arguments. ???

 

[bowfer]

Funny how this effect only works to support your arguments. ???

Ok so if we believe your side of the argument, the oil leak fix and recall for being locked in has come about through a handful of people on here.
Which seems more likely?

 

[Deleted member 9692]

Interesting, the pile ons I tend to see are those (sometimes even people without the car), take an issue and expand it to "this car is terrible/useless/worthless/buy X instead".

I would ignore it if it made no difference but clearly some people have been put off by reading such comments, so I put in my experience and viewpoint.

Agree, there are some very negative people here but I think there are also many people who like the car in spite of the many well documented problems, myself included. I would contend that my posts re problems don’t mean that everyone has them but equally the fact that all is well with you doesn’t mean there aren’t widespread issues that are not being handled well. Peace

 

[tsedge]

Agree, there are some very negative people here but I think there are also many people who like the car in spite of the many well documented problems, myself included. I would contend that my posts re problems don’t mean that everyone has them but equally the fact that all is well with you doesn’t mean there aren’t widespread issues that are not being handled well. Peace

Agreed - but then I have never said the car is faultless for all, I've repeatedly acknowledged there are issues and commented on them throughout threads like this (I was here for post #1!).

All I have ever tried to do is understand the context and extent of these issues accurately. For example the oil leak poll (which I created BTW) indicated that only 50% of those responding experienced the oil leak issue. MG themselves say it is a minority. The reasons for this are unclear but it is unhelpful when people say "all MG4s leak oil or will do" since that appears to be false.

Equally, I've commented before that having the oil leak doesn't prevent usage of the car - which is true. There are debates about whether this makes this a minor or major issue, and I agree with people that it has taken an unacceptable amount of time for MG to come up with a proper fix and their communication is terrible. But when I mention this, I get jumped on for "minimising" the issue. Apparently there's an invisible army trying to minimise it if you believe some posters.

As to my own experience, it is not my fault if my car works. As a recently made and delivered model I would also think it is useful to contribute my experience because MG may be improving quality and perhaps most of the bugs were on the early cars.

If I get problems I WILL report them here, rest assured you'll get entirely more detail than you probably want!