View Full Version : Possible Head Gasket Failure
pinola
11-18-2007, 07:33 PM
What do you think??
She still drives fine (not even got hot) saw it today as I was checking the water, the level was low but it has a small water leak on one of the rad pipes so don’t know if it's lost the water due to HG or leak on the pipe. What do you think the car only does 6 miles a day so could it be condensation I know some cars suffer (Vauxhall 1.4) from it if they are not used a lot but unsure if the K series suffers.
Could be condensation but that definitely doesn't look right. I'd get it checked out to be on the safe side.
oil cap could be condensation, dipstick suggests not. Although I'd expect a similar substance in the coolant.
However, mine went with oil going into the coolant and not the other way around. Must be a pressure thing...
pinola
11-19-2007, 05:50 AM
you had your fixed yet DOM?
yeah couple of weeks ago, just had to replace the coolant hoses as the oil had made them soft. Cost me £750 in total, but I did get everything done at the same time, MOT, brakes, cambelt, plugs yadda yadda.
pinola
11-19-2007, 05:43 PM
No one around here wants to do it my local engine centre said they dont have the tools to do the VVc engine and EMG (ex rover) want £850+
I've got a locking tool for the vvc, but our units full of MG's at the moment :slap:
pinola
11-19-2007, 10:20 PM
was thinking of getting rid of her today :( had a talk with Dave andrews (DVApower) he really knows his K series engine. When replacing the gasket he said you have to make sure the liners have not droped. they have to be 4thou above the head or you will be doing the gasket again in no time. If they have droped it's about £310 to fix it then there is the price of getting the gasket done. other problem hes booked up untill FEB it's put me off going to a garage that may not know about the liners
it's only in rare cases that happens, and some gaskets deal with it better than others. A good independent garage should have had loads of rover head gaskets by now, mine was number 200 and something...
You could have a browse around forums.mg-rover.org, see if there's a recommended garage near you?
RoverBoi
11-22-2007, 07:54 PM
doing 6 miles a day isnt gd m8, short journys arnt so gd with the k series engine, ca be a big cause of hgf.. as for condensating between me and my who is a bit of a rover know it all neither of us have ever seen a k series engine condensate, wud b gd to know if there are any out there that do though....
wud say with that much mayo m8 head gasget is failing.
£850 sound about right, there is about 16+ hours in labour alone to do a hg on a vvc, stripping n re-building the head being the biggest amount of work..
It can be a nightmare to dismantle a VVC head. One slip and the whole lot comes apart and trust me, you don't want that to happen to you. Remember, its got 5 camshafts!!! and you need to line them all up exactly!
Also!!!!! ask for the Land rover multi layer head gasket. ITs much better and is even used by Judd for the 2.0 touring car engine.
pinola
11-30-2007, 06:17 AM
I have a better idea I'm sending it to dave (DVApower) and having some more engine mods done but it's not cheap :(
list of mods
Gives a very useful power and torque increase across the range and especially between 4500 and 7200, comprising a fully ported cylinder head, retiming of the VVC inlet camshafts, improved exhaust camshaft and 52mm TF160 throttle body together with all gaskets, oil seals and head bolts necessary to fit. This kit retains the original VVC mechanisms and standard ECU. The head is provided on an exchange basis. Fitting includes work to your exhaust manifold and inlet plenum.
Recent examples have given 175BHP and 179BHP/140ft/lb respectively
pinola
11-30-2007, 06:19 AM
with the janspeed and the superchip i could be getting about 180bhp or maybe more
Ooh, that's what I've got in mind for mine, doing it all myself though to save on the pennies!
Jon_A
11-30-2007, 01:53 PM
This will sound very negative but, I have looked at doing some mods to my BRM and it simply does not seem worth it to me. Lots of money for little gain.
I have been looking at other cars such as the Leon CR and say just a superchip can give healthy gains oh BHP, which is not the case on the K VVC.
I love driving the car and feel it is relativly good when compared to other cars with more horsepower.
I know exactly what you mean Jon, it is a lot of money for any gains on the K, but at the end of the day (for me at least) its become a labour of love.
tommyk
12-02-2007, 01:34 PM
I have a better idea I'm sending it to dave (DVApower) and having some more engine mods done but it's not cheap :(
list of mods
Gives a very useful power and torque increase across the range and especially between 4500 and 7200, comprising a fully ported cylinder head, retiming of the VVC inlet camshafts, improved exhaust camshaft and 52mm TF160 throttle body together with all gaskets, oil seals and head bolts necessary to fit. This kit retains the original VVC mechanisms and standard ECU. The head is provided on an exchange basis. Fitting includes work to your exhaust manifold and inlet plenum.
Recent examples have given 175BHP and 179BHP/140ft/lb respectively
How much is that costing you Pinola?
pinola
12-03-2007, 07:27 PM
£1300 if all goes well
32 hp??? is that all?? why not go for nitros if thats all you want? I mean, your not going to be using that extra 32 hp all the time are you?
pinola
12-04-2007, 05:50 PM
Because the bottom end of the K series won’t be able to handle it I having them mods done and still retaining the reliability of the engine. NOS puts too much stress on the engine and in no time it will be in bits all over the road :)
GmL_BrM
12-05-2007, 01:01 AM
I like the sound of this DVApower place and what they do - i'd be quite happy with 170-180BHP.:D
I heard they're in Milton Keynes - that right??
G
pinola
12-05-2007, 06:08 AM
yeah it is www.dvapower.com but dave is pritty booked up he cant get me in untill 29th FEB 1st March
Because the bottom end of the K series won’t be able to handle it
Nonsense my friend. Granted the K-series can be fragile but it would cope with 32 hp. I'm putting over 200hp through my standard bottom end when its finished. Not worried 1 bit. Ok, changed the pistons and now use a floating gudgeon on the 1.8 turbo conrod (lowers compression), but the crank is the same.
pinola
12-07-2007, 11:31 PM
yes but thats a not standard bottom end now a standard k bottom end will not take more than 190bhp without failing at some point. the pistons being the first to go
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