Woohoo, hopefully no more HG trouble!

[BenH]

I've just used the services of this chap:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140243535468&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:GB:1123

He's just been and gone, the total job time approx 2 hours 45 mins. The old gasket was in pretty poor condition, with the beading literally peeling away. It was definitely leaking in a couple of places. Not a lot, but leaking. Looks as though I caught it in time.:)

Brand new multilayer gasket in place, with new head bolts and steel dowels, spot on.

The expansion tank was cleaned out, and the traces of mayo removed. He then fitted my super-duper new Magnecor Competition HT leads for me while the head was off, as it seemed much easier to reach then!

Engine started first time, no worries.

The total cost was £375, and that was including £50 travel cost from Birmingham to Bristol and back. He gives a 12 month warranty as well, top job.

I'll keep you posted on how it runs. Just have to go and do a spot of gunking now, and refit the strut brace...:beer2::beer2::beer2:

[Adam]

Fingers crossed it lasts for you buddy!

[BenH]

Lol, cheers! The new one looks a hell of a lot more substantial, so hopefully all will be well. :):)

[brmatty]

i take it the head wasnt skimmed if it was done on site?!?..you might need his services again in a few months time...lets hope not..

[BenH]

Nope, that was my little gamble. :wacko:

It's never approached getting past half way on the gauge, and I think I've caught it right at the beginning of the failure. He's been doing Rover headgaskets for years apparently, and was confident it was OK.

If it goes pear shaped within 12 months it's under warranty anyway. Reckon it'll be OK personally.:):)

[BRMark]

Just out of interest is this the sort of prices you'd be looking at to get the Gasket upgraded to the new version as a precaution prior to any HG failure rather than after the event?

[mafcaw]

Alot of people on MG Rover say you shouldn't skim your head if it doesnt need it, it removes alot of the original heat treatment

[Adam]

Very true. Although I'm now a firm believer in the modifications made by Land Rover in the form of the uprated gasket, PRT kit, oil ladder, etc.

[BenH]

Well, 4 and a bit months later and several thousand miles including London traffic jams for work and it's not touched a drop of coolant, and the expansion tank is surgically clean still. Very happy indeed with it, it's just a shame I'm putting so many miles on the poor thing.

Still, I suppose they were built to be used though. :)

[BRMark]

Do you stil have the contact details for the guy as the ebay link has now expired?

[BenH]

I'm afraid I don't, sorry. I think there were a few more people offering similar services on eBay though. May be worth a search? :):)

[BenH]

Doh, spoke too soon!

A couple of weeks ago I noticed a couple of drops of coolant on the head gasket seam (front left of block when faced from the front), and these dried up on start-up and never reappeared. My mechanic friend pressure tested the system, and it's not losing any pressure at all, although it was slightly warm at the time and had apparently sealed itself up. From a stone cold start, a few tiny drops would appear and then retreat back in after a minute or so of running.

Now I know I'll get slated from some quarters if the internet forums are to be believed, but on his recommendation I have put half a bottle of K-Seal in, and it has stopped this leak completely. No contamination in the oil or coolant at all, and 600 miles later there's no bother whatsoever.

I guess there must be a slight warp to the head after all, but to be honest, I need to be mobile at the moment for £££ work, so the pro's of K-Seal are outweighing the cons. And the pro's of work are slightly more important just now, although I appreciate it may be be a bit of a gamble. Fingers crossed.

Will keep you posted. And don't be cross with me. :):):)

[Adam]

Good luck with it, personally I wouldn't touch it but hope it lasts for you matey!!

[spankyban]

Interesting to know that if you are in the pooper it can work..

[Jon_A]

Don't trust the stuff for any long distance drive, if the HG is going then I wouldn't risk driving as you could still be getting airlocks and sections of the block could overheat and warp.

[BenH]

The gasket was brand spanking new at the end of June with the 'shim' layer as well, new bolts and steel dowels, so I'm pretty confident that it's OK.

As I mentioned before, the dots of coolant were only appearing when the car had been left for two days without running, and disappeared after a few minutes idling as the heat built up. It's holding pressure overnight too as there is a slight 'hiss' when you undo the expansion tank cap when stone cold the next day.

I'll do a compression test tomorrow, will be interesting to see how the readings compare to the ones from just post HG change.

I know I'm probably deluding myself really, but I've become fed-up of worrying about the bloody thing! Roll on the Lotus Elise! (one day...):):)

[brmad]

Just stumbled on him for anyone's future ref on ebay his username is rovermad68

[BenH]

Long time no post - hope everyone is well on here!:)

Just a quick update - the slight coolant leak persisted until September this year, when it turned into a slight oil leak. Yikes.

This got very slightly worse, but with no cross contamination of fluids.
But after long motorway runs, it was making a worse and worse mess, with oil running along the head gasket 'join', and a lot coming from under the cam cover area.

I eventually 'bit the bullet', and it went off to Price Bros. Engineering in Avonmouth, Bristol for a couple of days.

They have done a full head strip / skim / rebuild / full top end gasket and seal replacement / bolts / belts / tensioner etc and fitted a lovely new radiator.

My budget couldn't run to the uprated oil rail and remote thermostat unfortunately, but I may look into the remote thermostat in the future.

The result:

1. The thing goes like absolute stink now, and I love it more than ever.
2. The engine is BONE DRY for now and completely free of any fluid leaks, even the cam carrier which has always wept slightly on the back.

So, as you all advised me in the first place, get the head skimmed properly in the event of HGF! Doh!:wacko::)

And I would highly recommend Price Bros. Engineering in Bristol. :):)

[maph2]

would be interested to know how much you paid the second time round for the HG work?

I'm due to pick up mine from the garage today. they have fitted the latest xpart/nanjing auto revised HG kit (uprated bolts, gasket and oil ladder). cost £170 retail via my garage. they've skimmed the head and pressure tested and has passed ok. looks like it was just the elastomer bead failing allowing fluids to mix (the gasket wasn't MLS). also gave them a new rad to fit too, plus new stat, cambelt, tensioner and pump.

expecting a £500+ bill

[BenH]

It was £800ish in total - bit pricey really, but it seems to be a good job so far. :)

[mad99mike]

the reason for skimming the head is to remove indentations caused by wet liners moving as in rocking back and forward also if head is distorted a lot and skimmed then cam brgs will not be in line any more as the are lined bored when the head was new and flat regard mike