2soops Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Hi All, have a 416 rover runabout with a K series engine. Lateley its decided not to start on all cylinders, but usually 2 working up to 4 after about 20 seconds. Does this hot or cold. Have changed the usual, plugs, leads cap, rotor are and coil, but no difference. Seems to run fine when warm Its also started using about a pint of water per 100 miles. I cannot find a leak anywhere, despite spending much time looking. The strange thing with the water loss, even 24 hours after you turn the car off, there is still a loud hiss from the header tank if you remove the lid. I dont know why its still pressurised after its cooled down, or how water is escaping if pressure isnt. I did think it might be the head gasket which is common on these but it was done by a garage only 5000 miles ago. Anyone got any ideas (apart from torching it) as its driving me barmy, only be a matter of time before it wont Thanks, Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
probrox Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 When I had my Rover 200vi the headgasket went 3 times in a year. I was using a 2 litre bottle of water just to get to work (a 6 minute drive). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham S Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Was the head skimmed when it was done? Also there is a modified head gasket for these now too, basically, it's two gaskets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
straightsix Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 The K series is actually a very good engine apart from the known head gasket issues. If the garage where you had the HG repair done weren't clued up, then it may have gone again. I remember some garages refusing to work on them as they had already had to replace the gasket 2 or 3 times previously! The block should be checked at the same time as the head to ensure that it is true and there is no deformation. A lot of garages were replacing K series head gaskets with Freelander ones as they weren't prone to losing the seal (which is the issue with the other model's HG blowing across the water channels causing the loss of coolant and pressurisation) The plastic head locating dowels should also be replaced with steel ones. I have got somewhere a list of the contacts and method for HG replacement that will pretty much ensure a lasting repair. I'll see if I can dig it out for you if you want it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2soops Posted June 2, 2011 Author Share Posted June 2, 2011 The K series is actually a very good engine apart from the known head gasket issues. If the garage where you had the HG repair done weren't clued up, then it may have gone again. I remember some garages refusing to work on them as they had already had to replace the gasket 2 or 3 times previously! The block should be checked at the same time as the head to ensure that it is true and there is no deformation. A lot of garages were replacing K series head gaskets with Freelander ones as they weren't prone to losing the seal (which is the issue with the other model's HG blowing across the water channels causing the loss of coolant and pressurisation) The plastic head locating dowels should also be replaced with steel ones. I have got somewhere a list of the contacts and method for HG replacement that will pretty much ensure a lasting repair. I'll see if I can dig it out for you if you want it. That might be useful to have, had a quick look over it again tonight after work and im pretty convinced the job wasnt even done in the first place. It was a friend of my dads who was the head mechanic for a local Rover dealer, so should have been more than up to the job. The reason i dont think hes done it, is all of the exhaust manifold studs, and the downpipe ones are obviously 12 years old now, and still have 12 years worth of powdery rust in the threads. These have 100% not been undone for years. Unless he's found a way to remove the head with the exhaust manifold, down pipe, flex joint and all of the other piping that runs under the engine still attached, its not been done. Would a blown head gasket give the sustained pressure in the system, even days after its been run as i thought it would have escaped via the gasket breach. I cant work out how waters getting out, but not air pressure!!!!! Lastly, would a blown gasket cause the poor hot/cold starting issues, i've ruled out pretty much everything electrical apart from the coolant temp sensor which i will change at the weekend Cheers guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2soops Posted June 2, 2011 Author Share Posted June 2, 2011 When I had my Rover 200vi the headgasket went 3 times in a year. I was using a 2 litre bottle of water just to get to work (a 6 minute drive). Ouch, Anyone want to buy a qaulity used Rover, with reliability like this you cant go wrong!!! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
straightsix Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 I can get a head kit for about twenty quid if necessary - got a mate who is in the trade and is ex Rover/MG tech. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
straightsix Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 That might be useful to have, had a quick look over it again tonight after work and im pretty convinced the job wasnt even done in the first place. It was a friend of my dads who was the head mechanic for a local Rover dealer, so should have been more than up to the job. The reason i dont think hes done it, is all of the exhaust manifold studs, and the downpipe ones are obviously 12 years old now, and still have 12 years worth of powdery rust in the threads. These have 100% not been undone for years. Unless he's found a way to remove the head with the exhaust manifold, down pipe, flex joint and all of the other piping that runs under the engine still attached, its not been done. Would a blown head gasket give the sustained pressure in the system, even days after its been run as i thought it would have escaped via the gasket breach. I cant work out how waters getting out, but not air pressure!!!!! Lastly, would a blown gasket cause the poor hot/cold starting issues, i've ruled out pretty much everything electrical apart from the coolant temp sensor which i will change at the weekend Cheers guys I spoke to my mate - he said it sounds like the HG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2soops Posted June 2, 2011 Author Share Posted June 2, 2011 Thanks mate, will let you know after weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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