Rover K Series HGF - What actually causes it?

Well, my dad has put the following miles on the following cars:

Volvo 440 : 150,000 +
Volvo S40 : 120,000 +
Nissan Primera GT : 140,000 +

None have had HGF or any coolant loss or any mechanical problems, i don't know anyone (Not including ppl off these forums) who has had a HG problem on anything except a rover.

Not rover bashing ere btw!
 
And like I've said, I know people who'd owned K's from new and never had to replace the gasket.

I can assure you that ANY engine is going to need at least one HG change in its lifetime. Albeit with a Rover, that HG change is quite early on in its life. :)
 
agw_01 said:
And like I've said, I know people who'd owned K's from new and never had to replace the gasket.

I can assure you that ANY engine is going to need at least one HG change in its lifetime. Albeit with a Rover, that HG change is quite early on in its life. :)
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Ok so say it needs changing at 60k does that mean it will need changing at 120k and 180k. :confused:
 
Meaning if the other engine did need a HG then the rover would be on its second, why does the rover one need changing so early then and the others dont?
 
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agw_01 said:
The K doesn't have an appetite for HG's
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cymatty said:
Ok so say it needs changing at 60k does that mean it will need changing at 120k and 180k. :confused:
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No.

Due to the design in later engines, they normally need a HG change before 40k. After that initial change, it'll no doubt last for another 100,000 miles.

The earlier engines normally needed a gasket change at 100,000. It's very doubtful that they'd need it doing again.

Fox, you always use that picture. It's getting a little boring now, don't you think.

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Fox doesn't love the Mundano. (I was going to put something else but resisted :()
 
agw_01 said:
If a HG change is done properly, the engine will only probably need one or two replacement gaskets throughout its entire lifetime.
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Only 3 HG's in it's entire lifetime?

xrofl.gif
 
Everyone says thrashing from cold as a reason for HGF, So is it only Rover owners that thrash it from cold? I think not!
 
Unless i treat the engine like total poo or go over 200k then i would expect the HG to last.

One of the guidelines is :

Never park the car just with a hot engine after a hot ride but let it cool down to 100° Oil temperature before you shut down the engine.

So i've got to wait for the engine to cool before i turn it off?
 
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The engine is a fantastic design overall as it has won many awards for.

The problem most the time is not the headgasket but the liners moving as mentioned. The liners at high revs (especially on the 1.8 with its poor Rod/stroke ratio) have a habit of wanting to twist, the only think stopping them is the head. On a cold engine the liners have not expanded and so do not grip the block enough, the liner wants to twist, the head stops it and instead the liner drops. This drops the liner from the headgasket fire ring and you get the headgasket gone symptons but it's not actually the headgasket that's gone. This is a problem on the engines as they are not overengineered lumps of metal but finely tuned to minimise weight, hence why the engine is so light and popular with Kit cars.

Also any coolant leak soon fecks them up. On race cars they never have problems as they are well maintained same with enthuasts cars, the elises rarely have issues. The complete bolt through engine design is indeed race car technology and Honda copied it for the F20C and K20.
 
:D Good post Simon!

Now, let's see what the 'OMGZ ROVER ARE CRAP' squad have to say about that. Like I've been saying for ages... if you don't know about something, who are you to bad mouth it?
 
WTF?

Untill anyone comes along and PROVES that the K-Series DOESN'T have a serious HG failure issue - there's nothing to be said other than to just laugh at what a complete and utter POS it is.

Let's say Clio's had a problem with HG failure - everyone would say - Ah yes the Clio that needs a HG replacement from the factory. Now if it was proven that the Clio lost it's HG due to the driver looking at it a bit funny - that would change nothing. The Clio would still have a HG problem.

Jesus, what is it with blinkered views. Bottom line - it has a problem. End of.
 
That is a great post, however, its not much consolation to someone who bought a 414 thinking it would be a geat cheap runabout and turned out to be a nightmare.

I love my Rovers - had 2 which didnt go wrong at all, but the headgasket problem has DESTROYED their reputation as a reliable car and made people think the exact opposite. :(

Its a real shame.
 
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