Rover K Series HGF - What actually causes it?

great advice · 14 Mar 2006 at 18:55

[TW]Fox said:
Rovers and head gaskets outnumber Mondeos for threads in here these days

Even more suprising is that people considering buying Rovers know they are prone to an expensive fault such as a HGF and still go out and buy them! maybe if it comes up more and more then common sense may prevail :cool:

agw_01 · 14 Mar 2006 at 19:00

You really have a thing against Rovers don't you Lee?

great advice · 14 Mar 2006 at 19:01

agw_01 said:
You really have a thing against Rovers don't you Lee?

I think i do

looking out on my to drive makes me shiver

agw_01 · 14 Mar 2006 at 19:05

lol, well hopefully when you realise that not all Rover engines a pile of poop, you'll not hate them as much.

Simon, where's that Turbo of yours.

great advice · 14 Mar 2006 at 19:09

agw_01 said:
lol, well hopefully when you realise that not all Rover engines a pile of poop, you'll not hate them as much.

Simon, where's that Turbo of yours.

lol tbh i know they made some cracking engines - t series and even more so the V8, i even agree they offer "bang for buck" but tbh for me personally there's better for the money.

£1500 for a 220 turbo? give me a 211bhp RWD 200sx turbo for the same money

Good car but i prefer the jap crap tbh.

I dont care either way what other people drive, but with the dodgy K series (not all of them i know!!) engines having so many HGF's surely you must lack basic life skills to think its a good buy? t'others i understand, its down to taste but a money pit is best avoided - any idiot will tell you that

cymatty · 14 Mar 2006 at 19:13

great advice said:
engines having so many HGF's surely you must lack basic life skills to think its a good buy?

Shame that wont fit in my line of text under my sig.

hardkore · 14 Mar 2006 at 19:19

i work at a garage as an apprentice and my boss and my mentor both say the reason for the rover head gasket failures is caused by the gasket having silicone in/on them. As the silicone gets old it splits looses is sealing properties.

Just thought id contribute to this convo

It might not be right but the boss who also works there raced in the radical championships with his son, BTCC and old skool rover tournament (cant be arsed to ask which ones

) So i'd assume the silicone theory is correct?

cymatty · 14 Mar 2006 at 19:20

M0T · 14 Mar 2006 at 19:22

hardkore said:
i work at a garage as an apprentice and my boss and my mentor both say the reason for the rover head gasket failures is caused by the gasket having silicone in/on them. As the silicone gets old it splits looses is sealing properties.

Just thought id contribute to this convo It might not be right but the boss who also works there raced in the radical championships with his son, BTCC and old skool rover tournament (cant be arsed to ask which ones ) So i'd assume the silicone theory is correct?

Apparently part of the problem is that silicon beading can only adhere to the steel of the gasket for so long. Making the beading larger improves the lifespan of the gasket, which is what they did in mid 2000.

hardkore · 14 Mar 2006 at 19:37

Partly right then. Looking forward to out-smarting the boss tomorrow :cool:

M0T · 14 Mar 2006 at 19:45

Also because the larger capacity engines tend to shift slightly having the effect of pulling the bead about a bit so the beading gets stressed and the older thinner types were prone to failing early.

The newer beaded gasket is pinned through the steel to try to prevent the debonding of the silicone from the steel.

Nozzer · 14 Mar 2006 at 19:45

merlin said:
Jesus, what is it with blinkered views. Bottom line - it has a problem. End of.

Yes, it does have a problem. But, as with most myths about cars, it's nowhere near as bad as people make out.

OK, it'll be terminal in that eBay special 214, but nobody wants one of those anyway...

The AA's parts & labour warranty covers the HGF on my Elise, if it goes. I have more important things to worry about, like which socks to wear tonight.

Dogbreath · 14 Mar 2006 at 21:11

D4VE said:
And for the inlet manifold they used their favourite material again - plastic!

Loads of manufacturers use plastic inlet manifolds and plenums now. Besides cheapness and lightness, plastic manifolds are inherently more efficient as they don't conduct heat anything like as much as a cast iron or alloy manifold, which means cooler charge temperatures. Once the head has got hot enough to start melting the manifolds (and I've seen several that have) the rest of the engine is scrap metal anyway.

Del Lardo · 14 Mar 2006 at 22:32

[TW]Fox said:
Ok show me one K Series Rover owner on this forum who has a car which has never suffered HG faliure

[WAVES] & mine's positioned perfectly for HGF

[Touches wood]

Chap who services my Elise looks after about 80 Elises and recons that he's only seem 8 HGF in the last 6 years and that includes my friend who was trying to kill his.

As for K-series engines being pants, name me another engine designed over 15 years ago that weighs so little and can produce 100bhp from a 1.4 in a standard saloon car*. Compare the 1.4 K series to the 1.4 they were sticking in Escorts and Astras 10-15 years ago and it's streets ahead.

*I expect there's a lot but I can't think of any off the top of my head

Gaijin · 14 Mar 2006 at 22:34

great advice said:
£1500 for a 220 turbo? give me a 211bhp RWD 200sx turbo for the same money Good car but i prefer the jap crap tbh.

Not that S13's don't suffer from terminal rust problems and bottom end failure at all

Saying that, i'm with you, give me an decent S13 any day

penski · 14 Mar 2006 at 22:34

<(Multi)> said:
Lad down the road has a 1.8 K series. First HG went at approx 25k, second went at approx 27k and third just went at 30k.

Repaired by the same place each time..?

*n

great advice · 14 Mar 2006 at 22:40

Gaijin said:
Not that S13's don't suffer from terminal rust problems and bottom end failure at all

Saying that, i'm with you, give me an decent S13 any day

My wifes 53 plate rover already has a rusty bonnet

Firestar_3x · 14 Mar 2006 at 22:42

Del Lardo said:
[WAVES]As for K-series engines being pants, name me another engine designed over 15 years ago that weighs so little and can produce 100bhp from a 1.4 in a standard saloon car*. Compare the 1.4 K series to the 1.4 they were sticking in Escorts and Astras 10-15 years ago and it's streets ahead.

Pug 106 Rallye 1.3 with 100bhp came out in 93

Del Lardo · 14 Mar 2006 at 22:45

Firestar_3x said:
Pug 106 Rallye 1.3 with 100bhp came out in 93

Not a standard saloon car

though I'm rather ashamed that I forgot that one. When I was 18 it was my dream car :cool:

cymatty · 14 Mar 2006 at 22:46

Del Lardo said:
As for K-series engines being pants, name me another engine designed over 15 years ago that weighs so little and can produce 100bhp from a 1.4 in a standard saloon car*. Compare the 1.4 K series to the 1.4 they were sticking in Escorts and Astras 10-15 years ago and it's streets ahead.

Citroen ax gti 1.4 100bhp.