25 replies to this topic

[Bobby9779]

Hey,

Borrowed my in-laws rover 45 while the mini was getting sorted, now it seems the rover needs sorting, I need an idea of if I can fix it or how much a garage would charge.

Please help.

The engine is labouring big time, extreme decrease in performance.
White smoke is kicking out of the exhaust, especially on acceleration.
I have found what looks like dirty smeggy coolant in the air filter.
Dirty smeggy coolant is dripping from somewhere in the engine onto the floor under the car.

Please help, what do you think is wrong and what can I do to fix it.

Regards,

Russ

[Merlin-Mini]

it sounds like it could be a head gasket.. have a look under your oil filler cap.. if there is white gunk then its 100% head gasket, taking into account all the other things you have described...

[Carlos W]

Is it using water?

Is thier smeggy mayo looking stuff in the oil filler cap!

It MAY be the head gasket!

[Carlos W]

LOL I agree Merlin!

[Merlin-Mini]

i wouldnt drive it if i was you... it sounds like the head has been warped aswell and the cooling is leaking out through the gap... what kinda temperature is it running at?

[ROD]

LOL I agree Merlin!

As above.....

Edited by ROD, 05 December 2010 - 01:02 PM.

[Bobby9779]

It's running hot, using water/coolant and yes there is abit of white gunk in the rocker.

What causes head gaskets to go, is this something I have done? How much do they cost, never had to do it before but I am away that it is a fairly big job.

What am I expecting to pay at a garage.

Russ

[Carlos W]

It could've been caused by a number of things, overheating, freezing, lack of water!

I think it was quite a common fault on some rover engines!

Cost will depend on whether or not you've warped the head, what has actually caused the head to go, (I had a Citroen AX which over heated due to the fact the water pump impellers had disintergrated)

Ask your local garage for a quote!

[Merlin-Mini]

yer then its defiantly the head gasket... they generally go by getting to hot... warping the head and blowing through the gasket... its not really your fault... its something that is bound to happen on a k series engine... there known for it.. to fix it you will have to take it to a garage.. and it probably wont be cheap. head probably needs to be skimmed as well..

[Carlos W]

You may find the repair bill is more than the car's worth!


If you've got a good local garage see what they say!

You could do it yourself but it's a big job depending on your level of skills and the tools you have!

[Bobby9779]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Just got to let the father in-law know now.

Feel like crap, guy lent me his car while a family friend fixed my mini, now I've messed his car up.

Cheers for the help.

Russ

[wolfie]

if its a k series then you have not really messed it up, its a very very common problem your just unlucky it was in your possesion when it went

[me madjoe 90]

Technicly its not your fault, And his for buying a K-serise engine thats not been Dry decked.

[tommy13]

The K series long bolt engine has always been troublesome in the head gasket area. The normal problem is failure of the hollow locating dowel between the head and block. The oil feed to the cam is through this and failure usually results in the cooling system filling with engine oil, seen as thick brownish cream like emulsion in the header tank.
There is another weakness on these engines in the inlet manifold gasket. There are water ways at the end of the gasket, and failure here results in coolant being drawn into the inlet ports and burnt making clouds of steam.
All I am saying is it may be prudent to drop the manifold off first and check the gasket.
If you do this and the gasket is at fault,replace the thermostat while the manifold is off.

Edited by tommy13, 05 December 2010 - 03:58 PM.

[olds_kool_lews]

head gasket it is! we had the same thing happen on our freelander which was also fitted with a 1.8 petrol k-series engine, done the head gasket n got it all up and running, took ages to sort it out though as had ddint help that it was driven like this for upto 30miles before we were told what had happened (freelander was lent to the missus aunt, who kept filling it up with water, was about 20litres of gunk blocking everything in the engine up!) we had to clean EVERYTHING as it was covered in thick manky mayo, right pain of a job! but once its done, the new head gasket being layered give much better reliability and less prone to failure! sold it on soon after as we couldnt be bothered with it anymore!