Under used K series.

[oldntired]

I'm due to inherit a super low mileage (sub30k) Rover 25, on an 02 plate, in the near future. Although it's been serviced every year, I'm sure it's never had a head gasket changed ( never had any issue with it). What I'm asking people is this ; should I do a gasket change as a precautionary measure, due to its age, or am I wasting my time/ money, owing to the value of this thing. I'll probably hang onto it, as it's been my mums, who's had it from near new. (& no - she doesn't drive it like a little old biddy !!!).

[taurus]

If it ain't broke....

I'd run it as it is and just be meticulous about checking and replacing the coolant frequently. They run a very small amount of coolant which is part of the problem.

The other issue on some installations of the engine is thermal shock as the thermostat opens, I'm guess in Oz that isn't such an issue as here in chilly Blighty.

[oldntired]

Sorry Taurus, I should have said, but the car is in sunny Britain, not Oz. Can't say I've ever seen one here, in all the time I've been here.

[taurus]

Ah well - in the 25 it isn't really an issue. I'd still just run it and keep on top of cooling system maintenance like the proverbial hawk.

[Battles]

So are you going to ship the car to Australia or are you going to be using it in the UK?

[taurus]

I imagine shipping it to Oz would be 10 times what the car is worth.

[ChasR]

Indeedy.

I have seen a couple of K Series cars go on years without a HG replacement but they have been meticulously maintained. One of them was sold on here from a mate of mine who was breaking a car.

[DWDarkWheels]

"If it ain't broke" indeed.

I've read only a little about these on Elise forums, but what I took from it was to let the thing get up to temperature before you use over 3000rpm, and keep an eye on the coolant level. The design of the engine was to heat up quickly anyway, so I'm finding it's up to operating temperature in about 3 miles from cold start.

[roccoguy]

Some k series seem to blow the HG early on, others never seem to have an issue with it. As suggested above I'd just use it as is, you may never have to deal with it if you're lucky.

[oldntired]

The car is going to be "donated" to me, when I return from Oz, in a few months time. My mum was looking at upgrading to an auto ( she has a lot of knee pain ) & when I heard the pittance that she was being offered for it as a trade in, I told her that I'd give her more than they were offering - & to hang onto it until my return. I know they're not worth much, but I couldn't believe how little she was offered to trade in - bearing in mind it's super clean, garaged for life, approx 27k miles, - one place offered £125 !!!!!. Perhaps a good job I wasn't there - I may have been very rude to the guy !! I realise we've all got a living to make, but ............. Cheeky curse word.........

[oldntired]

Oct 14, 2015 15:50:03 GMT taurus said:

I imagine shipping it to Oz would be 10 times what the car is worth.

Not that it's happening, but it's not a straightforward task anyway. You need to apply for a permit to import a vehicle into Oz. You have to have owned it for at least 12 mths too, & even if you satisfy these criteria, there's no guarantee they'll grant you a permit. I've no idea how they decide which vehicles they allow in though. I know this was the case when I emigrated, because I took my Harley with me. If you try & land a vehicle without this permit, you have two choices ; you either pay & ship it home again, or they'll destroy your pride & joy, & charge you for the privilege. You won't get vehicle into Oz otherwise. My case went right down to the wire. I'd been in Oz for about 3 mths, & was luckily granted my permit the day before my removalists emptied the house. Had I not got the import permit, it'd have had to go into storage with my mate, until God knows when. Even when it got here, your still fleeced to get it cleared through customs. Even though it was steam cleaned before packing/shipping, it "needed" to be done again this end, obviously at a cost to you.  You don't authorise it - you don't get it + they'll charge you storage until it's cleared . You can't watch it being done & they won't accept any liability should something be damaged !!!!! Welcome to Australia !!!!!!! The Lucky Country !!!!!! 

[taurus]

You mean all that stuff we see about Australia being laid back and everything gets sorted over a few beers isn't true!

I am shocked.

Skippy lied!

[Battles]

Oct 15, 2015 13:42:56 GMT taurus said:

Skippy lied!

You mean Neighbours WASN'T a fly on the wall documentary?

Seriously though, Mighty Car Mods has been an eye opener for me, I thought the rules in Australia were closer to the US than the UK but now I know differently.

[mgmrw]

Oct 14, 2015 10:18:51 GMT oldntired said:

I'm due to inherit a super low mileage (sub30k) Rover 25, on an 02 plate, in the near future. Although it's been serviced every year, I'm sure it's never had a head gasket changed ( never had any issue with it). What I'm asking people is this ; should I do a gasket change as a precautionary measure, due to its age, or am I wasting my time/ money, owing to the value of this thing. I'll probably hang onto it, as it's been my mums, who's had it from near new. (& no - she doesn't drive it like a little old biddy !!!).

Your call, personally given the above I'd budget £500 and get it dome properly. By that I mean:

Head off,skimmed,valves reseated. Then new HG, new bolts, new fluids, new belt and water pump. Service it too.

Get a Payen HG too, last forever.

My 1400cc k series powered ZR went at 19k, did the above then put 100,000 miles on it in 3 years using it in all weathers.

Golden rules?

Oil change every 5k.
Belt and pump every 30k.
Never over 2500rpm when cold.

You know when they're warm, exhaust note changes, idle smoother and gear change goes buttery smooth.

Rest of the time I drove it hard,never missed a beat.

[oldntired]

Oct 15, 2015 13:42:56 GMT taurus said:

You mean all that stuff we see about Australia being laid back and everything gets sorted over a few beers isn't true!

I am shocked.

Skippy lied!

That part about ' laid back & over a few beers' is completely true. If there's one thing they are, is laid back. I worked at one place, where having a beer, after work ( on works premises) was part of the daily routine ! It mattered not that you were driving home afterwards. Drink driving doesn't seem to concern them unduly - even though there are big penalties if your caught. The fridge in the works tea room was always stocked with beer. Nobody went anywhere near it during work hours - but at knock off time - it was every man for himself !!!!! 

[woodenspatulas]

Agreed with above, don't worry about it till it goes.

Even then you could be lucky like my old 214sei and it only seemed to go when on the motorway, so I drove along the a roads keeping it under 60mph and it lasted till I could get it fixed about 3 months later.

The thermal shock mentioned above only effected the Freelander I thought, as it was down to the position of the thermostat on them. But finally agree with keeping the revs down till its warmed up. after doing the HG it ran fine till I accidently parked it in a bus......and a Vectra.......and a Metro but I was young and reckless back then.

[chairchild]

Oct 15, 2015 18:11:55 GMT mgmrw said:

Your call, personally given the above I'd budget £500 and get it dome properly. By that I mean:

Head off,skimmed,valves reseated. Then new HG, new bolts, new fluids, new belt and water pump. Service it too.

Get a Payen HG too, last forever.

1) a HG will only leak if compromised
2) you only skim a head if warped - skimming actually introduces the chance of a non-ideal surface, if poorly machined. So doing it for the sake of it, is a poor choice.
3) the type of HG used on a K is dependant on liner height. If the liners are all proud, and level - use an MLS type gasket. If the liners are either level with the block, or slightly uneven - use an elastomer gasket.


However, as an addition to 3) there's also the N series upgrade available:
www.dmgrs.co.uk/collections/head-gasket-kits/products/ultimate-k-series-head-gasket-fix-n-series-gasket-high-tension-head-bolts-and-revised-oil-rail-equiv-to-zua000530

when SAIC revised the K Series for fitting to the MG7, they changed the construction of the Head Gasket, used higher-tensile Head Bolts and fitted a re-enforced Lower Oil Rail. You can now fit these parts to your K Series-engined MG Rover vehicle.

So to recap: if it's not broken... don't fix it, lol

[mgmrw]

Payen do a multilayer gasket. And head skimming, I sort of agree.


Had 1x badly done one, which went again in under 500 miles.

But the following one done elsewhere, was phenomenally smooth and lasted forever.