Tell me about K series engines in Caterhams

[rovermorris999]

I'm thinking of moving from an MX5 to a Caterham and the majority on the market have K series engines. I've read loads about their great power/weight ratio and also about the head gasket problems. So what are they like in a Caterham setting? It'll be track use I'm interested in and I prefer driving to removing cylinder heads so reliability is an issue. Bomb-proof like the MX5 would be good. Also, what are Minister engines like?
Also is there anyone in northeast Lincolnshire with a Caterham on here who would be willing for me to have a butcher's and ask a few dumb questions? And really cheeky, anyone doing a trackday at Cadwell soon who'd take me round as a passenger for a few laps just to get the feel of the car? I'll happily pay for the petrol or a donation to your favourite charity.

Thanks in advance.

[Cock Womble 7]

I'm by no means an expert, but from what I've heard the HGF problems of the K series engine is not really an issue in the Caterham due to better cooling/more space in the engine bay.

Uprated head gaskets are available (mine has one fitted, apparently).

Someone more knowledgeable will be along shortly to give you a more definitive answer.

[V7SLR]

12.9.11 there's a Lotus 7 Club trackday at Cadwell. Worth contacting the club and getting down to the local meet - you'll get loads of advice and probably meet folks with loads of K-Series experience.

[downsman]

There have been loads of threads on blatchat about the K series head gasket problems.
I think this is quite an interesting discussion about the K series:

http://www.aronline.co.uk/index.htm?essaykseriesf.htm

Basically, as I understand it, head gasket problems are more likely on very powerful K series particularly 1.8 versions.
However, they are much less of a problem than they were on the Freelander due to the installation.
There are very many very happy owners who love the K series and haven't had any problems.

However, being a pessimist, I bought a sigma engined car, and as a friend of mine has just suffered head gasket failure on his K series Seven, I'm glad I did.

[BertBert]

Cock Womble 7 said:

I'm by no means an expert, but from what I've heard the HGF problems of the K series engine is not really an issue in the Caterham due to better cooling/more space in the engine bay.

hehehe, you are having a laugh surely? It's just a fact of K-series life. k-series engines fail, even in Caterhams. I am sure that many will come on and say that theirs haven't failed. And that's true. Far too many fail though and the modes of failure are extremely well known for it not to be a problem.

On a cheapo k-series, it's just part of servicing. On an expensive one (read high powered), then just make sure that it's been built well (to avoid the failure modes) and it's fine.

Bert

[Gingerbread Man]

I have a K series and my head gaskets gone once. It went shortly after I bought the car at ten years old and 13000 miles.

I beileve that once rebuild with the Freelander head gasket with metal dowels, they are a lot more bomb proof and tend not to go again.

I thought that the very small cooling system capacity didn't help matters.
So if it's gone once and rebuilt well, you'll probably be alright.
Keep a regular eye on the coolant levels as well.

[BertBert]

Yep, exactly. There are several weak points...

HG itself
Plastic dowels
Liner heights

Also installation problems such as airlocks, failing header tank caps, failing fan switches

Fortunately, HGF was one of the ways I didn't blow up a KR500 engine. However my 1600 supersport went twice. Once just before I got it and once just after I sold it!

Bert

[rovermorris999]

Hmm. Food for thought. The responses so far do confirm my prejudices somewhat. Presumably an engine from someone like Minister should hopefully have most of the issues sorted? Even when sorted, they do seem to go pop a bit more often than I think is reasonable, however relatively easy and cheap it is to do the work.

[Some Gump]

OP, if it helps to balance - all of the following were tracked, and never had head gasket issues:
1400 k
1.6 superlight
1.8 superlight
Superlight r
KR500
KR300
Roadsport R

The K series is a great caterham engine, and I personally prefer it over the torquier Duratec unit - it's just more "fun". Sounds better, too.

IMO, get a good one, and don't worry about it - as (bert?) said, get a well built one and they will have pre-addressed the more common K issues. DVA, Minister etc are all really well respected, and we've used both with nothing but priase to say about em.

[BertBert]

It certainly wouldn't bother me. When I next get back to Caterham ownership, I expect it'll be in a k again. Fantastic package.

BTW, blown two HGs on a 1400 Rover 25 in about 50k miles. When I rectified the first one, I knew it was on borrowed time because of the liner heights. Still managed 40k miles though. The replacement engine has done about 8k so far!

Bert