K-series reliability
Discussion
I want to buy a mk1 elise but am concerned about all the horror stories I have heard regarding the k-series engine- usually relating to head gasket problems. Everyone I know who's had an MG/ Rover/ whatever has had this trouble. Will I experience the same trouble if I buy a mk1 elise? Do all you elise owners have the same trouble with head gaskets as Rover owners? If so I may have to buy a VX220!
The K series has been manufactured in the hundreds of thousands of units.
Its used in a wide variety of kit cars, caterams, Lotuses, Rovers, MGs etc...
The K series engine is pretty reliable (unless tuned till it bleeds, but thats pretty much true of any highly tuned engine).
Its lightweight and comparitively cheap.
There have been a lot of these threads in the Lotus and the Elise/Exige forums, if you do a search to dig them out you should get a far better answer.
HGF is a known problem with the K-series. This doesnt mean that all (or even a large percentage) suffer from it, or will suffer from it, but that it can happen.
There are known issues with pretty much all cars and engines, simply the most common causes of failure.
Its used in a wide variety of kit cars, caterams, Lotuses, Rovers, MGs etc...
The K series engine is pretty reliable (unless tuned till it bleeds, but thats pretty much true of any highly tuned engine).
Its lightweight and comparitively cheap.
There have been a lot of these threads in the Lotus and the Elise/Exige forums, if you do a search to dig them out you should get a far better answer.
HGF is a known problem with the K-series. This doesnt mean that all (or even a large percentage) suffer from it, or will suffer from it, but that it can happen.
There are known issues with pretty much all cars and engines, simply the most common causes of failure.
AntB said:
sorry, bought a vx220 7 months ago.
so i've no issues at all with the reliability of the k-series engine in it!
thanks for the reply anyway!
Then why ask the question? Just doing a bit of trolling, are you? I'm sure that Elise owners will take comfort in the fact that you'll have lost much more in additional depreciation on the VX that it will ever cost them to fix a head gasket. And then there's the embarrasment of having to admit you drive a Vauxhall
Mutant Rat said:
sorry, bought a vx220 7 months ago.
so i've no issues at all with the reliability of the k-series engine in it!
thanks for the reply anyway!
I'm sure that Elise owners will take comfort in the fact that you'll have lost much more in additional depreciation on the VX that it will ever cost them to fix a head gasket. And then there's the embarrasment of having to admit you drive a Vauxhall
the post was originally put up here on the fourth of september 2004 (9 or ten months ago?), there is one reply relating to it and in the mean time i drove both cars and decided the 2.2 vx was a more complete car.
therefore i fail to see how this can be trolling.
think i'll go back to vx220.org.uk where it's possible for a newbie to post a question without getting a flaming, whether or not they drive an elise/ vx.
anyone who knows about cars knows that they are built in the same factory, by the same people. therefore i'd rather just drive what i believe to be the better car, irrespective of what shape the badge on the front takes.
end of.
many thanks for the original reply from 'the lemming' tho.
Mutant Rat said:
I'm sure that Elise owners will take comfort in the fact that you'll have lost much more in additional depreciation on the VX that it will ever cost them to fix a head gasket. And then there's the embarrasment of having to admit you drive a Vauxhall
Oh well done!
Check your facts before shooting your mouth off - idiot.
jules_s said:
PJG said:
oh dear mutant rat.. you have made yourself look a bit silly.
i think you should apologise.
He's probably hiding under the 'elise' duvet covers his mummy bought him...
Indeed- my apologies Ant. Obviously I didn't spot the date on your original post, which puts a completely diffenent complexion on the matter.
Jules and Gerrym...perhaps you ought to check my profile. I don't know how old you are, but if you fall anywhere close to the normal demographic for Elise drivers, there's every chance you'll find I've been driving Lotus' since you were still in short pants - I think I bought my first in 1990, IIRC.
Anyway - my unreserved apologies, Ant!
>> Edited by Mutant Rat on Wednesday 29th June 18:15
Rat, you may have been driving Lotus' since I was in short pants, unfortunately you maturity level has not caught up with your real age.
I see from your car history, you are not a great fan of cars anyway.
But seeing as you apologised, let's just drop it now.
Cheers
G
>> Edited by gerrym on Monday 4th July 14:36
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