Discussion
Afternoon all,
Car's in for its MOT and I mentioned to the garage that the car runs a little rough when starting for the first 10 seconds or so, followed by a little more smoke than usual. Chances are it's a little bit of coolant leaking into the cylinder via the head gasket - they're testing it for me. My question is, roughly how much should a head gasket change cost on this. Is it worth upgrading to a competition one as the engine's upgraded already (super 160)?
Cheers,
Richard.
Car's in for its MOT and I mentioned to the garage that the car runs a little rough when starting for the first 10 seconds or so, followed by a little more smoke than usual. Chances are it's a little bit of coolant leaking into the cylinder via the head gasket - they're testing it for me. My question is, roughly how much should a head gasket change cost on this. Is it worth upgrading to a competition one as the engine's upgraded already (super 160)?
Cheers,
Richard.
Not really much point spending more than the OEM Rover part (with steel dowels) unless it's turboed or something!
More of an issue is to make sure the liners have the correct standproud (4thou min) If they are too low, it can lead to HGF, but you can perform a wee fiddle with crimping a thou or two on the edges of the gasket (Dave Andrews suggested bodge) to let the liners clamp the fire rings properly.
HTH
Shug
More of an issue is to make sure the liners have the correct standproud (4thou min) If they are too low, it can lead to HGF, but you can perform a wee fiddle with crimping a thou or two on the edges of the gasket (Dave Andrews suggested bodge) to let the liners clamp the fire rings properly.
HTH
Shug
don't assume it's the HG
it sounds like yours is more likley the inlet manifold gasket.
if you have the plastic inlet manifold, and the gasket is black (as opposed to green) then I would put money on it being this and not the HG.
one way to tell is to pull all the plugs out and look at them, if plugs 1 or 4 have water/rust on them compared to 2 & 3 then chanes are that's what it is.
it sounds like yours is more likley the inlet manifold gasket.
if you have the plastic inlet manifold, and the gasket is black (as opposed to green) then I would put money on it being this and not the HG.
one way to tell is to pull all the plugs out and look at them, if plugs 1 or 4 have water/rust on them compared to 2 & 3 then chanes are that's what it is.
Thanks chaps, I'll let the garage know your thoughts and I'll let you know the outcome later today! I do have the plastic inlet manifold, so hopefully that'll be it. Did think it was a bit odd, if it was the head gasket then surely it'd be running rough all the time and not just when starting. We shall see.
Cheers,
Richard.
Cheers,
Richard.
Well apparently it is the head gasket - coolant is leaking in once the engine is switched off which leads to lumpy starting in one cylinder on startup, and the smoke I see a little later is the coolant burning off. So the head has to come off. Is this a particularly long & arduous process? Expensive?
that is NOT a good diagnosis.
that describes inlet manifold gasket faliure, not HG
if the HG had failed as they think, it would blow all the coolant out of the expansion bottme when the engine was worked, the mear fact that coolant seeps into the cylinders when it's not running clinches it for me, it's NOT HGF.
inlet gasket is ~£10 and takes ~1 hour to change at most.
I suggest you get another opinion on it!
that describes inlet manifold gasket faliure, not HG
if the HG had failed as they think, it would blow all the coolant out of the expansion bottme when the engine was worked, the mear fact that coolant seeps into the cylinders when it's not running clinches it for me, it's NOT HGF.
inlet gasket is ~£10 and takes ~1 hour to change at most.
I suggest you get another opinion on it!
rfoster said:
I will mention this to the garage again, but how would coolant get into the intle manifold? Didn't think it ran through there. Or am I competely lost?
if you look on the right hand side of it, you will note that there is a small water bleed pipe that then goes to the expansion bottle, this has water in it.
on the other side of the manifold, there is provition in the head for the same, thus there is a water seal as part of the manifold gasket, this is why it is possible to tell as it's only ever going to affect either Cyl 1 or 4
I would put MONEY on it not being the HG
Scuffham, Thanks for this. I've just spoken with the garage (local independant, have work on all my Lotuses for last 6 years and are very good.) they're going to take off the inlet manifold first & check it before I go ahead and order all the parts. They'd taken some advice from a K-Series expert who obviously suggested it was the Head Gasket. Will be very happy if it is just the manifold gasket and means I'll be able to order some nice bits for the car instead!
Thanks again for the invaluable information Will let you know the score.
Thanks again for the invaluable information Will let you know the score.
Morning, I've dropped down the new green inlet manifold gasket to them this morning - the head hasn't been off since the 160 conversion which was 1998, so still likley it's the older black one. Will know over the next couple of days. The more I think about it the more I'm sure you're right. I hope so, got a wedding in under 7 weeks, the combi boiler blew up at home on Saturday and I could do without the added expense!
Afternoon, Scuffham you truly are a god. Replacing the inlet manifold did the trick. Still mananged to spend £800 on bits & pieces though! Apparently the leaking coolant had caused a bit of cylinder lock on a few occastions starting the car, and had stripped some of the teeth on the starter motor so this got repaired along with the heater which was jammed and a loose headlight connection from when the clam was replaced recently. Plus other consumables and a ball joint and an MOT. So I pick the car up a little later on.
Many thanks for you help - still saved me a good £600 or so! Drinks are on me if you're ever down this way.
Cheers,
Richard
Many thanks for you help - still saved me a good £600 or so! Drinks are on me if you're ever down this way.
Cheers,
Richard
Gassing Station | Elise/Exige/Europa/340R | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff