Ministry of cr*p designs - S1 inlet manifold gasket

[AdrianR]

Pretty sure mine was leaking coolant into the inlet (some white smoke from exhaust but temperature normal), it was certainly leaking a few drops onto the undertray so have taken the thing apart to investigate.

Firstly, what a cr*p piece of design - there's no reason for there to be any water path into the manifold at all.

Secondly, I have the black gasket and allegedly there are green ones that are better, but is there any reason why I shouldn't use some blue hylomar or similar as well to make sure the verdammt thing stays glued up?

AdrianR

[Scuffers]

AdrianR said:

Pretty sure mine was leaking coolant into the inlet (some white smoke from exhaust but temperature normal), it was certainly leaking a few drops onto the undertray so have taken the thing apart to investigate.

Firstly, what a cr*p piece of design - there's no reason for there to be any water path into the manifold at all.

Secondly, I have the black gasket and allegedly there are green ones that are better, but is there any reason why I shouldn't use some blue hylomar or similar as well to make sure the verdammt thing stays glued up?

AdrianR

with respect, there is a very good reason why the water channels are there, try how do you bleed the head for starters?

also, the gasket is not one you can use sealant on (unless you are talking VVC cast manifold).

[AdrianR]

Plastic inlet - from what I can see of the manifold, the water path next to port 4 doesn't go anywhere and the one next to port 1 only goes to a vent to the expansion tank. So first one doesn't need to be there and the expansion pipe could be taken direct from the head, avoiding need for the water joint entirely.

By all means clarify if I've got this wrong, it will make me feel better about having to fix it.

AdrianR

Edited by AdrianR on Wednesday 4th November 10:41

[Monkey boy 1]

Remember this is not a Lotus engine, but one made by Rover. It was used in various other vehicles that may have requierd different inlet manifolds.

[rfoster]

I *think* Green ones were fitted from '98 models and onwards - I certainly had to change my leaking inlet manifold gasket with the uprated one a few years ago (thanks scuffers again for diagnosing it!) - no problems thereafter.