Head gasket advice!

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C

craw

New Member
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Location
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I have a 1.8 petrol 3dr that I've had for nearly 4 years and it's been pretty reliable. It's just on 60,000 miles and I'm worried about the head gasket going on it. I've owned it since 35,000 miles and it hasn't had it done to the best of my knowledge. I wanna keep it another couple of years at least and my mate has offered to fit an upgraded gasket to it for me. If I'm having it done what else should I consider doing at the same time? Also any recommendations on what parts are best for this?

Cheers guys, JC
 
If it's at 60k and it hasn't had a new HG then you probably have one of the gooduns - and they are rare as unicorn poo ;). Diesel Do has one that's about the same, some of them just seem to last without issue.

If it aint broked dunt fix it I say. Just make sure you are not losing any coolant as that's usually an early sign of potential HGF. But if you haven't got a problem then it's probably fine and there's a good chance it will stay that way if you look after it properly and don't skimp on servicing :).

Will.
 
Payen mls gasket

new stretch bolts

uprated oil rail

thermostat upgrade (remote prrt)

new water pump

upgraded coolant expansion tank and cap
new timing belt & tensioner

knock out the jiggle valve in the return pipe (inlet manifold)

and buy some rosary beads

i did all this (except the oil rail) and it's fine now


mind you....i did actually wait for mine to go....it was at 76k ;)
 
Freelaner said:
Payen mls gasket

new stretch bolts

uprated oil rail

thermostat upgrade (remote prrt)

new water pump

upgraded coolant expansion tank and cap
new timing belt & tensioner

knock out the jiggle valve in the return pipe (inlet manifold)

and buy some rosary beads

i did all this (except the oil rail) and it's fine now


mind you....i did actually wait for mine to go....it was at 76k ;)
Click to expand...

What he said if it breaks. Mr Freelaner knows his K series onions ;).
 
WLJayne said:
If it's at 60k and it hasn't had a new HG then you probably have one of the gooduns - and they are rare as unicorn poo ;). Diesel Do has one that's about the same, some of them just seem to last without issue.

If it aint broked dunt fix it I say. Just make sure you are not losing any coolant as that's usually an early sign of potential HGF. But if you haven't got a problem then it's probably fine and there's a good chance it will stay that way if you look after it properly and don't skimp on servicing :).

Will.
Click to expand...

I agree, mines out lasted my clutch and vcu:) I'd just be vigilant for leaks and regularly check your coolant, the most likely reason for it to blow will be coolant loss, I presume it's a 2001 model year or later as these had a lot of the mods done and are far more reliable as long as you don't neglect them, the early ones blew gaskets just for the hell of it, the later ones generally tend to have a reason!


DD
 
Thanks guys, what am I looking at for that list of parts? Doesn't need to be exact, just a ball park figure as a rough guide? It has been well looked after and only does about 5k a year, I do feel I've been lucky when I read some of the posts on here. I take it eBay is, as always, the answer!

Also looking to upgrade to leather seats if you know of any going?
 
It's a 52 plate I got. The clutch was done a few years back on mine also. Just worried about the head gasket cos people say it just goes without warning and I feel at 60k I'm on borrowed time! For peace of mind I just wanna get it sorted the best I can
 
it will already have all the mods mate.

and no plastic dowels in the head that mine had til i changed the headgasket.

to be perfectly honest give it a good service and flush/change the coolant, then just keep checking it periodically (time to suit you, while at work i check at lunch time everyday)

and stop worrying

spend the cash on something else, what condition are your brakes/tyres in...stuff like that :)
 
craw said:
It's a 52 plate I got. The clutch was done a few years back on mine also. Just worried about the head gasket cos people say it just goes without warning and I feel at 60k I'm on borrowed time! For peace of mind I just wanna get it sorted the best I can
Click to expand...

It was the pre 2001 models that did it without warning, you should have the prt stat system and uprated oil gallery among other things on yours already. It was thermal shock on the early ones that made them blow for no reason the prt stopped the thermal shock from happening


DD
 
Freelaner said:
it will already have all the mods mate.

and no plastic dowels in the head that mine had til i changed the headgasket.

to be perfectly honest give it a good service and flush/change the coolant, then just keep checking it periodically (time to suit you, while at work i check at lunch time everyday)

and stop worrying

spend the cash on something else, what condition are your brakes/tyres in...stuff like that :)
Click to expand...

My sentiments exactly!


DD
 
Thanks again, the tyres are pretty good although I'm looking to get two newer ones for the front, not sure about the brakes though! It's seldom used to be honest although it has just become my 'new' car (cause I bought a new one for the wife!)
 
craw said:
Thanks again, the tyres are pretty good although I'm looking to get two newer ones for the front, not sure about the brakes though! It's seldom used to be honest although it has just become my 'new' car (cause I bought a new one for the wife!)
Click to expand...

Don't do that!


DD
 
The larger pair of tyres must always go on the rear on Freelanders, due to the IRD gearing. Not doing so will damage the vcu and worst case blow up the IRD or rear diff!


DD
 
You have to be careful cos sometimes a new tyre of a different make can be smaller than your part worn originals, just to confuse the issue:D


DD
 
Yeah I also buy the same tyres all the time, used to have two latitudes and two synchrones when I first got it until i joined up here and got clued up (a bit!) Now they're all synchrones
 
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