Head Gasket failure frequency

Hi Folks
Just bought a 2005 Freelander 1.8 Petrol
First time I've had a petrol engine for years.
It was very cheap so I wasn't expecting too much when I bought it
The engine sounds sweet for its high miles but the I think the head gasket went bringing it home. Bubbling expansion tank steamy exhaust and water disappearing with no sign of a leak.
Looking through its limited history it had a head gasket in 2010 and again in 2013
Is 3 years about normal between gaskets. What advise would you give to fix it more permanently and what is the best gasket for it.

All advice very welcome

Sorry to hear you've been caught out by an unscrupulous seller.
You might want to take a look here.
https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/freelander-1-8-k-series-hgf-more-data.36863/
In the last couple of posts it was agreed a HG should last 40 to 50k miles if done properly but if done badly or with the inappropriate type of gasket it could last less than 10k.

If the liners have sunk in the block a bit should I bother or write it off to experience.

to get the latest gaskets visit TheMGZS.co.uk website and ask for Matty Price who'll fix you up

Trefor said:

If the liners have sunk in the block a bit should I bother or write it off to experience.

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Depends how bad they are. You can pull the liners out, put shims on the bottom and put them back in with hylomer blue. (think that's what it's called)
If you already have the head off what have you got to lose?

Moron said:

to get the latest gaskets visit TheMGZS.co.uk website and ask for Matty Price who'll fix you up

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Is that via: theMGZS forum? Or is a spares business?

I have purchased the new MLS Gasket set
With regards to other recommended mods how would I recognise whether a new oil rail with shim, a
new Pressure Release Thermostat (PRT) and possibly the Craig David (LOL) re-circulation pump after switch off had been previously fitted
Where is the oil rail and how can I tell if its been done?

Trefor said:

I have purchased the new MLS Gasket set
With regards to other recommended mods how would I recognise whether a new oil rail with shim, a
new Pressure Release Thermostat (PRT) and possibly the Craig David (LOL) re-circulation pump after switch off had been previously fitted
Where is the oil rail and how can I tell if its been done?

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Oil rail is in the sump, you'd need to pull the sump pan off to check. Is it worth changing? Maybe but I'm not convinced. I changed mine but only because I had problems getting the head off, already had the sump pan off and was worried the oil rail might be damaged.
This is the PRT upgrade if needed but the white thing is the PRT. Look under the bonnet near the radiator for it.
http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-PCH001190
Not sure what you mean by "oil rail with a shim", the shims I mentioned were for the liners but unless your very unlucky you won't need them.
BTW, have you got the head off yet? Most folk recommend you don't purchase the head gasket until the head is off so you know which one to buy. Also I hope you bought a good quality set and not some cheap ebay crap. Lots of people having repeat failures soon after for that reason.

Cheers for the advice Alibro. Unfortunately I did buy the gasket set off e bay:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111129927723?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2648&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
If necessary I can return it. What do you think?
My VIN is 5A497137 so if the PRT was fitted up to VIN 5A476242 mine is after that so should have it I guess,
Car is not here to check just now. I'll take a better look tomorrow.
Is there a forum to sell stuff on here as I took the huge off road tyres off it and put the originals back on?
Might make enough to cover the head repair costs you never know.

Trefor said:

Cheers for the advice Alibro. Unfortunately I did buy the gasket set off e bay:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111129927723?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2648&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
If necessary I can return it. What do you think?
My VIN is 5A497137 so if the PRT was fitted up to VIN 5A476242 mine is after that so should have it I guess,
Car is not here to check just now. I'll take a better look tomorrow.
Is there a forum to sell stuff on here as I took the huge off road tyres off it and put the originals back on?
Might make enough to cover the head repair costs you never know.

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I'd return it if you can, that is suspiciously cheap for a full kit. Take a look at DMGRS.co.uk for good quality parts or even Eurocarparts when they have 25% off (most weekends)
FAI and Payne are good quality but if I were doing it again I'd order a Payne elastomer HG,
Here is a good one
https://www.dmgrs.co.uk/collections...ries-payen-elastomer-head-gasket-set-full-kit
And here are the bolts.
https://www.dmgrs.co.uk/collections...ine-bga-rover-k-series-head-bolts-x10-wam2293
You'll be shocked at how hard you have to crank on the head bolts so you don't want cheap rubbish. Many others have had cheap bolts snap on them. Some will recommend reusing the original head bolts but since your HG has been done before you don't know the history or quality of the currant bolts.

This should be all you'll need unless your very unlucky but you might need to get the head skimmed too. Make sure you have a good quality straight edge approx 24" long to check it.

Pity your not closer to me as I'm looking big off road tyres. I think you need 50 posts before you can sell here.

Cheers Alibro.All good advice.
Re the one I have bought. Just had a good look at their website and shop.and think I'll give it a try. They claim to use only OE materials and no cheap imports.
They have good feedback 99.7% positive Just hope I don't end up in the 0.3% who weren't happy.
I will bear the Payen one in mind should I be unlucky.
I have got a 1 metre steel rule to check the flatness just cant find my feeler guages now but probably rusted together as I cant remember the last time I used them.

Trefor said:

Cheers Alibro.All good advice.
Re the one I have bought. Just had a good look at their website and shop.and think I'll give it a try. They claim to use only OE materials and no cheap imports.
They have good feedback 99.7% positive Just hope I don't end up in the 0.3% who weren't happy.
I will bear the Payen one in mind should I be unlucky.
I have got a 1 metre steel rule to check the flatness just cant find my feeler guages now but probably rusted together as I cant remember the last time I used them.

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You might be lucky with it, who knows. I wouldn't recommend you use the valve seals though even if you do need to regrind the head. If required get good ones as cheapo ebay valve seals are known to fail quickly. As for the quality of the parts, well they would say that wouldn't they. And feedback is normally left for the delivery speed and initial feel of the parts, if they fail 4 months later it's too late to give neg feedback.
There is a reason why Ebay head gaskets get a bad reputation. Having said all that I have bought them off ebay in the past but I made sure to buy them from a recommended seller.

As it happened the head was in a bit of a state and as it had been skimmed before I binned it and acquired one that has been under someones workshop bench for a couple of years. Off a Rover 45. Had it faced and pressure tested and all is good. Touch wood its looking good.

Well done, Hopefully it'll last for a couple of years at least. Just keep an eye on coolant levels and watch for mayo on the dipstick. Simple checks once a week or so could save hundreds as caught early a HGF is a cheap fix.