2005 Freelander: head gasket probs thing of the past?

Hi all - good to be here and find a LR Forum in the UK.

I'm looking to buy a Jan 2005 Registered 1.8 XEi Freelander with 6K on the clock at a good price from a recognised dealer. I've always wanted one and after doing some research it seems the dreaded K Series engine head gasket problems have now been resolved some time ago.

Can anyone confirm that it's no longer a problem on the current 1.8i petrol models?

It's the Petrol model I'm after although I realise it won't be as economical to run as a diesel and may have slightly less 'torque'?

Any help much appreciated, thanks.

Maybe unrelated, but my dealer said that they are no longer selling new petrol models due to the engines being made by Rover.

Just worried that this may affect spares, replacements, etc.

Simon

Ive also heard through the grapevine somewhere that they are limiting the amount of replacement engines in the dealerships due to the fact that there could be a shortage in the future.....

Land Rover made an all time buy of K series to cover the build forecast for the whole of 2005 and were pretty well covered with existing stock when Rover Powertrain Engineering went belly up. Landrover will be converting over to a Ford engine as soon as the current K series stocks run out.

My view is that if you buy a new K series based Freelander - I would still be best to regularly check the condition of the water . At the 1st sign of oil in the water - get it to the dealer for Head gasket replacement.
When done right - I believe that on gasket replacement, many specialists now do something to the head - possibly skimming it? - We had our 1999 model done through my mate's garage. He's a cynical begger at the best of times. But he said once the company he used had done what they were going to do - the problem would not occur again. That's as good as a guarantee from him

So.... the thing is - could a head gasket go on newer engines. Well, I certainly believe Landrover have made a good attempt to prevent this happening. Certainly many aftermarket engine specialists are confident of curing the problem. Wouldn't put me off - but I would (& do) still check the water regularly

AGB_123 said:

...but I would (& do) still check the water regularly

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Hiya... This problem's always at the back of my mind for my 1.8 S Reg Freelander... I was wondering - When you say check the water, do you mean check the contents of the coolant reservoir? Should I just have a good look for any drops of oil floating around in there? Apologies, I'm not the most mechanial of people!

Many thanks,
James

James,

I have an S plate as well, and I know how you feel, you do get a bit paranoid.
Check your water reservoir bottle, if necessary top it up when the engine is cold, mark the level with a felt pen or tape and regularly check when the engine is cold to see if you have any loss. You can also check by taking off your oil filler cap and checking for emulsification (white gooey stuff) indicating water in the oil.
There has been a modification to the thermostat layout, but many people have still had problems after having this done. Newer Freelanders with both coolant and head modifications still have head gaskets go.. A 4x4 specialist told me if it aint broke dont fix it. My recommendation is check your water frequently and always have your service done by a competent garage, correct bleeding of the cooling system is imperative if it has been drained.
There are many Freelanders out there that have not suffered any problems. I think it's the luck of the draw, but it shouldn't be this way with a Land Rover.

great advice, thanks. I'm going to go hame and check that out! I actually phoned Land Rover Customer Care today (08705000500) and spoke to a very friendly lady - I said that I had just bought this freelander and explained that although there was no problem at the moment, was there any modification I could make or anything I could do to stop it happening? She spoke to the 'technical department' and came back to say that there is no real modification as such, but if it's been ok for 68,00 miles it should be alright in future (wasn't sure on that one!!) but she did mention that there was a Cooling Hose that should have been changed to a better one during a major service. I'm going to call her back with my chassis number to check if it has been done.

I believe from another web source that the probelm is caused by the cylinder liners, which are held in place by Loctite (apparently ! ), vibrating loose and damaging the cylinder head. This is made worse by the steel bolts not holding the head on sufficiently? Not sure if any of this is correct so don't shout me down if it's not!! just what I have read elsewhere.

Wish you could buy a bolt kit or something to strengthen things up!!

James

James,

The coolant hose mod was what I was referring to. I was told it would only be done IF the head gasket failed and was not a required modification i.e. not a recall. It will be interesting to see what you are told (let me know)..

I belong to many Freelander forums and have read what you say about the liners. I think the consensus is that no one really knows, not even Landrover, as I said it still happens on 04 models and it wouldn't if they new the exact cause. It's going to be luck of the draw I expect.

Fingers crossed.

Keith

Apologies, I see what you mean now when re-reading your post. Yup, she did say that this mod should have been performed as a "Service Action" at it's major sevrvice (40k I think?) so it will be interesting to see what se says when i call back with my chassis number tomorrow! I'll let you know.

On a side note, I checked my coolant before... it looks a little discoloured (poss the anti-freeze in it?) but no oil droplets floating round. However, when I unscrew the oil filler cap I can't see oil, just the bottom of a kind of 'top sump' (hard to explain!) or in other words, the bottom of the top of the engine...!!!

Worried that I had no oil in there, I checked the dipper and there's pleanty. Can you see the oil through your filler cap??!

Cheers
James

Hi James,

No I can't see oil either, can't see anything at all but that's the norm I think. I may be wrong but if you had water in your oil you would se emulsification on your filler cap.

My Freelander has been serviced by a main dealer for 5 years and a 4x4 Landrover specialist for the last 2 years (cheaper). Last year I had the MAJOR service (70,000 or 6yrs) no modification has ever been done or suggested, it will be interesting to know your outcome.

As I said previously people on other forums have had the mod done and still suffered H/G failure. It's everyones own choice I know but mine is to leave things alone and monitor the cooling system closely.

Copied these from another forum:

1
don,t wish to worry you but my freelander is a 2002 model with the modified hose kit. Gasket went at 40,000 miles. L/R issued bulletin 036 in 2004 dealing with the problem. Its still happeningwith the modified gasket and thermostat.

2
The head gasket problem has more to do with a design defect in the cylinder sleeves than the placement of the thermostat. The likelyhood of the cylinder sleeves dropping below the block face is aknowledged in Land Rover's tech advice 0036. According to Land Rover's bulletins, once this happens the head can no longer be successfully sealed and engine replacement is the only option.

If there was a cheap easy fix that actually worked, Land Rover's workshops would be using it rather than routinely doing engine replacements.

Did you all know that there is an all new Freelander coming out in 2007. It will be based on the floor pan of the new Ford Focus and have engines supplied by Volvo. Ford as I'm sure you all know own Land Rover 100% say all previous niggles will be a thing of the past, as all other bits will be Ford. This could be why there are very good deals on the existing models, and rumours of engine shortages etc.etc. Should be interesting if it happens.

Just called back LR Customer Care and there was a slight change of story... I thought yesterday she said that if I gave her a chassis number she would be able to tell me if the modded hose had been fitted. Instead, she was only able to give me a list of the LR garages it had ever been to, and I would have to call round these!

So, not sure whether I'll bother. Looking through the service book, the major service was done at a non-LR dealer (at 52k miles) so I don't think the mod will have been done. The cam belt was replaced at 72k but again at an independant dealer. I think I'll follow your advice and cross my fingers and hope for the best!

I was amazed at the work carried out when looking through the book. in 70-odd thousand miles, it's had:

New front propshaft assembly
New plug leads
New Alarm
New front track rod end
New brake flexi hose
New Power Steering pump and hoses
New cambelt
New centre propshaft bearing
..and 4 new tyres!

AGB_123 said:

I believe that on gasket replacement, many specialists now do something to the head - possibly skimming it? - We had our 1999 model done through my mate's garage. He's a cynical begger at the best of times. But he said once the company he used had done what they were going to do - the problem would not occur again. That's as good as a guarantee from him

Click to expand...

Is it possible to skim the cylinder head on the 1.8 k series engines?
please advice if anyone knows. I recently skimmed mine. however i supect the problem is reoccuring e.g i have original signs like water disappering from reservoir.
disperate wayne

K-series problems read here

Thermostat modification...

http://www.qednet.demon.co.uk/rk/remotestat.htm

This next one explains why the engines warp... 10 x 16" long bolts....

http://www.sandsmuseum.com/cars/elise/thecar/engine/rover.html


Hope this all helps.

Treev150 said:

Thermostat modification...

http://www.qednet.demon.co.uk/rk/remotestat.htm

Click to expand...

Wow, really fancy getting one of those for my 1999 1.8 Xei timebomb... ahem, sorry - freelander...

Anyone else fitted one? Is it relatively easy?

Thanks!
James