Head gasket mod

Hi all
Ive a 1.8 petrol and never had any trouble with the head gasket. Just seen a post saying his 03 blew a head gasket. There was talk of a mod done to the engine. My question is how can you tell if the mod has been done and what is the mod. Would it be worth doing the mod to mine (prevention better than cure?) Has this problem been sorted out or is every 1.8 prone to head gasket failure.
Butty

Hello Butty, how the devil are you?
There are some mods available for the grossly underpowered 1.8 litre Hippo. A thermostat mod is available and a header tank mod I beleive. There are many threads on the forum concerning this. If you get a spare 10 minutes have a search and see what you can find.

There are more mods I think but can't for the life of me remember what they are, sorry.

what year is yours ? if its post 2002 then it as the mods remote thermostat(white can just behind rad ),later header tank (ratchet cap) that you cannot over tighten,steel head dowels in stead of plastic ,now the bad news is all of this makes not a jot of differance as i have all of these items and still the gasket failed,ford however have just revised the head gasket with a steel multi layer one and revised oil carrier( the bit the long head bolts screw into)i could go into much more depth and expain why they have done this but i`m now on my way out to have my weekly rashen of ale in in one go,in 2 hours,

smythe said:

what year is yours ? if its post 2002 then it as the mods remote thermostat(white can just behind rad ),later header tank (ratchet cap) that you cannot over tighten,steel head dowels in stead of plastic ,now the bad news is all of this makes not a jot of differance as i have all of these items and still the gasket failed,ford however have just revised the head gasket with a steel multi layer one and revised oil carrier( the bit the long head bolts screw into)i could go into much more depth and expain why they have done this but i`m now on my way out to have my weekly rashen of ale in in one go,in 2 hours,

Click to expand...

can you please?

Yes, please do Smythe, we'd love to hear that

Hi everyone
Butty is fine. So its seems its a lottery as to whether the head gasket blows. Think i might sell it while its running ok and buy a diesel defender. Love landys and cant see buying owt else. You seen the new freelander in the paper today. Looks like a mini version of the range rover. Its a looks hot!
catch you later.

Marksurry, did you get head skimmed when you did HG on ur hippo?

dearot said:

Marksurry, did you get head skimmed when you did HG on ur hippo?

Click to expand...

Yes I got both heads skimmed, new head gaskets on both heads, new cam belts, tensioners, header tank. It was right laugh I can tell you

ok we all know about the sealent in the old gasket that breaks down when it over heats so ford have replaced that with a steel gasket (multi layer)without any sealent around it,fine ,but the engineers found other faults as well,most of all was never skim a rover head this can make matters a lot worse,basically when the head is skimmed it then allows the bolts to bottom out in oil carrier(the part they screw into)and hence the head is not held at the correct torque although the bolts may read asthough they are,so the revised oil carrier as deeper threads that could allow an head skim,there is more in depth info about it but untill someones put it on the net and explains,ill keep searching,rovers tolerances were all over the place with the head bolts and the old oil carrier and this may have caused or added to the problem,please note this is landrovers own words not mine,can get part numbers for both gasket and oil carrier should anyone need ,hope this brings an end to this problem

smythe said:

ok we all know about the sealent in the old gasket that breaks down when it over heats so ford have replaced that with a steel gasket (multi layer)without any sealent around it,fine ,but the engineers found other faults as well,most of all was never skim a rover head this can make matters a lot worse,basically when the head is skimmed it then allows the bolts to bottom out in oil carrier(the part they screw into)and hence the head is not held at the correct torque although the bolts may read asthough they are,so the revised oil carrier as deeper threads that could allow an head skim,there is more in depth info about it but untill someones put it on the net and explains,ill keep searching,rovers tolerances were all over the place with the head bolts and the old oil carrier and this may have caused or added to the problem,please note this is landrovers own words not mine,can get part numbers for both gasket and oil carrier should anyone need ,hope this brings an end to this problem

Click to expand...

Thanks for the explanation smythe. does it apply for KV6 too? and can you please tell me the part number for both? please please....
I am desparate with this HG as we are fixing me friend 1.8 FL. Try to get all mods necessary before we put half of the engine backs on. So far we do cooling system mods by allowing small flow of coolant (5mm tube) from rad directly to pump direction. Try to make the engine hots up slowly. Well hope this works

This HGF problem is a big issue - The MGF BBS has loads on this as well. The new L/R gasket is more than a gasket - as above new higher torque bolts & ladder so a big job to do & no history to prove if it works.

The thermostat mod is probably a must do but for those of us with older models (1999) replacing the now old & blocked radiator may also be relevant. I am also running without the sump guard to boost the cooling air flow.

If the Head Gasket does go then read the comments by Dave Andrews on liner heights - If the liner surface is not just above the block, nothing will work. The new LR head gasket is apparently less tolerant than the latest Rover version.

LR do not approve a head skim but Rover does allow a tolerance for the head height. If your head is just outside these limits the LR head gasket does come with an additional layer to compensate & you can get a Payen "Saver" shim for the Rover gasket.

If the head has deep circles from the liners it is scrap. A second hand head from a good source (Dave Andrews again) is likely to be better than trying to fix an overheated head. A "light" skim should be all that is required. Again any head already skimmed is suspect unless you know the history.

Bear in mind that the new steel head locating dowels are a "must" fit - would anyone not replace the original plastic dowels.

Also in theory the head bolts should be replaced with new although you can check if the length is in tolerance. I have seem a reused "in tolerance" head bolt snap. Not good!


I did fit the new LR head gasket to my Freelander. It failed due to a bad liner height. That block was scrapped and I used the latest Rover head gasket with a different block. I am involved with race preparing MGF's and have always used the latest Rover Head Gasket without any issues, subject comments above.


I would also add that the comments above all relate to the Rover 1.8 K Series engine. That is not say other engines don't suffer HGF but it is more of a routine "service" with the 1.8 K, particularly it seems with the more demanding installation in the Freelander.

Try this link it my help a little http://www.mgfcar.de/hgf/ ,explains and gives prices,dont reuse head bolts they are a one use item only and always replace the thermostat,while your at it check for hair cracks under coolent bottle cap and if not fitted get the later one on there with the ratchet cap,as was said there is still no proof this is the ultimate cure be it another atempt,what still suprises me is some last and others go, some neglected cars keep going for ever well looked after ones can go so no real pattern,after all this may well be just L/R saying they have cured it to quiten the mob as freelander 2 gets ready to hit the streets,i for one want be tempted

Thanks for the very very intersting info Dorowe. I have been looking for this info everywhere.

This HGF problem is a big issue - The MGF BBS has loads on this as well. The new L/R gasket is more than a gasket - as above new higher torque bolts & ladder so a big job to do & no history to prove if it works.

Have LR made a new HG for KV6 too?

I am also running without the sump guard to boost the cooling air flow.

Thats a good idea too but do you think it would be even better if you expand the existing oil cooler?

The new LR head gasket is apparently less tolerant than the latest Rover version.
LR do not approve a head skim but Rover does allow a tolerance for the head height. If your head is just outside these limits the LR head gasket does come with an additional layer to compensate & you can get a Payen "Saver" shim for the Rover gasket.

Sorry but I am a bit confuse here.Which one is less tolerant? LR HG or Rover HG?
Can I use Rover HG for my FL KV6 because I might need the payen for my skimmed head?

The Land Rover head gasket is said to be less tolerant of any liner height issues.

The comments are only for the 1.8 K series engine. However Payen do saver shims for a range of engines so could be a good "get out of jail" card in any situation where the head has been skimmed to near or even out of tolerance.

dorowe said:

The Land Rover head gasket is said to be less tolerant of any liner height issues.

The comments are only for the 1.8 K series engine. However Payen do saver shims for a range of engines so could be a good "get out of jail" card in any situation where the head has been skimmed to near or even out of tolerance.

Click to expand...

only for 1.8?? where can i get this saver shim?