The Dreaded Head Gasket Issue Newbie

Hi Everyone,
My first post and what a worry.
I've just bought a 2003 "03" 1.8 5dr Kalahari freelander 52000 miles and full service history. Collect it next week.
Now I am ****ting myself after reading hundreds of threads on various forums about the HG going.
A friend reckons the problem was on earlier modles, but I think this maybe duff info..It's mainly for the missus to drive but will be used on some 300 hundred mile trips..

I have read that the K series engine was the problem..

Now what will my car have fitted ?

Thanks from a very worried new future owner..

yes, yours has the k series injun

there is a modified hg - not sure from when they were fitted at the factory though.

There are many Freelanders out there that have not given any trouble, so fingers crossed for you.

Rover K-Series
Damned good article on K series HG - if in doubt, why not get it checked and modded if required? Should give piece of mind especially if the missus is going to be uwing it on longer runs. The cost shouldn't be that much, surely?

Just keep an eye on your fluids - manual states to check weekly. Also keep an eye on the temperature guage. Any movement over half way needs to be investigated.

I bought a freelander off a chap who had driven it with a coolant leak. he took it on a 200 mile trip and cooked the cylinder head gasket. I bought very cheap and rebuilt with the later style uprated LR gasket. 8,000 on and she's running well.

Good luck with your purchase and welcome to the forums. Remember all cars need repairs at some point, so dont worry too much about the horror stories you hear.

I was supposed to take delivery of a Metalic red Freelander hardback with the 17" wheels two weeks ago on a 2000 plate, the f*cking tosser at the garage sold it to some one else after my brother drove over 50 miles to collect it for me. Any way getting back to the original thread, I have just purchased another one it's another 2000 plate station waggon 1.8 XEi only 32000 miles 1 lady owner (presumably school runs) full MD service history but bugger me it has the reciepts for a head gasket change in the with the documents. 700 squid from Landrover mainstealers. Thing is I am going to drive it back to Malta, nearly 1600 miles in 3 days hope she holds out !!!!!!!!!
I have every faith in her

when was the head gasket replaced hardback? the reason i ask is that if i was replaced after feb last year(i think)landrover introduced a revised head gasket which is a lot better than the original. also the dealer should have fitted the thermostat kit which moves the stat from the rear of the engine to an inline stat that is located between the radiator and engine on right hand side as you look under bonnet. i have these fitted to mine and has now done 8000 miles with no probs which has included a lot of fast motorway driving.

Around 6000 miles ago. Was thinking it should be alright to drive that distance due to it being so recent.
My first thoughts were that the previous owners were getting shut because it was always breaking down, but the car has been maticulously maintained and is in what can only be described as pristine condition with all the paperwork in order.
I have attached a couple of pics. Someone on here may recognise it and have some further info on it.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e167/BondBug700/Landie002-1.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e167/BondBug700/Landie008.jpg

The price was very, very good as well for the condition.

Hardback said:

Around 6000 miles ago. Was thinking it should be alright to drive that distance due to it being so recent.
My first thoughts were that the previous owners were getting shut because it was always breaking down, but the car has been maticulously maintained and is in what can only be described as pristine condition with all the paperwork in order.
I have attached a couple of pics. Someone on here may recognise it and have some further info on it.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e167/BondBug700/Landie002-1.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e167/BondBug700/Landie008.jpg

The price was very, very good as well for the condition.

Click to expand...

if it was only done 6k ago i should think you have the modified head gasket and thermostat mod. should not worry to much,just keep an eye on coolant levels and temp gauge

Thanks for the reply, put my mind at rest a bit more.

Wouldnt worry about hgf, its a straight forward fix for the 1.8k

If hgf repair has been performed by LR main dealers them they will have fitted the new oil rail as well as the new MLS gasket. Should be listed on the documents.

Some links

K Series Head Gasket developments - improved design - MG-Rover.org Forums - A little light reading

Lotus Elise: Rover K Series engine is rebuilt for more horsepower.

MGF Head Gasket Failure

http://home.austarnet.com.au/edwardsonline/freelanderheadgasket/0036%282).pdf

http://www.pagetraining.com/freelander/0026.pdf

With the Landie coming to a hot climate will I be better removing the thermostat completely from the car to avoid the dangers during the initial warming up of the engine. Even this winter which is considered a cold one temps only got down as low as 9/10 degrees.

As a minimum fit the remote thermostat option. If yu wish, go for a Electric water pump.

only reason to remove the thermostat is to fit the remote one sugested by MHM. I have fitted this to mine, easy job 45 mins. Drive at high speed with aircon on in 40c plus temps with no problem.

What is the remote thermostat option please.
I havn't actually seen the car yet I have done all the dealing with my brother in UK. I picked the car he went and looked at it. I gave him an idiot list with things to look for. He has telephoned me to tell me about the service history and all the other things. I will ask him to look at the engine to see if it's had the mod done. Hopefully I will be going over to UK to drive it back at the end of May. The wait is bloody killing me.

See thumbnails of old and new PRT stat

I believe it was the Lotus boys who first drilled the outer ring of the original stat. 4mm holes, in the Rimmer bros attachment they are providing a blanked stat ring additional to the PRT

This link provide the fitting instructions

http://www.pagetraining.com/freelander/0026.pdf

The MGF link above in my other post courtesy of MHM show an alternative to the PRT

Cheers LR1796, already printed that link off from previous post as it would have been the first thing I did when I get it.
I have also read most of the other things you sent me.

Sorry didnt upload in that previous post

Does anyone know how much the Thermo kit costs please and are they a readily available part or need ordering?

Hardback said:

Does anyone know how much the Thermo kit costs please and are they a readily available part or need ordering?

Click to expand...

Prices are in the pic, apparently there are two variants of the PRT