HG & Overheating questions from a newbie

Hi everyone,

I've been looking through this forum for a couple of days, ever since I decided to buy a 1.8i Freelander, and you've scared the pants off me regarding head gasket failure and overheating.

I did see some mods which may help, but can anyone give a definitive list of things which should be done to try and minimise this problem (other than getting rid of the freelander, which I haven't actually collected yet!).

I ask as I'm moving to sunny (and very hot in summer) Spain in a few months, so want to do everything I can to try and reduce/eliminate overheating problems - In the summer months it can easily top 100F where I'm going.

Thanks folks (feel free to take the p*ss if you like )

Google "K-SEAL" I swear by the stuff and Im on 94k trouble (original HG) miles.And its the scary 1.8 petrol.Check oil and coolent every week etc etc.

Statistically it is the Autumn time that shows more hgf in k-series not the summer

do a search on "head gasket failure" and "cooling" and "water pump" and anything i forgot - lr?

LR1796 said:

Statistically it is the Autumn time that shows more hgf in k-series not the summer

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we get them in every week regardless of the time of year.

The Mad Hat Man said:

do a search on "head gasket failure" and "cooling" and "water pump" and anything i forgot - lr?

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You could also get the low coolant alarm from Browns and Gammons MG about £90

clutchdust said:

we get them in every week regardless of the time of year.

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True could happen anytime so weekly checks necessary

LR1796 said:

Statistically it is the Autumn time that shows more hgf in k-series not the summer

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Yes I did say that it was the autumn time that most hgf occur.

However, there is a strong positive correlation between the number crimes committed and the number of ice creams sold. So my old lecturer used to say anyway, but crime and ice cream are not related to each other by any means

Ok, I've done the searchs and am even more scared now!

But, just to get this right in my head, is it coolant loss/overheating that causes the HGF or the HGF that causes the coolant loss/overheating?

both.
either
low coolant will allow overheating.
if the hg fails it will leak water.

On the KV6 it is a cavitation induced problem caused by localised overheating caused by poor cooling design. It is possible that the 1.8 suffers in a similar manner, but more likely due to just poor cooling caused by the thermostat being in the return to engine, rather than the water outlet from engine.

Knobblywobbly said:

is it coolant loss/overheating that causes the HGF or the HGF that causes the coolant loss/overheating?

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Both, overheating to extremes causes warpage of head and possibly liner sinkage leading to leak or pressure release from weakest point which would be the old style gasket, or hosing on coolant system itself.

Hgf will also lead to overheating if substantial coolant is being lost. Can be a minor leak or go within minutes.

As I always say..... you should be checking the dials and instruments on your car as often as you check your speed, regardless of what vehicle you are driving

The Mad Hat Man said:

due to just poor cooling caused by the thermostat being in the return to engine, rather than the water outlet from engine.

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I'm sure I read about a way of changing this over (back to the "search" again!) so the thermostat is on the outlet side from the engine. I take it this mod would be a good one to do from a preventative side of things, rather than wait till the fault appears? Does anyone have an idea of price for the parts required?

Knobblywobbly said:

Does anyone have an idea of price for the parts required?

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Heres the pic of the rimmer bros PRT mod, you need the blanked out old stat ring. If you warm your engine up before putting the foot down then the old stat does fine.

MG-Rover.org Community Gallery - PRT Thermostat, RIMMER BROS - Powered by PhotoPost

Plus tech diagram of how to fit on bulletin 0026

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/freelander-1-8-k-series-hgf-more-data-36863.html?highlight=k-series