Nodge68 · Dec 22, 2015

freelanderoig said:
k series new hg every 40k it seems...poor heads done in on second one...you see lot of bmw saloons..150k plus...

This ^^^^
Change the K HG every 50K and service it regularly and it will do 200K miles. The bottom end is sturdy and the bearings are about the best available.
It's bad maintenance and repair that ultimately shorten it's life.

freelanderoig · Dec 22, 2015

Nodge68 said:
This ^^^^
Change the K HG every 50K and service it regularly and it will do 200K miles. The bottom end is sturdy and the bearings are about the best available.
It's bad maintenance and repair that ultimately shorten it's life.

to say change hg every 50k is not acceptable, ive had carltons, senators, fords, audis...all my cars have gone over 120k ..no hg change needed, bad design and lr should have paid the bill and put a tripple hg on

GrumpyGel · Dec 22, 2015

Yeh its not good really. People used to think cars should last about 100K miles - but they are so much better these days - 200K is the new 100K.

So that's 2 belt replacements, 2 VCU replacements and 3 head gaskets - actually make that 5 head gaskets because 2 of those 3 will not have worked properly!

So long as you know it, its not such a bad thing. Apart from that "bit of character", its a pretty good engine.

GrumpyGel · Dec 22, 2015

freelanderoig said:
wonder how many k series engines last that long..only reason i had a td4..was bmw engine and porche gearbox..gertring i think

I don't think the BMW engine is anything special. Its got a little more power than the Rover diesel it replaced - but has lots of problems with it - some simple like sensors going, others not so simple like crank shafts snapping. The Rover lump is much more reliable. Its such a shame the TD4 label wasn't put on the L+ that was canned by BMW after only the TD5 made it to production. It would probably have had some of the issues found in the BMW TD4 due to the tech going on for emissions - but whether it would have been any better, we'll never know!

derwendolly · Dec 22, 2015

My TD5 has done 240,000 miles with very little attention (1 belt), apart from regular maintenance and, so far, is not showing any signs - to me - of giving up although I am sure trouble must be round the corner SOON.

freelanderoig · Dec 22, 2015

GrumpyGel said:
Yeh its not good really. People used to think cars should last about 100K miles - but they are so much better these days - 200K is the new 100K.

So that's 2 belt replacements, 2 VCU replacements and 3 head gaskets - actually make that 5 head gaskets because 2 of those 3 will not have worked properly!

So long as you know it, its not such a bad thing. Apart from that "bit of character", its a pretty good engine.

the key is ..as you say..knowing the car..pros..cons...and maintenance..we know a vcu may fail..its a consumable just like a clutch..which in a way it is...oil filter changes ..get ignored.....

Nodge68 · Dec 22, 2015

freelanderoig said:
the key is ..as you say..knowing the car..pros..cons...and maintenance..we know a vcu may fail..its a consumable just like a clutch..which in a way it is...oil filter changes ..get ignored.....

You could consider the K series head gasket as a consumable item too

I'm old enough to remember when head removal was part of the 40 or 50K mile service for a decoke. If the K is so treated, it's a reasonable engine.

freelanderoig · Dec 22, 2015

Nodge68 said:
You could consider the K series head gasket as a consumable item too
I'm old enough to remember when head removal was part of the 40 or 50K mile service for a decoke. If the K is so treated, it's a reasonable engine.

LR admitted it had inferior gasket...coolant tank was to small..remember its okay saying replace the hg...the head will only take so much then its scrap...providing it can be surface ground in first place ..norm would be a tolerance of 10 thou max

GrumpyGel · Dec 22, 2015

True about the head - you can buy them new for £250 which is pretty cheap - but still a lot of money for a 'consumable'.

freelanderoig · Dec 22, 2015

c``

GrumpyGel said:
True about the head - you can buy them new for £250 which is pretty cheap - but still a lot of money for a 'consumable'.

double wammy...more grind head..more increase compression..then the tripple hg was used

krisboats · Dec 23, 2015

freelanderoig said:
LR admitted it had inferior gasket...coolant tank was to small..remember its okay saying replace the hg...the head will only take so much then its scrap...providing it can be surface ground in first place ..norm would be a tolerance of 10 thou max

You only have to skim it if it's warped though. If you replace the head gasket as a routine maintenance item it'll never get to that stage. It's dead easy to replace them as well, really not such a big deal.

GrumpyGel · Dec 23, 2015

Alloy heads can often not be skimmed - they go 'soft' if over heated.

freelanderoig · Dec 23, 2015

krisboats said:
You only have to skim it if it's warped though. If you replace the head gasket as a routine maintenance item it'll never get to that stage. It's dead easy to replace them as well, really not such a big deal.

only easy if you know how to do it...lol...ive done hundreds as an ex mechanic...but never done one as a routine service can you imagine saying..ok..full service and a hg sir....youde never have a customer...LR should have got it sorted in first place..could have used the buick engine ..they had access to it...turned out to be one of the most reliable engines out there..i was kindly informed from a member

freelanderoig · Dec 23, 2015

GrumpyGel said:
Alloy heads can often not be skimmed - they go 'soft' if over heated.

thats why you use cold slurry and take cuts of no more than 2 thou.then wait few min after each pass of grinding wheel.well in my day it was thou..lol

jamesmartin · Dec 23, 2015

GrumpyGel said:
Alloy heads can often not be skimmed - they go 'soft' if over heated.

freelanderoig said:
thats why you use cold slurry and take cuts of no more than 2 thou.then wait few min after each pass of grinding wheel.well in my day it was thou..lol

fly cutter for ali

jamesmartin · Dec 23, 2015

GrumpyGel said:
Alloy heads can often not be skimmed - they go 'soft' if over heated.

you can skim them if overheated , but they wont stay straight, they will move again allowing gasket to blow

freelanderoig · Dec 23, 2015

jamesmartin said:
fly cutter for ali

can put it om milling /mc like a bridgeport ...you can also get specific grinding wheels for alli..as it can stick to the grinding wheel...ive never done one ..in ally..but seen our foreman mechanic do the hillman imps one

freelanderoig · Dec 23, 2015

the only grinder they let me near was coffee grinder

jamesmartin · Dec 23, 2015

ive done quite a few, its usual in engine machine shops to use a specialist grinder for cast iron and fly cutter for ali, i dont have the kit now im self employed but used to enjoy machining,taking a scrap engine and making as new as possible

freelanderoig · Dec 23, 2015

in the 60 / 70/ 80s other than ally engines..imp..stag for eg...it was rare for heads to warp..good old cast iron and they were very forgiving unless you were an idiot ,
but todays engines are packed with power in such compact units,,Peugeot stated last year they have no issue with there hg failing at 50k...what...ive had 3 senators and 2 carltons with 100k to 165k..no hg needed...

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