K-engine project - A possible low cost rebuild? - Page 12

beinet1 · 2nd April 2014, 07:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by MG Tom

Congratulations. I'm sure it will now last the life of the car.

What coolant are you using?

OAT/Water 50%/50%

MG Tom · 2nd April 2014, 08:48

Have you considered abandoning the OAT? I'm trying to find some OAT coolant without 2-EHA as it is known to degrade various soft parts.

beinet1 · 2nd April 2014, 10:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by MG Tom

Have you considered abandoning the OAT? I'm trying to find some OAT coolant without 2-EHA as it is known to degrade various soft parts.

Hi Tom,

I have to admit that I have not though about any alternative, but as you state, I suspect that chemicals is the thing that degrade and make the elastomer on the OEM gasket to fail over time. I also suspect that this is the reason for why Payen has changed the seal material in their gasket from red to blue on their latest elastomer gasket. Fluro-silicone which basically is blue, is known to withstand chemicals better than the common silicone which is red.
I have no confirmations for this, but I suspect that this is the reason even if Payen claims that the change is only "cosmetic".
Some more details here: http://forums.mg-rover.org/showthread.php?t=501971

DMGRS · 2nd April 2014, 11:10

I agree, it seems likely this is the case. I only stock the blue BW750 now.

beinet1 · 24th April 2014, 05:04

Hi all,

I little status update.

This engine has now covered 1200km`s and is through its running in period. It runs smoothly and pulls evenly like the way it shall. No misfire or hesitation under load and through the whole RPM range

Oil and filter was changed yesterday and the oil drained looked fantastic clean compared to what I am used to. The coolant level has been rock steady so far and no external oil leaks are detected. The oil level dropped slightly during the break-in period but I assume that this will stabilize as the engine is now run-in.

I seems that this is a happy ending for this project and that there now will be thousands of trouble free miles ahead with this little piece of alloy

It has been a great experience!

DaveyC · 24th April 2014, 05:43

Glad its all worked out. I have been following the thread from the start and enjoyed watching things come together. Happy motoring

MG Tom · 24th April 2014, 11:13

Fingers crossed - it certainly seems to have been a sucess. What a relief

corneliusfield · 18th May 2014, 18:42

Hi,
Thanks for your thread and pictures.
The head gasket on my ZT 1.8T has failed for the second time in 10 months.
Oddly the original gasket lasted for 120,000 miles and the MLS one lasted but a few months.
I am currently in the middle of the repair and have today taken the head off.
Looking at the face of the head in seems as though there is some sort of sealant stuck to the face of the head (see pics). Having never seen am MLS head gasket up close I wondered if it came with, or left a deposit that looked like sealant after it had been fitted for a while. I would appreciate your thoughts on this as I haven't purchased a new gasket set yet and wondered if sealant had been used at the time of the previous HGF repair and whether it was worth continuing to repair it this time.
Thanks in advance.

HenryD · 18th May 2014, 19:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by corneliusfield

Hi,
Thanks for your thread and pictures.
The head gasket on my ZT 1.8T has failed for the second time in 10 months.
Oddly the original gasket lasted for 120,000 miles and the MLS one lasted but a few months.
I am currently in the middle of the repair and have today taken the head off.
Looking at the face of the head in seems as though there is some sort of sealant stuck to the face of the head (see pics). Having never seen am MLS head gasket up close I wondered if it came with, or left a deposit that looked like sealant after it had been fitted for a while. I would appreciate your thoughts on this as I haven't purchased a new gasket set yet and wondered if sealant had been used at the time of the previous HGF repair and whether it was worth continuing to repair it this time.
Thanks in advance.

Check your liners heights above block face,if they low(less than 3thou of inch) use the elastomer gasket (payen bw750),had the same issue with mine after fitting mls gasket,fitted elastomer and head saver shim and all is now good

corneliusfield · 18th May 2014, 20:16

Thanks Henry,
I haven't measured the liner heights yet but at a cursory glance they look, and feel, low, perhaps even flush.
I must say after reading beinet1's detailed and brilliant post it's encouraged me to carry on with my re-furb rather than lose heart.
thanks again........

2nd April 2014, 08:48	#112
MG Tom Posted a thing or two ex. MG ZT+ Join Date: May 2013 Location: Northampton-ish Posts: 1,484 Thanks: 156 Thanked 98 Times in 95 Posts	Have you considered abandoning the OAT? I'm trying to find some OAT coolant without 2-EHA as it is known to degrade various soft parts. __________________ '03 MG ZT+ 1.8T X-Power Grey with Monogram 'WTD' black alcantara trim. [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] My project thread HERE

2nd April 2014, 11:10	#114
DMGRS Discount MG Rover Spares Rover 75 CDTi, 2x MG ZS180 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Hythe, Southampton Posts: 11,320 Thanks: 456 Thanked 3,377 Times in 2,027 Posts	I agree, it seems likely this is the case. I only stock the blue BW750 now. __________________ Your trusted MG Rover specialist! Tel: 02380 001133 / Email: [email protected] We now have a 'chat' function on our site for even quicker replies. Give it a try! Remember - discount code FORUM5 for 5% off

24th April 2014, 05:43	#116
DaveyC I really should get out more....... MG ZT-T Diesel Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Costa-Del-Dudley Posts: 2,432 Thanks: 213 Thanked 259 Times in 204 Posts	Glad its all worked out. I have been following the thread from the start and enjoyed watching things come together. Happy motoring __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

24th April 2014, 11:13	#117
MG Tom Posted a thing or two ex. MG ZT+ Join Date: May 2013 Location: Northampton-ish Posts: 1,484 Thanks: 156 Thanked 98 Times in 95 Posts	Fingers crossed - it certainly seems to have been a sucess. What a relief __________________ '03 MG ZT+ 1.8T X-Power Grey with Monogram 'WTD' black alcantara trim. [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] My project thread HERE

24th April 2014, 05:04	#115
beinet1 Posted a thing or two Rover 75 2.0 V6 Auto Join Date: May 2011 Location: Sandnes - Norway Posts: 1,560 Thanks: 64 Thanked 283 Times in 174 Posts	Hi all, I little status update. This engine has now covered 1200km`s and is through its running in period. It runs smoothly and pulls evenly like the way it shall. No misfire or hesitation under load and through the whole RPM range Oil and filter was changed yesterday and the oil drained looked fantastic clean compared to what I am used to. The coolant level has been rock steady so far and no external oil leaks are detected. The oil level dropped slightly during the break-in period but I assume that this will stabilize as the engine is now run-in. I seems that this is a happy ending for this project and that there now will be thousands of trouble free miles ahead with this little piece of alloy It has been a great experience!

18th May 2014, 20:16	#120
corneliusfield Newbie MG ZT Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Barnsley Posts: 27 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Thanks Henry, I haven't measured the liner heights yet but at a cursory glance they look, and feel, low, perhaps even flush. I must say after reading beinet1's detailed and brilliant post it's encouraged me to carry on with my re-furb rather than lose heart. thanks again........