KV6 HGF...worth repairing??
 

Guys

Following on from my post about overheating and Mayo under the oil cap, I've taken my 02 2.5 V6 petrol connie to the local Rover specialist garage who have immediately told me its likely to be the dreaded HGF.

They are giving it a good check over before actually confirming the fault but if it is the HGF I obviously need to determine if its worth repairing.

Although I've only had her myself for just over a year shes only done about 41,000 miles and the paperwork shows a full service history up to the last few years when I expect the second owner may have carried out the services themselves as there are copious receipts for the usual stuff plus tyres, springs, exhaust back box etc.

Apart from sounding a little louder recently the car performs well and pulls as expected so I don't know how much damage the HGF ( if it is that) has caused and that brings me to the pertinent question.

Given that shes been well looked after, just how much damage is enough to make it waste of time to repair and how do I check.

Is there anything I can check myself or am I in the hands of the garage to let me know how much damage there is?

I don't want to shell out say £1200 if she packs in in another year or so, however if the repair means I can get another say 40,000 miles out of her ( being well looked after ) it's still less than buying another car!!!

Any suggestions or should I just keep everything crossed and hope for good news!!!

Paul

Have they carried out a positive sniff test? (Exhaust gases in the coolant).

Regards

I've asked them to test everything and as they are ex Rover mechanics I'm hoping the will do them all correctly.

When i simply sniffed under the oil filler cap and also the bottom of the dipstick there was a strong smell of exhaust gas, not scientific I know but not a good sign either!!!

No exhaust gas smell in Header/coolant tank though

I was in a similar position when I bought my latest V6 as "spares or repair" - the car kept overheating, garage changed thermostat, fan, radiator and in the end said it could only be the headgaskets. But the ex-owner of the garage happened by and said that the sniff test was negative. Based on his word and influenced by all the new bits plus a recent belt change I gave the owner an offer, we later agreed on a different sum but it was less than £500. The wife was not impressed as per standard.

It overheated on the way home twice, despite working fan and minus 12c, got towed the last bit. Next day a coolant refill, pressurising the coolant system with compressed air, and finally a few very mild road trips expelling bubbles after each.

That was some 18 months ago, the car is now used about town and motorways too.

Sorry, but I'm still not convinced it's the headgaskets as the sniff test is negative. Someone with more experience can perhaps add more.

Regards

1st thing to do is bypass the oil cooler

I must admit I was surprised at how quickly HGF was suggested given that my mechanic is an experienced Rover Man...lets wait and see what happens!!

BTW did you have the mayo problem as well and did it clear after the coolant was refilled and pressurised?

I've been thinking of that Dave but as its pre facelift model apparently it is is beyond the DIYer based on my reading of these forums as the pipes are almost inaccessible without a post lift.

Unless of course you can point me to some detailed how to's??

I might of course ask the mechanic to try it if hes unsure of the cause ( unless he comes back and actually tells me it the oil cooler instead anyway!!!!)

Paul

Hi Paul,

If I remember correctly you have mayonnaise under the oil cap but not in the sump or in the expansion tank. :confused:

You say that the dipstick and oil filler cap smell like exhaust gas but again not in the expansion tank. In my experience, when the engine oil hasn't been changed for a very long time it has a smell which could be confused with exhaust gas.

I know that most people like to believe a man in overalls standing under official signage but I'm not entirely convinced that the evidence fits a diagnosis of head gasket failure. Maybe he's remembering the previous generation of the KV6 in the 800 series. The 75's version uses MLS gaskets and it would take serious abuse to destroy one of those.

Don't do anything drastic in the event of being quoted a large sum of money Paul. Say you'll consider your options and we can have a discussion about it here.

Stay in touch.

Simon

Cheers Simon

Hmm I did clearly explain that my trips whist having no low speed fan were stop start in the hope that he would at least suggest it might just need flushing and an oil change but the almost instant HGF response was a worry.

Lets wait with baited breath to see what he finds

Paul

No mayo problem except what you'd normally expect under the filler cap, remember we have much lower temperatures here and as per norm the smaller crankcase breathers were blocked. Not any more:}

Can't see it being much of a problem by-passing the oil cooler, I did the belts on an early car last summer so had the oil cooler out and I haven't got a lift, just a high reach trolly jack.

You still seem to be relying on this one mechanic who perhaps is jumping to conclusions. Stocktake has advised by-passing the oil cooler, he's been on this forum since day one, t'would be silly not to listen to him, and perhaps unnecessarily expensive too. Will the mechanic refund the headgasket money if the car is no better?

Regards

ps The garage that mis-diagnosed my V6, (recommending new headgaskets etc) was the Rover dealership in my town.