They all do that. Am I the only one who...
 

Has bought both Rovers and MGs, now eight in all over the past ten years or so, where the previous owner has been told the head gasket has "failed" when there was nothing wrong with it? The coolant loss and overheating resulting from some other problem like a worn water pump or split coolant hose allowing coolant to escape.

These include MG ZTs, my current daily driver MG ZT-T 1.8t being the latest one bought back in July at a price to allow for Cylinder Head Gasket repair. Then several other MG and Rover K-Series and get this, both an O-Series and several T-Series. All poorly diagnosed invariably by those in the trade. Two such cars including the ZT-T being from traders having taken them in P/X. Being "in the trade" does not automatically mean they know what goes on under the bonnet.

By the way, despite the widespread mindset that Cylinder Head Gaskets "fail", they rarely actually do. Invariably they are first damaged by some other problem and consequently can no longer do the job they are designed to do.

I remember a few years ago I took my Rover 45 diesel into a local garage to get a quote on a rear suspension bush ..... first thing they said upon walking into reception " head gasket gone?" ..... I replied no, to which they responded " it soon will then".

Head gasket failures on an L series are about as rare as failure on the M47 engine ... but all Rovers have been tarred with the same brush ... :shrug:

I must say my experience with the K series has been the opposite.

I have had two - one in a 45, one in a 75. I treat my cars very well and tend to chuck a ridiculous amount of money at them. Both cars had a full service history and the 75 had had the HG done some 20,000 earlier.

The 45 had the IMG replaced, new coolant, water pump, cam belt & tensioners when I bought it. Level checks every week yet a year in it started using coolant & the HG had gone. Stuck some steel steel in and it ran perfectly for the next two years. And before I get shouted down for that it was either that or the scrapper for it. Eventually floor and structural rust killed it.

The 75 had the same treatment. It never used any water and was looked after meticulously but suffered HGF twice. First time it was fixed by a well respected MGR mechanic but just over a year later it went again.

I've now had 3 KV6s since & had no trouble with them.

Took a new Vauxhaul 6cylinder Ventora to a Dealer for its first service. Oil level exactly the same after as when it went in! New Rocker cover gasket had the factory engine paint on it!

Challenged the Service Manager (who stood by the Mechanic) to put it up on the ramp, paint still on the drain plug!! I said if you can drain the oil again without damaging the black paint, I will agree with you.

Red faces all around:D:D

I scratch the date of fitting on my new oil filter and also mark the date on the air filter with a felt pen.

I worked for 2 weeks (work experience) at a Rover dealer Service centre circa 1993 - changing plugs, filters etc.. :cool:

I can't say i witnessed any dodgy workmanship or questionable practises - however, for the full 2 weeks i got to listen to the mechanics complain about their wages, workload, the guys out front in the dealership, the bosses and most every job that came in seemed to provoke an outburst of some kind :shrug: not the best environment for healthy diagnosis/repair work to be carried out

i'm glad i don't own a new car - as i would not feel comfortable leaving the car with a dealer for servicing/repairs.

and i'd prefer to use a smaller "Backstreet" Garage Over a National Service Centre chain for any work i'm not doing myself ;)
when i had my cat replaced - by Cossie Dunc - the sensor seized in the old one, Duncan had a spare and fitted that with the new cat :cool: at no extra cost :cool:



Dealer Service Centres charging for work that hasn't been done = "They All Do That" :D



r.e the k-series (i like this topic ;) )

the belief that "They All Do That" in my opinion compounded all Rover k-series faults - as it ended the diagnosis process - why look for a fault if you "Know" it's the Head Gasket - simply replace the Gasket - and, if the fault reoccurs simply claim that it's a flawed design and resign yourself to the belief "They All Do That"




Paul.

I have been known to use a squirt of cheap paint on drain and fill plugs. If the seal is broken, they've been drained\ checked...

Many years ago I went to a main MgRover dealership parts department. I wanted an oil filter,out came the Branded box which I opened to find an after market filter with no O rings !!!! Well keeping it short after proving it to him and him agreeing,I told him to put it in the dealership toilet to filter their **** .
I then got one from a BMW dealership exactly the same as the original including the O rings. M47R Cdti.
And that was before the made in China EBay invasion.
This is only one of many benefits of being a member of a our Club. Correct information and a group of dedicated professional Mechanics and other specialists.
Paul