Old |Member needs advice!!

lightpainter · 7th June 2021, 19:47

Now that I’m the ripe old age of 80 yes I know I can’t believe it ether but I do still moisturize I’m less inclined to work on my car, the last job was changing a blown thermostat using the keyhole method this I had to perform three times because of leakages and one brand new so-called reinforced unit blowing in half.
Fed up with doing the job myself I went to the local repair centre to see what it would cost to get it done, after telling the mechanic my tale of woe he said that it would seem I had more going on apart from just a blown housing so we arranged that I would book the car in for him to check the head gaskets, so it turns out that the gasket has failed and was pressurizing the system thus blowing the thermostat!
This is where the advice is needed; I have no idea the cost of replacing the head gaskets but as my car is only worth about £1000. Is it worth having it done! Or should I scrap it???

stevestrat · 7th June 2021, 20:15

Unusual for the head gasket to let go on a V6. How knowledgeable is the garage about Rovers, are they tarring it with the "the head gaskets go on all of them" brush. I'd look for a 2nd opinion from someone who knows the cars before deciding anything.

COLVERT · 7th June 2021, 21:05

If the system was over-pressurising it would vent through the filler cap.

A thermostat would take that pressure without suffering any harm.

As the post above says, get another opinion.

PS.--Anyway young man I'm 84 September.---Lol.

bl52krz · 7th June 2021, 22:45

Hi Peter. We don’t allow excuses here. I will be 82 This year, and will be adjusting the handbrake and changing the oil and filter this week for the MOT. In answer to your question, you know what condition your car is in, so is it worth having done only you know. As others have said, get another garage, preferably a Rover knowledge one. Best of luck.

SD1too · 8th June 2021, 11:39

Hello Peter,

As others have said, you would have to abuse a KV6 engine seriously to cause a head gasket to fail and in that event coolant would be ejected through the expansion tank cap. It wouldn't blow the thermostat housing apart. I suspect that the "so-called reinforced" housing failed due to weakness introduced by the modification process. Don't accept the garage's opinion. I have sent you a PM.

Simon

lightpainter · 15th June 2021, 09:33

Having read all the replies to my thermostat problem and the general consensus that it was not very lightly to be due to a failed head gasket, I decided to have another go at it myself! On stripping the thermostat assembly down I found that the bolt that holds the thermostat and curved pipe down was loose and moving about with a gap between the straight pipe that fits into the housing thus causing a leak of water! I reassembled every thing making sure that the offending bolt was tight, just to make sure I had a water tight seal I sprayed any of the places that could leak with “ stop that Leak “ !
I have now driven over 100 miles with no ill effect on the engine, not over heating at all, the only problem now is the car is using a lot more petrol but at least its drivable.

COLVERT · 15th June 2021, 12:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by lightpainter

Having read all the replies to my thermostat problem and the general consensus that it was not very likely to be due to a failed head gasket, I decided to have another go at it myself! On stripping the thermostat assembly down I found that the bolt that holds the thermostat and curved pipe down was loose and moving about with a gap between the straight pipe that fits into the housing thus causing a leak of water! I reassembled every thing making sure that the offending bolt was tight, just to make sure I had a water tight seal I sprayed any of the places that could leak with “ stop that Leak “ !
I have now driven over 100 miles with no ill effect on the engine, not over heating at all, the only problem now is the car is using a lot more petrol but at least its drivable.

Going back to your first post it shows you just how reliable garage opinions are.---

You will never beat the advice given on this forum of experts.

Now, your last point.---Why is your car using more petrol ??? Is that just because you are using it more ??----

lightpainter · 15th June 2021, 12:58

yes very lightly!

COLVERT · 15th June 2021, 17:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by lightpainter

yes very lightly!

likely---?????????????????????????????---

7th June 2021, 19:47	#1
lightpainter Posted a thing or two 2004 Rover 75 Saloon 2.5 V6 Conn SE Auto Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Rainham, Kent. Garden of England Posts: 1,162 Thanks: 28 Thanked 42 Times in 6 Posts	Old \|Member needs advice!! Now that I’m the ripe old age of 80 yes I know I can’t believe it ether but I do still moisturize I’m less inclined to work on my car, the last job was changing a blown thermostat using the keyhole method this I had to perform three times because of leakages and one brand new so-called reinforced unit blowing in half. Fed up with doing the job myself I went to the local repair centre to see what it would cost to get it done, after telling the mechanic my tale of woe he said that it would seem I had more going on apart from just a blown housing so we arranged that I would book the car in for him to check the head gaskets, so it turns out that the gasket has failed and was pressurizing the system thus blowing the thermostat! This is where the advice is needed; I have no idea the cost of replacing the head gaskets but as my car is only worth about £1000. Is it worth having it done! Or should I scrap it??? __________________ See my pictures here. My Flickr [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

7th June 2021, 20:15	#2
stevestrat This is my second home ZT260 #243 (resting) Join Date: May 2010 Location: Prestonpans Posts: 22,478 Thanks: 650 Thanked 4,624 Times in 3,358 Posts	Unusual for the head gasket to let go on a V6. How knowledgeable is the garage about Rovers, are they tarring it with the "the head gaskets go on all of them" brush. I'd look for a 2nd opinion from someone who knows the cars before deciding anything. __________________ Steve T4 Location Map

7th June 2021, 22:45	#4
bl52krz This is my second home Rover 75 cdt club + Rover 2.5 KV6 Conni SE Join Date: May 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 11,393 Thanks: 6,587 Thanked 2,262 Times in 1,729 Posts	Hi Peter. We don’t allow excuses here. I will be 82 This year, and will be adjusting the handbrake and changing the oil and filter this week for the MOT. In answer to your question, you know what condition your car is in, so is it worth having done only you know. As others have said, get another garage, preferably a Rover knowledge one. Best of luck. __________________ Great Barr, Birmingham.

8th June 2021, 11:39	#5
SD1too Doesn't do things by halves Rover 75 2.5 Connoisseur Auto (1999) Dealer launch model. Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Former Middlesex Posts: 20,374 Thanks: 1,587 Thanked 3,749 Times in 3,181 Posts	Hello Peter, As others have said, you would have to abuse a KV6 engine seriously to cause a head gasket to fail and in that event coolant would be ejected through the expansion tank cap. It wouldn't blow the thermostat housing apart. I suspect that the "so-called reinforced" housing failed due to weakness introduced by the modification process. Don't accept the garage's opinion. I have sent you a PM. Simon __________________ "Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble." Sir Henry Royce.

15th June 2021, 09:33	#6
lightpainter Posted a thing or two 2004 Rover 75 Saloon 2.5 V6 Conn SE Auto Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Rainham, Kent. Garden of England Posts: 1,162 Thanks: 28 Thanked 42 Times in 6 Posts	Thermostat problem! Having read all the replies to my thermostat problem and the general consensus that it was not very lightly to be due to a failed head gasket, I decided to have another go at it myself! On stripping the thermostat assembly down I found that the bolt that holds the thermostat and curved pipe down was loose and moving about with a gap between the straight pipe that fits into the housing thus causing a leak of water! I reassembled every thing making sure that the offending bolt was tight, just to make sure I had a water tight seal I sprayed any of the places that could leak with “ stop that Leak “ ! I have now driven over 100 miles with no ill effect on the engine, not over heating at all, the only problem now is the car is using a lot more petrol but at least its drivable. __________________ See my pictures here. My Flickr [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

7th June 2021, 21:05	#3
COLVERT This is my second home R75 Saloon. Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: France/or Devon. Posts: 14,003 Thanks: 3,851 Thanked 2,167 Times in 1,816 Posts	If the system was over-pressurising it would vent through the filler cap. A thermostat would take that pressure without suffering any harm. As the post above says, get another opinion. PS.--Anyway young man I'm 84 September.---Lol.

15th June 2021, 12:58	#8
lightpainter Posted a thing or two 2004 Rover 75 Saloon 2.5 V6 Conn SE Auto Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Rainham, Kent. Garden of England Posts: 1,162 Thanks: 28 Thanked 42 Times in 6 Posts	yes very lightly! __________________ See my pictures here. My Flickr [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]