struggling to start from cold

[Ginger Teddy]

Hi Simon, yes it is most definitely oil, and yes all four are affected. I had all four cam seals replaced October last year as they were leaking not that it has any effect on this issue. It has done about 4k since I had the head gasket done and the turbo was rebuilt six months before I purchased the car ( approx eight years ago). Not that it has any bearing on the issue but I have never driven her over 70mph as I know first hand of the head gasket issue these K series engines suffer from and always been wary of pushing her hard in case of turbo failure. If it were to be the turbo there is nobody this way that I could trust to do it after the fiasco I had getting the head gasket done ! Thanks Simon for advice, regards Paul

[SD1too]

Originally Posted by Ginger Teddy

If it were to be the turbo there is nobody this way that I could trust to do it after the fiasco I had getting the head gasket done!

Hi Paul,

First you need to gather evidence to either confirm or dismiss my hypothesis. How about one of the mobile 75/ZT specialists? One's based in Coventry and there's another in Derby plus Lates in Rugby who always gets favourable reviews (but you'd have to drive the car there).

Have you got any paperwork Paul to show who rebuilt the turbo and what they did?

Simon

[Ginger Teddy]

Hi Simon, thanks for getting back to me , the receipt I have is for a garage local to a village about three miles from me and it just says rebuild of turbo along with replace head gasket etc and was just under £800. I had a mobile mechanic come up from sussex ( on recommendation from club member) to replace head gasket and lasted just over 12 months and had the same done locally under two years ago and in the eight years I have owned it I have only done 18k, the furthest I have driven it is fifty miles and never on a motorway. So it has been a bit of an expensive hobby, but looked after and enjoyed. I fitted the embossed headrests and the grab handle drivers side and the square reflectors on the doors along with extra wood effect from Simon in bulgaria at the time and the rear seats look as if never been sat on and in firefrost red ( no rust) it looks lovely and has been one of the best cars I have owned, but with out a doubt we are looking at several hundred pounds again to last possibly a very short time. It`s so disappointing as It passed mot in sept ,no problem. I am at the moment uncertain what to do about it, they certainly get under your skin that`s for sure, regards Paul

[SD1too]

Originally Posted by Ginger Teddy

... without a doubt we are looking at several hundred pounds again to last possibly a very short time.

Well Paul, I offer no apologies for disagreeing with you there! If the correct diagnosis is made and the repair completed properly you should have no further trouble.

You say that you feel uncertain what to do. Have you noticed blue smoke from the exhaust? Do the exhaust gases smell oily? Make phone calls to the local places describing themselves as turbo specialists (there seem to be loads in your county) and tell them the symptoms: poor starting and all four plugs oily. You're looking for someone who recognises that and hopefully invites you down for a look and listen. We need evidence of how the oil is getting into all four cylinders before you start spending any more money.

How does that sound for a first step?

Simon

[dave lincs]

I think from a quick read of this thread it might be as simple as a coolant temp sensor would perhaps be a good idea to get on a diagnosis machine first

[mbonwick]

If all 4 plugs are that badly fouled with oil I would expect you to be seeing lots of blue smoke out of the exhaust.

The cam cover gasket is a favourite for leaking on K-series and leaking oil onto the plugs from above, which then leads to HT issues when it reaches the plug/lead connection.

If I were you I'd take the car for a short run (but long enough to get it properly hot), watch for exhaust smoke, and then pull the new set of plugs and see what they look like.

[Ginger Teddy]

Hi Simon
I have decided to book the car into W. H. Brand in Lincolnshire, they had the Rover/MG franchise for many years before the demise of the marque.They have the MG franchise for the chinese made models currently, but the main thing is they still look after Rover vehicles that old customers bring in to them and they know these cars. They currently have a 2005 MG ZT on the forcourt in grey, looks nice. I explained the current issue and said that I need a proper diagnosis as have been ripped off by garages out my way who don`t understand or even care and just want to take my money and if it wasn`t for the guys on the Rover 75 club who have helped me to keep it going with their knowledge it would have been scrap a couple of years back. So I will be taking it next week and we will take it from there. I have to walk past it in the drive to get to the Astra and although it is a design spec model so not basic, it`s not my classy Rover. So thanks again Simon, mbonwick, dave lincs, Yorkshire GOC and others for their help and advice, Regards Paul

[Ginger Teddy]

Hi folks,
due to the dreaded covid issue I have to isolate not sure for how long as have lung disease so have to be cautious .This means I wont be taking car to garage as planned ! I have driven car for a mile and returned home ( it`s strange that apart from struggling when cold it runs fine otherwise ), no blue smoke visible. I rechecked plugs , not as oily as before, but probably on a longer journey they would be as bad as before. As I am not sure when I would be able to take car, then we have the holiday coming up I have been thinking with the help of my son to perhaps have a go at changing the cam cover gasket, new plugs. I have looked in the haynes manual and it does cover camshaft cover removal and refitting. It doesn`t mention any sealant in doing the job ,so would I take that to mean I wouldn`t need sealant ? Although it`s not as planned and not as indepth as HGF , thinking we could eliminate one problem, as always any advice appreciated, regards Paul

[Ginger Teddy]

Hi folks , just a update as to where we are now ( had to cancel visit to garage as said in earlier post as had to isolate, but test proved negative but had to wait for the given time) In the interim I replaced the camshaft gasket ( and cam sensor as said previously) new plugs, checked fuel filter no clip fitted but someone had used a self tapping screw which held it together but I fitted the proper clip anyway as I had it and why wouldn`t I. I have read on here about the purge control valve and replaced it12 months ago, and when it was going through the overheating stage in 2020 before I had the HGF in early 2020 I replaced the coolant temp sensor just as a matter of course.It has been on a couple of short trips and started ok and on return I check plugs they are dry and no oil in the spark plug wells. Yesterday I fitted new coils and leads, as usual everything possible comes from DMGRS so no inferior parts used.This morning it struggled once again and coughed and spluttered ran for couple of seconds then stopped and the only light that came on dash was the battery light and that went out when I attempted to start and it caught this time.The battery was fully charged thursday and on test is holding it`s charge. When it is on the road it doesn`t drive any different and it does still start first time when engine warm. No smoke visible from exhaust and on tickover it behaves no differently. Occasionally the EML would come on and on the OBD scanner it would be PO420 catalyst efficiency below threshold ( Bank 1) and have used cataclean and it doesn`t show again for some months, and as today it shows up no errors. So do you folks have a diagnosis I wonder ? All though I will probably still have to take it to the garage I feel I need to have a rough idea before I am fleeced as I have been several times before ( not just with this car) and am no mechanic, just know the basics really, any advice as always appreciated from you knowledgeable folk,regards Paul

[suzublu]

Gap the plugs to .75mm, possibly fit a new oxygen sensor as well if you haven't already

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