K-Series question...

[Bobthebeard]

Also posted in the 'Stupid Question Amnesty' but advice needed....

 

Question for any Rover K-Series experts*....

The recently acquired MG ZS has thrown up a strange and new problem!

When I got it it was running well enough, but losing coolant from the inlet manifold. Usual symptoms of coolant collecting in front of manifold on no.4 cylinder and slight misfire on start up. Otherwise ran quietly and well. Needed to put some fuel in before moving it and replacing inlet manifold gasket, so checked oil level ( low ) and coolant level ( low ) prior to the 200 metre drive to the petrol station....

Thing is, after adding a litre of oil thus bringing the level up to mid way on dipstick, and adding some water to bring the level up to normal the engine started knocking badly from the top end when re started! Didn't drive it to the petrol station as it sounds dire. Internet research suggests a stuck or sticking tappets. But why?? Sounded ok before topping up fluids. Not been stood or driven since going from quiet to noisy! Just levels topped up. Bit stumped! It is a 1.8 non vvc.

Any ideas?

[cort16]

Are they fussy about the grade of oil you put in them?

[Bobthebeard]

Are they fussy about the grade of oil you put in them?

Possibly... Put in a litre of 5/30 semi synthetic stuff, but not sure if that would cause the sudden knock... Only topped up out of mechanical sympathy and look where that got me!

Hey, ho. A mystery!

[Station]

The engine has hydraulic lifters. My ex's started going really tappety and realised she only had about 1 litre of oil in.

I'd say to check the pick up pipe, or AWAIT IMMININT ENGIN FAILORE!

 

Leaking coolant might be the rubber seal on the inlet manifold, or the little bypass ball bearing thing in the metal tube that leads from the plastic inlet into the engine - it rusts and leaks. It's on the far right of the inlet looking at it from the back.

[Barry Cade]

10w40 is the grade for K's. Knock sounds scary- tappet rattle can come and go on these, and can suffer from airlocks in the tappets. If it's a rattle, let it idle for half an hour to see if it goes away. If it's a knock, take the cam cover off and have a look.

[Guest Lord Sward]

The inlet gasket would have been letting coolant into the cylinders causing slight hydraulic-ing.  Quite common.

[Bobthebeard]

The inlet gasket would have been letting coolant into the cylinders causing slight hydraulic-ing. Quite common.

Would that cause the sudden onset of the rattle/knock?

Had no time to strip it down to investigate as yet. Hopefully some spanner time on Saturday!

[Guest Lord Sward]

A top end knock on a K-series is usually piston slap.  What year is the engine?  Some MYs had a grudgion pin (spelling) issue.

[Station]

Inlet manifold is easy on these - they have really decent 8mm bolts that don't seize.

They're a ball ache on an MGF as the hole to remove it from is smaller than the inlet.