Rover 75 May just be okay after all. Maybe....

[purplebargeken]

If coolant is getting into the cylinder then it's head off time isn't it? What is the best route to sort?

[cort16]

You just need to take the inlet manifold off the water is coming in the same place the air should be

[purplebargeken]

Really?Just that? Hmm, ok. So take off shite one, chuck new one on, refit. Sorted?

[Guest]

Really?Just that? Hmm, ok. So take off shite one, chuck new one on, refit. Sorted?

Yep. It will be obvious if the gasket is gone. you don't even need to disconnect much, just unbolt the manifold, pull it back a little and check/replace gasket.Take out no 4 plug and see if it is clean and shiny, compared to the others and may even be wet. Most garages diagnosed a dodgy inlet gasket as HGF, as you get a misfire, steam out the exhaust and loss of coolant... An inlet gasket comes as part of a head kit, so the fault would be cured as part of the new head gasket.. but at £500 instead of £5.

[purplebargeken]

Cheers fella, that has made me feel a lot happier. Appreciated. 

[purplebargeken]

Just ordered one anyway. 

 

Thanks

[Guest]

Cheers fella, that has made me feel a lot happier. Appreciated. 

I hope that's all it is. I've seen (and saved) many a K series Rover going to the crusher because of this £5 bit of rubber.

[Split_Pin]

Sounds like one of those things that appears 110% worse than it actually is - fingers crossed for you that the IM gasket gets the 75 back to its fighting weight.

[purplebargeken]

Just found a very, very detailed How To, although he does recommend draining the coolant.

 

http://forums.mg-rover.org/how-do-i-answers-common-problems-8/how-do-i-change-inlet-manifold-gasket-k-series-213626/

[AMC Rebel]

My 190 ZT is miserable around town. Alright, maybe that's a little melodramatic, but below 4k revs, it's really, really stodgy.

 

I'm lead to believe that my VIS motors are the culprit, but it seems an expensive experiment to find out that actually, that's just the way it drives.

 

That does sound like VIS motors (or maybe the flaps are jammed) - my ZT is (was) sprightly from the off with a nice kick beyond about 3.5 K

[Guest]

Just found a very, very detailed How To, although he does recommend draining the coolant.

 

http://forums.mg-rover.org/how-do-i-answers-common-problems-8/how-do-i-change-inlet-manifold-gasket-k-series-213626/

You can, it makes the job a little less messy, but you only need to drain off about 2 litres, until it's below the level of the head.

[purplebargeken]

As you said, for the sake of a fivers worth of gasket, it has to be worth a try.

 

Just puzzled as to the moisture on the down pipes.

[cort16]

Can you bypass the coolant going into the manifold temporarily?

[purplebargeken]

I can clean seats.

[Roverageous]

Second the IMG. I had a K series that was left for 7 months. When I tried to start it it caught then stalled. After that it ran on 3, chucked the EML light on & smoked like a steam engine (grey).

 

It was just the IMG and sorted in no time at all

 

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

[purplebargeken]

I gathered all of my plug socket and extension bar stuff from the garage yesterday and will venture over the pavement to the Rover in a wee while. Plug photos will be taken.

 

If the manifold fix doesn't do the job would anyone be interested in taking this off my hands?

 

I simply do not have the funds, skill or energy to deal with this. However, I am clearly hoping that the 'just over a fiver gasket fix' will do the job. 

[purplebargeken]

Ok, had a look in good daylight, firstly, the down tube/CAT joint issue. That bit is pretty much soaked, although not dripping. It was enough to get a finger dab though and it smells and feels like oil. Not coolant which I originally suspected. However, I am struggling to see where the actual leakage is coming from, very puzzling.

 

The plugs. Obviously Sods Law means that each and every plug socket in my possession is the wrong one. I wasn't able to pop out any of the plugs, hopefully, my mate will have one that he can bring tomorrow. I will Google the size shortly. However, the one that was slim enough to fit over the plug came up with a coating of lovely fresh looking oil. That was the furthest O/S one and each subsequent tube appeared to have at least some amount of oil nestling at the bottom although the initial one seemed to have the most. 

 

So, further ideas on a postcard?

[Split_Pin]

My old Vectras plug apertures were soaked in oil from a leaking rocker cover gasket although none seeped into the combustion chambers.

 

Amazing how bad a leaking rocker cover gasket can make things appear at first glance.

[purplebargeken]

^^ Hmm.

[purplebargeken]

Could it actually be that bloody simple?

[purplebargeken]

Split_Pin, if that is the case, and in fairness I am now hopeful, then I will happily send you a case of your fave beer or cider related tipple as a thank you. 

 

No, was not going to offer to have his children. Needed to be clarified. 

[purplebargeken]

Bollocks to it. Just ordered a decent rocker cover gasket, £13 all in from a pukka Rover/MG place. 

 

Also got the bolt tightening sequences printed off. 

 

Going to pop out now whilst warm daylight to try and soak up the oil from the plug tubes. 

[Split_Pin]

Worth it if its only a tenner or so, cheapest solution first.

[Split_Pin]

Mind about the valve stem oil seals too, usually only smokes on start up and something that can clear up after an Italian tune up. Wasnt a concern for my mate who had a 300bhp Astra MK4, so would not classify that as wanting immediate attention on a 75.

[purplebargeken]

Prior to this there was no hint of smoke on start up which was good. 

[purplebargeken]

Okay, I replaced the cam cover gasket this afternoon. Nice and simple. 

 

Plugs were sooty, plus oily on plug number 3, the one the N/S coil pack sits on. 

 

Good sparks happening. 

 

Started the car, exactly the same. Missing and blue/grey smoke issuing forth from the exhaust although no major oily mess in the tail pip itself.

 

Friend thinks poss injector issue or HGF...

 

I have no fucking clue. He isn't a fuel injection fiddler. He focuses on older stuff tbh. Like early 1900's Levassor taxis and so on.

[purplebargeken]

Car Take Back offering £160.

[cort16]

Did you change the inlet manifold gasket?

[purplebargeken]

No,not yet.I went for the technically simpler thing first,besides,the cam cover gasket needed doing anyway. I will try and start the process for the inlet manifold tomorrow, weather willing.

 

The only issue is that I am still fucked from the operation and I get tired so bloody easily. Everything takes a sodding age longer than it should. 

[bub2006]

I've told you bud to go steady. Hell I'll pop down asap and so it for you. I'm not too great but probably better than you!