elise head gasket

[marcfair]

Have many elise owners experienced problems with the cylinder head gaskets on the Rover K series engines?
If so are they still a problem on the MK2 elise?

[gfoz]

I'm going through that head gasket personal hell on a MK1 right now

[RobMk1]

I think my head gasket may be on the way out. I keep getting loads of steam out the exhausts when cold, so mush it engulfs two lanes of traffic at the lights!! The water level keeps dropping aswell, the garage said get in as soon as possible and keep an eye on the water level.

[gfoz]

... also drive it very gently until you've had it checked - it might save a warped head too. Apparently loosening the water reservoir cap a little will let any excess pressure out through there as opposed to the gasket... or so I'm told...

[Stu_H]

Rob, your descrption matches the HG failure I had.

Coolant was basically leaking into the cylinder which made starting the car interesting (hydrolock ?!?) unfortunately I didn't act soon enough and damaged the inlet manifold.

[adrianr]

It's a very bad idea to drive your car with a suspect head gasket - it could overheat or if you're really unlucky a hydraulic lock (cylinder full of water) could break a piston.

Fortunately there is a less serious Elise problem with similar symptoms - a gasket gives up between the inlet manifold and head allowing water to leak in to the engine.

Still not a good idea to drive it, but a lot less expensive to fix.

[marcfair]

HOW OLD ARE YOUR CARS + MILAGE JUST AS A MATER OF INTEREST?

[marcfair]

how much does it cost to get the head gasket replaced?

[robmk1]

Mine is a 1996 P, with about 38K on the clock. I've been keeping an eye on the water and its not been too bad recently, does it every now and then. Going to garage soon with it, so hope fully they will fix it under warranty.

[Chorme Orange]

Blown HG, or maybe not....

I had the steaming exhausts, hunting revs etc... that characterised a blown HG, but (bow in reverence) Sinclaires of London dignosed a less expensive inlet manifold gasket. As at top of motor it's a cheaper fix. Detected by leaning on inlet manifold with engine running and hearing revs rise/fall. Inlet manifold on K series is cooled hense lost coolent and steam.

Fingers crossed for you..

[Chorme Orange]

Oh, and that was on an S1 with about 50,000miles under it at the time.

[Atom290]

We were worried about this when building the engine. I guess the rumours I heard were somewhat correct!

Well we fitted a steel ladder, with oversized steel bolts running top to bottom. Hopefully this will keep the thing together, as the power has been increased ever so lots.