HGF?? worth losing any sleep over?

[miro]

Is there something that a prospective elise owner should look out for with the K series engine in an S2 Im not mechanicaly minded at all but had a HGF on my first car... not a lotus and it wasnt cheap to fix. Is all this i read on forums an issue or something easily avoided Should i be looking for any S2 im considering to have had an upgrade or something. I have seen a classified add stating that it doesnt have the offending gasket and is therefore relatively immune.

[TIPPER]

I wouldn't get too hung up about HGF miro. Its about £500-800 to fix and AA break down cover will pay for most of that on a car under 10 years old. Its a bit of a lottery as to if the car will get it or not. Biggest cause (I believe) is cylinder linings dropping. If you treat the engine sympathetically by warming it thoroughly before giving it some stick it helps a great deal.
There's quite a few consumable parts on the Elise that can easily cost in excess of £500 if you're not handy with the spanners.

[Chris49]

TIPPER said:

I wouldn't get too hung up about HGF miro. Its about £500-800 to fix and AA break down cover will pay for most of that on a car under 10 years old. Its a bit of a lottery as to if the car will get it or not. Biggest cause (I believe) is cylinder linings dropping. If you treat the engine sympathetically by warming it thoroughly before giving it some stick it helps a great deal.
There's quite a few consumable parts on the Elise that can easily cost in excess of £500 if you're not handy with the spanners.

Absolutley agree, its not worth worrying about. Its happens but it shouldn't stop you enjoying ownership.

[boobles]

I had HGF couple of months ago & it cost £550 & that was done by Sportomotive in Salisbury. I was extremely concerned, but now that ive had it done im not bothered or concerned because when you buy these cars you are only taking the previous owners word that they havnt thrashed it from cold where as now ive had mine repaired i do drive mine carefully until oil temp is reached so i know that i "shouldnt" get it again.

[Trixster]

It may happen, it may not. As above, the car could have been ragged before you buy it. With this in mind, as long as you prepare for it then it shouldn't be a worry. I have stashed away £500 as an Elise breakdown insurance policy. I also have the AA parts and labour cover which has paid for itself already by paying for a replacement radiator. Take a few precautions and K-series ownership shouldn't be a problem.

[riwiho]

miro said:

Is there something that a prospective elise owner should look out for with the K series engine in an S2 Im not mechanicaly minded at all but had a HGF on my first car... not a lotus and it wasnt cheap to fix. Is all this i read on forums an issue or something easily avoided Should i be looking for any S2 im considering to have had an upgrade or something. I have seen a classified add stating that it doesnt have the offending gasket and is therefore relatively immune.

I am also in the market and had similar concerns a couple of months ago.

There is alot of detail detail about the 'K' series engine in this post >>> http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by riwiho on Friday 24th August 10:32

[miro]

Thanks All

[DamienCBR]

This is one of those things that can happen and then everyone gets worried about it. As above warm and warm down will help the enginer allot.

People worry allot about the 911, 996 model and the engines blowing up. It has happened to a handful but bad press scares people.

If you go to a VX forum all they say is stay away from the Elise....three words HEAD GASKET FAILURE.

I hope it does not happen to mine when i get it. Finger crossed!!!

D

[fentuz]

All cars have issues... here it can be hgf... well at we know want it is and it can be repaired...
On a big german thing... electronic might go and it can't be solved easily ...

It hgf is a real problem for you ... add a remote thermostat or don't drive the car....

[bertie]

fentuz said:

It hgf is a real problem for you ... don't drive the car....

What a top piece of advice.

[fentuz]

I'm sorry to say that but hgf is part of the risk you have to accept when you get a K serie powered car... If it makes you sick because you keep thinking about the HGF, there is no point to drive it...
First rule with such a car, enjoy it... so keep £500 handy so if worst comes to happen, it gets repair quickly and then you forget about it...
Make sure you keep an eye on fluid level and check their quality....

http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/group2/common_proble...

[miro]

Just because im asking for advice on HGF does not mean that i am looking for a car that will never go wrong Just that i prefer to go into something like car ownership with my eyes open. The advice found here is fantastic and majority of people honnest and helpfull the rest i guess you just take with a pinch of salt.

as i see it there is nothing to worry about with any elise.. just the usuall. make sure its been looked after and keep a kitty for any repairs that are needed.

[Tin Hat]

I had a day with Andrew Walsh yesterday (V. Good!) and he ran a K series elise for 200K,presumably alot of it on track. He always let it warm up and cool down and had no HGF issues.

Keep an eye on the coolant levels - HGF can be caused by an unconnected leak in the coolant system that starves the engine of water, makes it run hot and causes HGF!

[Trixster]

miro said:

as i see it there is nothing to worry about with any elise.. just the usuall. make sure its been looked after and keep a kitty for any repairs that are needed.

Good stuff, however I cannot recommend the AA Parts and Labour warranty enough - provided your car is sub10 yrs, sub 100k miles and fully serviced, for £65 a year it really does bring peace of mind.

[miro]

Trixster said:

miro said:

as i see it there is nothing to worry about with any elise.. just the usuall. make sure its been looked after and keep a kitty for any repairs that are needed.

Good stuff, however I cannot recommend the AA Parts and Labour warranty enough - provided your car is sub10 yrs, sub 100k miles and fully serviced, for £65 a year it really does bring peace of mind.

yeah looks like a bargin. i gather you have to have the hgf on the road and call them out to tell you.... is it reasonable to insist that they use a specialist for the repairs?

[DamienCBR]

miro said:

Trixster said:

miro said:

as i see it there is nothing to worry about with any elise.. just the usuall. make sure its been looked after and keep a kitty for any repairs that are needed.

Good stuff, however I cannot recommend the AA Parts and Labour warranty enough - provided your car is sub10 yrs, sub 100k miles and fully serviced, for £65 a year it really does bring peace of mind.

yeah looks like a bargin. i gather you have to have the hgf on the road and call them out to tell you.... is it reasonable to insist that they use a specialist for the repairs?

The way it works is if you break down and they cant fix it then they take you home/garage of your choice the warrenty part will pay upto £500 less £25 excess for any work parts and labour that needs doing and as far as i know specialist is fine.

You wait someone will be along to correct me now
D

[Trixster]

That's correct. In my case, the Rad blew when I was visiting my parents in Sheffield at Christmas. I called the AA and arranged for one of their road-side guys to pay a visit the next morning. He duly did so, saw and agreed that the car was un-drivable and couldn't be fixed by him. He got on the blower for a truck (low loader so the liz would go on (it's got a splitter)). The truck took me and the car to Horizon in Brum. They fixed the car and forwarded all the details to the AA. I had to pay Horizon but once the AA contacted me I forwarded the Horizon invoice to them and they sent me a cheque through the post. Jobs a carrot.