Rover based engine

[fred_germany]

I am thinking about the overall reliability of the Rover based engine, especially when thinking about buyying a used car. What is a common mileage that could be reached with this engine? In some adverts here on pistonheads, engine rebuilds are described even for Chimearas but less frequent than for Cerberas or Tuscans. Are there major differences in lifetime between the 400, 450 and 500-read something like this in a german forum.

[V8 Kieran]

Engine rebuilds isn't an issue on Rover based TVRs (no more than any other car). I imagine 500s being bored out further could be more prone to reliability issues than smaller blocks due to smaller tolerances remaining, but I have nothing to back that up - just a general engine theory

You will find Chims/Griffs for sale well into 6 figure mileages and going strong. At 50-60bhp per litre, they're hardly stressed are they?

All IMHO of course

[jonnyb]

There is no reason that a well looked after engine cannot go for 150k miles. There are some issues surrounding cam changes and porous blocks, but the Rover V8 is a very reliable lump. Most people get the engine rebuilt due to wanting more power rather than any terminal problem with the engine. Compared to the speed six the Rover V8 is streets ahead in terms of cheapness of parts and reliability, but the speed six caines it when it comes to power and torque.

[mongoose]

All size variants of the RV8 can be utterly reliable.It depends far more on the way it's been looked after,than anything else.
I've never thought,or heard of one being different in reliability terms to another,only the fact that they have different driving characteristics.I think it might be best to avoid debating such questions on this forum,for fear of ending up like the Speed six forums,which does nobody any good imho.

[chassis 33]

The 3.9 engine in my Discovery is now over 172,000miles without a rebuild, we've put on over 10k since we bought the car in September '05 with no engine problems.

If you look after these engines they'll look after you.

Regards
Iain

[number 7]

jonnyb said:

Compared to the speed six the Rover V8 is streets ahead in terms of cheapness of parts and reliability, but the speed six caines it when it comes to power and torque.

I wouldn't dispute the greater power output of the S6, but there are plenty of RV8 cars around with greater torque levels than the 290 ft lbs quoted for the Tuscan, or 310 ft lbs for the Tuscan S. Even my humble 4.3 Wedge, which is 16 years old, pushes out c. 325 ft lbs and is a perfectly driveable road car.

7.

[raceboy]

chassis 33 said:

If you look after these engines they'll look after you.

True to a point
There are always going to be 'one offs'.
My 4.0L RV8 although being serviced as required by experts and not treated to anything that could be discribed as 'abuse' decided that at under 50k miles it would crack a piston liner Originally thought it was the head gasket but on further investigation it was a crack in one of the piston liners, so engine out, complete strip down 8 new liners, new cam and various other bits and bobs while it's out, empty wallet and it's as good as new
I am told this is very very rare, doesn't make parting with large wads of cash any easier though.

[JR]

V8 Kieran said:

I imagine 500s being bored out further could be more prone to reliability issues than smaller blocks due to smaller tolerances remaining, but I have nothing to back that up - just a general engine theory

Bore for all 4l+ engines is the same, just greater strokes. Blocks are all the same size; ie any block differences are not cc dependant.

[IPAddis]

The Rover V8 has a good reputation for reliability. However although the block will happily reach 200k miles, on a TVR the cam, tappets, rocket shafts, rockers, valve springs and oil strainer will likely need replacing at least once in that mileage.

On pre-serpentine engines, the dizzy drive gear may also be an issue.

The BIG difference between a Rover engine and a Speed 6 / AJP engine is that there are a considerable amount of people who can fix Rover V8s and costs are much lower.

Ian A.

[JR]

IPAddis said:

The BIG difference between a Rover engine and a Speed 6 / AJP engine is that there are a considerable amount of people who can fix Rover V8s and costs are much lower.

Combined with much wider availability of spares.

[number 7]

raceboy said:

at under 50k miles it would crack a piston liner though.

It was definitely a cracked liner, not a cracked block behind the liner, which is not that uncommon?

7.

[raceboy]

number 7 said:

It was definitely a cracked liner, not a cracked block behind the liner, which is not that uncommon?

Well the invoice from V8 Developments has 8 liners amoung a whole load of other bits but no new block on it. Think the block was crack tested though and it was fine.

[V8 Kieran]

JR said:

V8 Kieran said: I imagine 500s being bored out further could be more prone to reliability issues than smaller blocks due to smaller tolerances remaining, but I have nothing to back that up - just a general engine theory Bore for all 4l+ engines is the same, just greater strokes. Blocks are all the same size; ie any block differences are not cc dependant.

There you go, I was talking bollox after all - knew I should have stuck with "nah mate, RV8s are rock solid - end of!"

[DamnWiseguy]

V8 Kieran said:

Engine rebuilds isn't an issue on Rover based TVRs (no more than any other car). I imagine 500s being bored out further could be more prone to reliability issues than smaller blocks due to smaller tolerances remaining, but I have nothing to back that up - just a general engine theory You will find Chims/Griffs for sale well into 6 figure mileages and going strong. At 50-60bhp per litre, they're hardly stressed are they? All IMHO of course

I believe the 5.0 and the 4.5 has the same bore but just a longer stroke.

[Fire99]

Hi All,

I think the only thing that you need to remember with an RV8 in a TVR as apposed to a Land Rover etc is generally the TVR will be driven harder with lots more hard acceleration rather than cruising at constant speeds.

And Ancillary components will tend to get hotter more frequently due to the plastic body.

But i do believe if you take the normal precautions, (let engine warm up before driving hard, Regular oil changes with quality oil etc) 9 times out of 10 the engines should be pretty reliable..

Cheers,

Nick