Freelander 2.5 engine reliability
Discussion
Chauffeurdude said:
Presume we are talking about the Rover KV6 engine? In which case headgaskets, headgaskets and headgaskets again!! Do not touch unless you have plenty of time, patience and money!! Sweet enough engine when running properly but a nightmare to keep that way!!
Have you done a head gasket job yourself or had it done by a garage? I'd just like to know if it was fixed by fitting a new gasket or did it require the heads being skimmed as well, or potentially more work? I'm just trying to gauge the potential costs. Thanks.Hi. Bought the car with the headgaskets recently done by a Rover Main dealer. Cost previous owner just short of £2000.00 - Ouch!!
Car had done about 10,000 miles since when I bought it. By the time I had done about 15,000 miles head gaskets were going again making a grand total of 25,000 miles!! Overall car mileage by then 70,000 approx. We did the work ourselves using the very latest (at the time - 2008 as I recall) super duper uprated head gaskets. Had to skim the heads and got them pressure tested aswell. Was fine once back together but didn't keep it long after that as I wanted an RR Classic. Cost about £350 as I recall getting parts trade and replacing cambelt/tensioners etc. Interestingly about 8 months after I sold it car was put on a sorn and has never been on road since so engine may have died again!! This was in a 1996 Rover 800 so engine recently launched. There were stories of early engines being handbuilt experimental, usual poor quality control issues etc. So the story goes later engines were much better, (Freelander/Rover 75 ZT). Having said that my mate at his garage has done several Rover ZT V6 headgaskets in the last year!! Even at an independent garage not much change from £1000 to do properly!! Unless very cheap I would run a mile personally, not worth the aggro mate!!
Car had done about 10,000 miles since when I bought it. By the time I had done about 15,000 miles head gaskets were going again making a grand total of 25,000 miles!! Overall car mileage by then 70,000 approx. We did the work ourselves using the very latest (at the time - 2008 as I recall) super duper uprated head gaskets. Had to skim the heads and got them pressure tested aswell. Was fine once back together but didn't keep it long after that as I wanted an RR Classic. Cost about £350 as I recall getting parts trade and replacing cambelt/tensioners etc. Interestingly about 8 months after I sold it car was put on a sorn and has never been on road since so engine may have died again!! This was in a 1996 Rover 800 so engine recently launched. There were stories of early engines being handbuilt experimental, usual poor quality control issues etc. So the story goes later engines were much better, (Freelander/Rover 75 ZT). Having said that my mate at his garage has done several Rover ZT V6 headgaskets in the last year!! Even at an independent garage not much change from £1000 to do properly!! Unless very cheap I would run a mile personally, not worth the aggro mate!!
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