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Posted by Andy MacFadyen Coolant leaks are initially usually caused by the the inlet manifold gasket seeping. Often there will be no sign of a leak because the coolant is being drawn into the engine. As mentioned above another source of coolant leak is the connecting pipe at the back of the water pump. It is the the OWNERS duty to check the coolant level at regular intervals. If the engine is over heating but there is no sign of the oil and coolant mixing suspect either the thermostat is stuck or the system is air locked. Unless the engine has been truly cooked fitting and new head gasket and manifold is an easy job but the procedures in the K!6 Overhaul manual must be followed to he letter. Note ---
on 7/3/2005, 2:28 am
I have already poste most of this info but here is in an easier to find form
There is a load of rubbish talked about head gaskets on the 1.8 K16 here are the facts. They apply to all versions of the Rover K16 engine in the 100/200/400/75 and Free Lander as no major part is different from the 1.6 engine and the head and block are identical to the 1.4.
Rover introduced a modified "green" inlet manifold gasket (which most vehicles should already have) modified studs and a revised tightening procedure .
This was however only a partial cure and the gaskets have a life of about 4 years and should be changed as a service item. It only takes about 30 minutes to change he gasket however it may take much longer than this to bleed any trapped air out ther cooling system. The inlet manifold is unbolted the contiuous air bleeder fitting on belt end of the manifold should be cleaned out and alsdo the pipe fitting at the rear of the thermostat should be examind for leaks as the the "O" ring which seals it is known to cause slight leaks after a few years service.
Read the Rover K16 workshop manual before doing this particularly Rovers revised coolant bleeding instruction for the K16 engine.
Let the coolant level drop too far and the system will air lock.
As on any all alloy engine loss of coolant circulation will lead to gasket failure.
On the K16 engine unless it has been truly cooked gasket failure usually presents as mixing of oil and coolant due to a bead of silicone on the gasket getting damaged by differential expansion betwen the head and the block.
(1)New head bolts are not usually required provided they meet the checks detailed in the manual.
(2) Exact workshop manual procedures should be followed when stripping the head of- particularly with regard to order of slackening head and cam carrier bolts and setting the crankshaft position before removing the timing belt.
(3) It is vital that a proper LOW RANGE torque wrench is used to initially tighten the head bolts and the that the head bolt threads run freely and meet the testes laid down in th K16 overhaul manual.
(4) The liner deck height should be checked against the spec in the K16 manual --- if slightly out a special thick gasket is available.
(4) Great care must taken in filling and bleeding the coolant so as to remove any air locks. Note the continuous bleeder at the belt end of the inlet manifold is prone to blockage.
(5)The cooling system should only be refiled with the correct type of coolant --- Rover used two types glycol and OAT they can't be mixed.
(6) Coolant MUST be changed at the interval reccommended for the type otherwise after 5 years or so pin prick corosion occurs on the head surface arround the bores.
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