Reply With QuoteThere is a guy from Wales who makes his living replacing / updating these on MGTF's
Check a couple of MG forums and I'm sure you'll find him.
Ok so my pride and joy has suspected HGF ,there is a little mayo in the header,none in the oil.So my question, does anyone know a good trust worthy mech/garage who is knowledgable on the K series/elise and could fix it.I can travel
There is a guy from Wales who makes his living replacing / updating these on MGTF's
Check a couple of MG forums and I'm sure you'll find him.
My father has always used Kelvedon For Lotus in Spalding, Lincs. The guys working there are real gurus.
http://www.kelsport.net/contact.asp
Where abouts are you?
Phoenix are great if North West-ish and well worth travelling if not.
HGF on a K engine is something that happens from time to time. However, not all symptoms should be pointing towards a HGF just because the Elise is known for that. Before you blow the bank on this one, check this first with some simple tools. First: a pressure test of the coolant system: does the pressure go down or does it stay the same? Then, a block test: Coolant will contain HCs when it's 'mixed' with the gasses. A simple tester will tell you if there are HCs in the coolant. Some 'cafe au lait' coloured oil can also be a result of short trips or a leaking inlet manifold.
In short: check it first. and check this: http://web.tiscali.it/elise_s1/
Menno
+1 for Phoenix Motorsport. They are Lotus experts.Originally Posted by Coot
Steve Williams @ www.swlotus.com
Lotus Specialist in Maidenhead.
Has been looking after my Elise since 2000.
Wouldn't go anywhere else.
Cheers
Paul
Before you pay for an HG repair try a bottle of this - https://www.kseal.com/uk/
Poured a bottle into my mum's Polo which was about to embark on what would probably be its last journey as the HG replacement would be BER and it sealed on the way and is still going strong. Personally I never thought it would work but it has and was at the "nothing to lose" stage.
Previously it was suffering from poor running, hard to start, hesitation etc. Initial signs didn't look good - excess of pressure in the expansion tank, coolant a horrible colour & lots of mayo - not only under the filler cap but also breathing into the "carb" (it is fuel injected but has a carb body with air-filter on top that has been converted by VW to FI with it.
As has been said, there's a chance that you haven't suffered from HGF, not every K series will blow it.
I use Essex Autosport in Kelvedon, Essex for all my work (Series 2 K series 111s) and am getting some insurance covered bodywork repairs done there as soon as the parts become available. Wayne, the owner, really knows his stuff and is a top bloke to deal with. They also carry out engine transplants, much more exciting than just sorting out the HG
http://www.essexautosport.com/
Are you a member of SELOC? Plenty of advice and recommendations there.
Last edited by CardShark; 23rd February 2017 at 18:20.
Yep seloc member,See the EA conversions..honda please
I've worked on the K series for years since the dreaded Freelander 1 issues.
You need to mare sure that you find someone who is 100% aware of all the issues this engine has.
There is a new modified head gasket (MLS) that makes the engine more robust, along with the modified ladder frame and stat assembly. Ensure the water pump is replaced as a matter of course and any slight coolant leak MUST be addressed!! The head must be checked for plain and you must ensure that the liner stand prouds are measured....If you have a moment look for a book by Des Hamill regarding the K series and more importantly repairing the K series, it will tell you everything you need to know,
If you need any help drop me a PM.
FFF
^^^^
I'd be tempted to take it to FFF....
FFF where are you based and would you be interested? I gather the MSL is the same as the N chinese uprated with stronger ladder and upgraded heat bolts and new torque setting?
I'm based in Wiltshire, and yes we could do it.
There's actually nothing wrong with the original head bolts, I've tested many over the years and have measured against new with no issues. The K series is literally on the point of bowling itself dry most of the time even when the cooling system is in good order, this is the reason why I say that you need to make sure there are no leaks what so ever or air locks will soon ensue and things get very costly very quickly.
pretty sure no leaks ,its not using water and temps sit at 87-88 and car runs great(just did 200 miles on sunday in her) ,just a thin oily white residue in the header starting to form ,rest of header nice N blue..
My advice is to keep an eye on your coolant level like your life depended on it.....I know it's stupid but the K can go from normal to destruction in minutes.
Things to look out for:
Coolant loss.
Oil in water.
Water in oil.
Temperature gauge going suddenly cold when up to normal temperature.
TBH, any slight evidence of oil or emulsification in the header tank is normally an indication of things to come, the only caveat to that is that if somebody has filled the water tank with a contaminated container but you'd prob never know that.
Only I would top the car if it needed it,but I hasnt so I dont think its got contaminated .I remember he wife freelander doing the same.I would rather catch it before any damage is done.What price should it be for doing?
If yours is the same as my caterham 21 then the stat is in the block which is a rather flawed system. Last time I had my CHG done I added the remote stat kit (designed for freelanders) and I've found the temp is alot more stable as the coolant flow makes rather more sense. Well worth a look if Lotus haven't already done it.
I'm a little bit out of touch with today's prices as haven't done one for a few years now however I could certainly cost it tomorrow and give you some idea.
I think that repair is almost universal now David, it was one of LR's first half arsed attempts to rectify the problem which subsequently failed along with virtually everything else they tried. I'm sure LR developed the MLS gasket which made the inherent issues with the engine somewhat better.
If you read Des Hamills book it states that 100% of K series will fail before they should do and I tend to agree with him TBH.
That would be great.I read they use steel dowels too to stop movement.
Yep they generally come in the head set.
Not sure where you are based OP. However if it is HGF get the head tested for porosity, and consider a PRRT remote thermostat. It's a simple fix and as said above get the liners checked and use the newer gasket and dowels.
If you are keeping the car have a thing about gettting the head ported by one of the peeps below.
Roger at saberheads
Dave at DVA power
Peter Grace.
Can't really afford to get those guys to breath on it,and 160bhp is fine atm for me.I think its more someone who knows what they are doing and knows the elise
It would make sense but when I did mine (ok had it done) around 4 yrs ago it wasn't that common on caterhams. Anyway it worked for me, along with a bigger fan especially as my rad lies horizontally which in itself isn't the world's best formulated plan but anything else doesn't fit.
What's your location?
Leeds ,but can get around ;-)
As said you need to make sure the gasket has failed, if you have a local mot garage they can use there emissions machine to test for h.c's in the header tank, thats how we test for it..if there are none and you have no issues just keep your eye on the level
Dave Andrews in Milton Keynes, brilliant bloke knows K's very well. Used to look after my K in my Caterham. Search DVA, very well thought of.
The K series doesn't fail in that manner, the gasket is generally breached around the water and oil ways and not the fire ring. In the years I've been doing K series I've yet to have I've yet to see one failure like that.
Olly at Phoenix motorsport in Accrington 01254 384071.
He sorted my Elise S1 too. Went in with 118 bhp and came out with near enough 200. He sorted the liner heights which were a problem (and would have caused HGF failure at some point) as part of the work.
I don't think you'll find anyone who knows more about K's, and his wife does a decent lunch too
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