K series engine, reliable or bag of spanners?

[gregh]

Evening all,

Post Westie ownership I have an almost green card to start looking for something else post Xmas.

So it's an Elise vs VX 220 at the moment.

Both of us prefer the looks of the Elise, will test drive both nearer the time.

However my main concern is the K series engine.

I hear many stories of head gasket failure, but it appears that can be fixed for £500ish.

Apart from the HGF, is the K series reliable?

I'd ask on either the VX or Elise BBS but am hoping for a more honest and less biased view here.

regards,

greg

[Gavin]

I have found that once the head gasket goes once on these you tend to have non stop problems with them particuarly with the cylinder liners. Most people I speak to that have had a head gasket go on a K series have had it go 2 or 3 times and usually end up replacing liners or getting rid of them.I'm in the trade allthough not the mechanical side of it and so many people I see have problems even on young cars that I would never go near one myself .This is just my experience of them but then some people may tell you different.

[stu999]

I'd ask on either the VX or Elise BBS but am hoping for a more honest and less biased view here.

When the majority of the worlds Cateringvans are powered by them?

   

[neilb]

Brook Kensington are fitting honda type r engines in the elise

[gregh]

I'd ask on either the VX or Elise BBS but am hoping for a more honest and less biased view here.

When the majority of the worlds Cateringvans are powered by them?

   

What have cateringvans got to do with a Westie website    

[starter]

I've got a K and it's done 14000 miles about 10,000 of which has been on track. The only problem has been cracked pistons due to over revving which was cured with forged ones.

I think you have to be carefull in warming them up before driving hard. HTH

[bhouse]

I no longer have an Elise so hope that I'll be seen as unbiased...

However, I've had 2 Elises and covered about 130,000 miles with them without HGF (or for that matter any other) problems.

I was always very careful to warm the car up properly using the following guidelines offered to me by a Lotus test driver:

Keep to quarter throttle and revs below 3k untill temp has stabilised at 'normal' for at least 5 mins and then apply more revs and throttle progressively. Don't use full throttle/revs until engine is thoroughly warmed up.

In addition, if I needed to use the car for a short journey I always went the long way to make the journey at least 10 miles - preferably 20!

Fine engine: light, bits available cheaply and quite tunable with loads of options.

[perksy]

Think Rover changed the Location Method of the Cylinder Head on the Later 'K' Series Engines, Using  Steel Dowels, To Try to Help with HGF's  

The Cooling system MUST be Bled Properly, Otherwise it's an Accident waiting to Happen...

The Inlet Manifold Gaskets are Also a Weak point, Don't Ask How I know this  

Aren't Lotus Now fitting Toyota Engines  

Think the Lotus is a Better Looking car, BUT the VX has Got a Lovely Engine....

[Messer]

In my Elise I covered about 10k without HGF, although the entire 10k of driving was spoilt in anticipation of HGF.

I really did enjoy ownership of Elise, although a lot of people on here don't like them.

One of the major causes for most head gaskets giving up is due to the difficulty in bleeding the K series so I understand. If its done properly it should be fine, but it doesnt stop you from worrying about it on every journey. In the end I found a good, reliable, honest Lotus Elise specialist so changed my worrying, careful driving style back to drive it how I want, when I want (obviously after warming up) and if it goes pop then get it fixed.

Cam belts are also needed either every 4 years or 40k.

PS Blink motorsport are offering some nice engine conversions!!!

[v7slr]

I've got a reasonable working knowledge of tuning and living with a very high power K and I say YES they can be reliable but it depends on what the specification is.

If it's in standard form and is the later model with the steel head locating dowels then you'll probably never have a problem with it. If it's been tuned it is vital that some specific items are attended to. Some people don't and the engines fail.

If you *do* want to tune it, there's a very special chap you need to talk to first. Lemme know.

[Blatman]

I thought the problem with K series HGF was the way the thermostat was plumbed. No reall flow over the stat until the water around the head had heat soaked it open, at which point it got a rush of cold water. Thermal shock was (what I thought) done for them. I seem to recall reading somewhere that a simple mod to re-plumb/re-site/dril the thermostat (or something like that) was the cure.

If I can remember where I saw it, I'll put a link up...

[Messer]

If you *do* want to tune it, there's a very special chap you need to talk to first. Lemme know.

would that be dave andrews?

[perksy]

Think i Read about this Blatman on Either the Cateringvan OR the MGF owners Website  

[Megablade Paul]

Brook Kensington are fitting honda type r engines in the elise

And a few other companies are also offering the conversion which ranges from about 180 to 240ps or over 300 with forced induction - conversion start at £10k, I know I've been looking - top quality though.

In 2years of Elise ownership have not had any problems (touch wood) others are right, warm it properly and it should be fine. The bottom end should be good for 180ps before you need to start strenghthening if you want more power but make sure you use the reputable companies - DVA Power is Dave Andrews and most people say he's the best.

Lotus still supply new Elise with the K in 120 and 156ps (VVC) guise. You can get 170ps from the 120 base engine for less than 3k fro DVA or PTP and there are others.

Lotus now supply the 111R and Exige with the 189ps Toyota engine with 6 speed box.

[Kev Bamber]

I thought the problem with K series HGF was the way the thermostat was plumbed. No reall flow over the stat until the water around the head had heat soaked it open, at which point it got a rush of cold water. Thermal shock was (what I thought) done for them. I seem to recall reading somewhere that a simple mod to re-plumb/re-site/dril the thermostat (or something like that) was the cure.

If I can remember where I saw it, I'll put a link up...

Blatters is spot on with the root cause of K Head Gasket Failure.

I've used & abused a 190bhp 1600cc Rover K in Class C now for 3 years without problem - Use an in-line stat on the return to the rad header tank rather than the standard block fitment stat & you can abuse them to your heart's content.

I use the QED remote stat but believe a cheaper alternative is an aftermarket HGF solution for the Freelander, but not looked into that.

Although they are remote, they have a bypass to their rear so are fed with warm water from startup, & therefore open earlier & much more progessively than the the OE stat.

Can supply a coolant pipe diagram if anyone wants.