OK I'm still looking to swap the 200sx for a vi but am worried about the hgf problem. How many of you guys have had a vvc engined car for a significant length of time and HAVEN'T had any gasket troubles?

EDIT:- actually don't see the option for creating a poll?? So i guess you can just tell me stories:doh:

You need to rephrase that with not had HG failure without a known cause.

Yes mine has, but it was due to a faulty waterpump that was put on when the cambelts were changed. This failed after a few months a caused the HG to fail. As it would in every other car on the road. It was a manufacturing fault in a replacement part which is just one of those things.

Otherwise it has been very very reliable.

Ok including that proviso then...

I have had 6 F/TF's (3 VVC) and a ZT. I cover 25k to 30k per year and have had only 1 HGF. I didn't bother to investigate the possible cause as it was warranty repaired anyway. But I don't feel worried to be currently driving 2 cars with 1.8 K series engines and if they become available again I will buy another TF160.

OK I'm still looking to swap the 200sx for a vi but am worried about the hgf problem. How many of you guys have had a vvc engined car for a significant length of time and HAVEN'T had any gasket troubles?

EDIT:- actually don't see the option for creating a poll?? So i guess you can just tell me stories:doh:

You could also include the 1.8 MPI!!..

Looking at the HOS VVCs seem to fair no better/worse than MPIs

Agreed - the VVC side of things has absolutely no bearing on the HG reliability.

havnt owned a 1.8K but ive owned a few 1.4 and 1.6 K series and never had head gasket failure. when I got rid of my 1993 Rover 214 it had 85450 miles on the clock on its original gasket and there where still no signs of it failing.

I should post up for 5 other friends who are VVC owners and no HG failiures between them.

Yes, I had a HGF. But it happened only two weeks after I'd bought the car and I blame the previous owner :) (and a faulty waterpump).
The engine has been replaced and it's covered 40k since without any problems.

BTW a HGF is not the end of the world, as so many people seem to believe. As long as you check your coolant and oil regularly, you'll spot it soon and not a lot of damage is done to the engine (apart from the gasket itself).

Has anything really been done to cure the problem in later engines? I know rover said something about new gasket and dowels? Has the problem really been solved and can you do anything with earlier models to protect them (other than look after the cooling system). I am really keen to get a Vi but don't want to have to worry about hgf constantly! If I went to look at one would a compression test be likely to show up problems (got a tester for xmas:bgrin: ) and are there other common problems with these cars I should look for?

6 K series engines to date, no head gasket failures. However, I've experienced a VVC cam failure which is apparently very rare.

K series engines were constantly updated to improve reliability.

3x 1.8 engine, only one HGF due to plastic dowels, liners also went on nos 4 cylinder related I think so.

seems you are looking for a reason not to swap/buy the car,
I've know about the HGF issue from 97 but the last 4 cars bought have all contained K series, my next car will also conatin a K series.

yes HGF can be a pain, can even be a bit on the expensive side. but it's not a reason not to buy a car.

I would disagree, a major inherent fault that is likely to occur and take the car of the road whilst also costing me money is a good reason not to buy a car- I'm not saying there is a major inherent fault, I'm just trying to find out if there is and how prevalent it is. The other cars I'm considering as slightly more practical alternatives to the sx are a xsara vts and a civic vti, of the 3 options I prefer the 200vi due to the fuel economy and low insurance but the other 2 have no common problems at all and are both very reliable (apart from the odd electrical fault in the citroen) so I need to know if I can rely on the rover.

i'd say, if you don't want the vi get the civic lol.. if you want the vi that much you would have bought it by now..

if you think its a major inherent fault of the k series why are you bothering to ask about it lol.. its obviously more common to get a good engine than a bad one. but you only hear of the bad ones usualy so it will always seem dodgy.

best bet is to find out exactly what the mods are on the later engines and do that to the vi

I had a 200vi from new and covered 45k miles in 2.5 years with no HGF.

You also need to consider the type of car as well, I think HGF is more common in F's and TF's because of worse cooling and longer radiator hoses. It's likely to be less common in 200's and ZR's.

And if you are unlucky enough to have the problem, the new gasket you fit will be significantly updated and will come with a set of steel dowels to replace the plastic ones if fitted - in other words if the job is done properly it should be far less likely to happen again.

i'd say, if you don't want the vi get the civic lol.. if you want the vi that much you would have bought it by now..

if you think its a major inherent fault of the k series why are you bothering to ask about it lol.. its obviously more common to get a good engine than a bad one. but you only hear of the bad ones usualy so it will always seem dodgy.

best bet is to find out exactly what the mods are on the later engines and do that to the vi

I didn't say it was an inherent fault, I'm asking if it is! The point is I do want the vi but not if it will be massively less reliable than the alternatives (I wouldn't expect it to be quite as reliable as the honda but it is cheaper).

I didn't say it was an inherent fault, I'm asking if it is! The point is I do want the vi but not if it will be massively less reliable than the alternatives (I wouldn't expect it to be quite as reliable as the honda but it is cheaper).Well, Ford and Vauxhall enginds suffer HGF as well - do people go around asking about them before buying a car?

The post 2000 K Series (steel dowels) is no more likely to suffer an HGF than an engine from another manufacturer... Simple as.

I've had loads of K Series powered cars and not one HGF...

Well, Ford and Vauxhall enginds suffer HGF as well - do people go around asking about them before buying a car?

The post 2000 K Series (steel dowels) is no more likely to suffer an HGF than an engine from another manufacturer... Simple as.

I've had loads of K Series powered cars and not one HGF...

Well you must admit they do have a reputation but I am aware of how these things can be overblown which is why I'm here asking the opinion of owners. The sxoc is inundated with prospective owners asking about big end bearing failures, the 200sx's achilles heel, but that is a high mileage issue, the problem with the hgf's is that they seem to come at any point in the cars life judging on the hos. I apologise if I have caused offence but this is obviously an issue I wish to know more about before shelling out a couple of grand. If I retrofit the steel dowels from the later engine is the problem likely to be solved? (I would probably be looking at a 97-99 model for that much cash).

To replace the dowels means removing the head so would cost the same as replacing the HG anyway.

Therefore you may as well put the money in the bank and just enjoy the car. If it were to then throw a head gasket then do the dowels with the later gasket.

I would do it myself so I would be looking at parts only-if I waited till the hg blew I could risk more damage or at the least having to have the head skimmed. I reckon I'll get one and take my chances unless I find a good value vti first.

OK I'm still looking to swap the 200sx for a vi but am worried about the hgf problem. How many of you guys have had a vvc engined car for a significant length of time and HAVEN'T had any gasket troubles?

EDIT:- actually don't see the option for creating a poll?? So i guess you can just tell me stories:doh:

Get one mate you wont regret it if u can find a solid one. Lower the suspension by 20mm and get some more tread on the road and they make great cars. Easy to modify and with £500 you can get 160bhp at least. Dont let the headgasket issue put you off. The new headgasket set is pretty strong so if it does go wrong then its a easy fix to get it reliable.

ive done 9000 miles in mine since buying it and all ive had go wrong so far is a CV joint and a jubilee clip leaking some power steering fluid.