[heraldcoupe]

Can anyone point me to a source for the latest SAIC type MLS gasket, and bolts that are confirmed to be 10.9 grade? I already have the strengthened oil rail installed, all of the kits I can find for online order include this and I really don't need another. 'Phoning around in working hours isn't really an option tomorrow, so ordering online would be the quickest option, otherise it's email suppliers and hope for responses.

I've previously picked the collective brains regarding the emissions problems with my R8 214 Cabriolet. To recap, there were a few erratic running issues, with emissions failing to meet MOT standard, plus traces of K-seal int he water. Despite a lack of firm evidence, draining the oil and pulling the head revealed plenty of water in the oil - the head gasket itself looked OK.

I bit the bullet and decided to take off the head and fit the 'ultimate' gasket set with the SAIC sourced gasket, strengthened oil rail and high tensile bolts.
When tightening the bolts, they all went to 20NM OK, but the second and third stages felt different between bolts, I had a feeling something wasn't right but was committed by this time.

It's now all back together, but when filled with coolant, there's immediate leakage between the head and block. Something went wrong, I suspect that some foreign object got between the faces when installing the head, which I obviously didn't notice.

There's a temptation to move the car on rather than persevere, but I don't like admitting defeat over something so simple, or parting with otherwise good cars for that matter. I need to get it soprted though as it's holding up other projects,

Cheers,
Bill.

[RoverRevival]

http://www.dmgrs.co.uk


I'd ask where you're located, but i can't be ar sed repeating my broken record.

[heraldcoupe]

I'm in Wiltshire.

DMGRS is who I got the kit from, but they don't list the parts seperately. They've been easy to deal with, I'd just like to get the parts ordered and on their way,

Cheers,
Bill.

[RoverRevival]

Just email matt via the site, it would take too long to list all the things he has for sale

[E_T_V]

Matt is helpful and I've used stuff from him before including some stuff on my last K series rebuild.

But beware the new SAIC gasket is still a MLS one and if liners are low or uneven then it'll leak.

If liners are even and proud by 4 thou then MLS is the one to use (either a branded one or the one from SAIC). If they are low or uneven then the elastomer gasket is a better choice. (The best choice would be to correct the liner height which can be done with shims).

I bought cheapy BGA headbolts and discovered they were infact the ones sold as upgraded items, i.e. the 10.9 rating

The cheapest place to source the elastomer payen gasket is weirdly amazon (from the payen shop).

[heraldcoupe]

Mat got back to me and offered a quote for just the gasket and bolts, so I'm now OK in that respect.

Before ordering, I had an opportunity to remove the head to find the cause of the problem. All was not well...

Photobucket is down at the moment so I can't show the images, but in short, the tops of the lines have compressed and cut the edges of the gasket, laving slivers of metal wire around each bore. Looking at it now, it appears that the liners may be sitting rather high, rather than having dropped which I understand is the usual failure. I couldn't put my hands on a set of feeler gauges in the workshop, but I'm sure the height is greater than 4 thou above the block.
Any suggestions why this would be?

So at the moment it's all on hold - there's no point in getting another gasket and destroying it the same way. Maybe time to cut my losses and look for another engine,

Cheers,
Bill.

[RoverRevival]

civilised way would be to drop the block, disassemble, get the block dect (like a skim of a head) and start all over again.

The Clarkson way of doing it is course emery cloth and a piece of wood. going to smoother grades.
Unless you are perfect ( ) this can lead to unevenness.

Alternate, (my own thoughts, could be wrong, don't quote me) what about some thick steel 10mm and a large hammer?

Plate covering all 4 cylinders and and the sides couple of taps.

You're right though, dropping is usually the biggest fault.

Now the stupid comments are out of the way, the official way is to have the liners removed and re-seated at a rough cost of around £300 on a disassembled block.

Or look on ebay for a replacement

[heraldcoupe]

Or look on ebay for a replacement

It's starting to look like the easiest option, at least to get the car back on the road in the short term.

Cheers,
Bill.

[RoverRevival]

try not to look at the mems 3 engines as its a bit more work to make them work

[heraldcoupe]

try not to look at the mems 3 engines as its a bit more work to make them work

More work is the last thing I need

Cheers,
Bill.