Rover head gasket !!!??

[MRCoops]

Anybody help please

I have replaced a head gasket on my Rover 200 1.4 SE 16v - but cannot get it started, there is fuel to the plugs, spark at the plugs, timing marks all as per Haynes manual instruction and the enging is turning over I have tried towing but nothing !

[cazzz1975]

have you run a compression test?

In some cases there is a lack of oil in the piston rings which can cause a lack of compression, How this is cured, is to remove the sparkplugs, put a couple of squirts of engine oil down each pot, then turn the engine over without the sparkplugs in, this throws out the excessive oil whilst oiling the cylinders and rings.

Replace the plugs and start the engine..

there will be a lot of smoke but it will burn off so dont panic, its worth a try if your out of options.

[cruella]

Hi
Spoke to Hubby about your problem.
Did you have the head skimmed first?
A new gasket on a Rover has an alloy head, so it needs to be skimmed before fitting.

[cazzz1975]

check for compression first before anything , the car should still start even if it hasnt been skimmed.

[MRCoops]

thanks caz will give that a try !

[cruella]

Cazzz,
We still think it has to be skimmed before replacing.
Could be wrong but if it was not skimmed, then you end to have problems.

[cazzz1975]

You only really need to skim the head if it has been distorted through overheating, it is common practice to skim it anyway because it saves money stripping the engine down and rebuilding it should there be an undiagnosed overheating issue (the car owner may not be aware it has overheated)

It will not stop the engine running though

[MRCoops]

The head wasn't skimmed fingers crossed it will be OK getting rid once its running !! So don't buy one in the next few weeks!!!

[cruella]

Hubby used to have one and the same thing happened to him.
That is why he got rid of it.
Sorry you are having trouble with the car though.

[Fitzer]

Been a long time since I worked on my own cars so I don't know if this is current for your engine but have you checked that the plug leads are on the distributor in the correct order, did this to my old Austin 1300 and it wouldn't start, swapped them round and voila!

[MRCoops]

Helen
The engine is turning over, and I waited for the red light to stop flashing so I think I have eliminated any immobiliser defects. But I will put that idea on the back burner !

Fitzer
Understand what your saying , done it before !!! hence the leads haven't been touched on this occasion

[david1702198]

cazz putting oil downt into the combustion chamber will only soak th spark plugs in oil and reduce the chance of the car starting rather than helping it. MRCOOPS DID YOU MAKE SURE YOU PUT THE HEAD GASKET ON THE CORRECT WAY UP?skimming the head is something i would always get done once a head is removed but shouldnt prohibit the car efrom atar

[david1702198]

""sorry!! shouldnt prohibit the car from starting, but given this particular engines history of overheating problems i would always get it skimmed

[cazzz1975]

no it wont david

I have used this several times over the past few years, sometimes when you replace the cylinder head you remove the oil from the piston rings and cylinders (by cleaning)

This causes a loss of compression, this needs to be replaces as even a tow would not start the car. a couple of squirts of engine oil per cylinder will not harm, if the plugs oil up , remove them clean them and put them back in.

The idea is to replace the oil lost when you cleaned the cylinders, by spinning the engine you remove most of the excess oil, restarting the engine (with replaced plugs) will burn off the rest.

this method does work.

[bigboots]

the camshaft pulleys can be fitted in two posions and also be swapped between inlet and exhaust cams so all the timing marks will line up but the car will not start if they are not in there correct places
might be worth removing the rocker cover and with the crank timed up the exhaust cam shold be just after 12 o clock position and the inlet cam should be between the 6 to 9 o clock position hope this helps

[david1702198]

cant say ive ever seen this in all the time i worked in garages. how do you remove oil from the piston rings when you remove a cylinder head??? why do most engines have 2 compression piston rings??the oil scraper piston ring is only there to stop oil from getting up into the combustion chamber??

[david1702198]

i didnt say it would harm it at all. all i said was that it would probably douise the electrode on the spark plug to the extent it would possibly prohibit the engine from starting.

[cazzz1975]

the use of degreasers or petrol in a car to either clean or if the car is flooded when trying unsuccessfully to start it can remove the oil from within the piston rings/ cylinder.

Granted this is rare, but if you dont think that the cylinder/piston rings are lubricated by the engine oil you are mistaken.

heat + friction =

This is a method that works successfully so why try to pick it apart? It does improve compression and it does work. If you have never tried it you are in no position to know, I dont want to get into a big debate with you.

I was shown this method by a mechanical engineer who had a similar problem. something that is uncommon is not necessarily wrong...

[MRCoops]

Thanks peeps!!

Glad to see there is still some passion out there !! I am really open to any suggestions if it won't wreck the engine! Big Boots will check your reply out aswell

[david1702198]

im not getting into any debate im stating the facts, if you drianed all the oil from an engine it would still start!!!!engine oil does not provide an internal combustion engine or aid it in any way with compression!!!the oil scraper or piston ring is simply there as i said to stop oil from lifting up into the combustion chamber!! cazz why do you think i have never tried it or even seen any other mechanic try it ?? it doesnt work!!!! in no way doest pouring oil down a spark plug opening aid compression in any way. compression is either there or it is not irrespective of whther there is oil in the engine or not.