Rover 414 Head Gasket...?

[jedivean]

I strongly suspect the head gasket is on its way out (white smoke, losing water, running tempermental, etc). I have a friend who is a mechanic and is willing to fix it for me .... if I can get the car to him. Problem - he lives 200 miles away!! How far can I drive it without doing any further damage? If I was to stop every 50 miles or so and top up with water, and make sure it didn't overheat, would I make it? Otherwise the car's a gonna as I don't have the 300 quid+ it's going to cost to get it fixed at a London garage!

[Panic Button]

�300 quid sounds cheap for that, if it is done properly with the head being skimmed.

I had one of these (well a 214 16v).

The gasket had gone and it had overheated.

My tame mechanic advised it wasn't worth doing.

Apparently the Rover engine has some sort of sleeve in the cylinder, and unless it was stripped right down to replace the seals at the bottom, there is a danger of it needing doing again.

[jedivean]

Oooo nooooo! Don't say that! It's been such a great car for the last 3 years. This is the first work I've ever had to have done on it! Surely it's gotta be worth fixing.

[Panic Button]

You might be lucky, as mine had overheated so there was potential damage.

However I would be wary of driving it a long way, as you might do the same.

[Jackson74]

You will have trouble getting very far if there is considerable smoke out the exhaust. If oil is being flung through and out the exhaust system then the car will only need to warm up for the oil to burn in your system. It is possible but you have to be very vigilant on temp and prepare to travel all day, shouldn't overheat but be wary about the smoke, especially for other road users!
I just had my gasket done through a mate, cost �300.00 all in (inclusive of new gasket (�18.00)and head skimmed (�60-70). That was cheap! It's all about labour for a blown gasket I'm afraid.
Good Luck!

[jedivean]

Thanks Jackson. I was thinking about starting out at around 4am to avoid other road users and be less of a hazard! And I've checked my breakdown cover will get me there if needed - and it does!!

[rnchugg]

Although I might get sacked for this, Drive a SHORT distance call the AA espically if you have relay and tell them you where heading for where ever you are going. The 1St thing that will be done is a roadside pressure test this will give the patrolman a Better (but not guarnted) possibility. they will check to make sure that it is definatly the gasket that has gone and not a temp sender unit problem TSU(the TSU could give an inaccurate reading hence overheating, as regards to the smoke, a few other possible answers). If they then agree that they cannot apply a roadside repair or driving will accure more engine damage you will get relayed. Be very carefull as your policy might get revoked if they feel you are "taking the ****". Good luck anyhow.