S2 K Series Head Gasket Has Gone

[CubanGav]

Are you saying is the head is warped its going to be scrap anyway - its warped because its went soft?

So if you take a head off, put a straight edge across it and its not flat then bin it?

Just curious.

Ta.

[KingK_series]

Are you saying is the head is warped its going to be scrap anyway - its warped because its went soft?

So if you take a head off, put a straight edge across it and its not flat then bin it?

Just curious.

Ta.

the head is scrap if it's gone soft.


if it is warped, it is highly unlikely is is not soft, but will also bind the cams

either way scrap

[CubanGav]

[roadboy]

Just want to say, there is absolutely no need to remove the rear clam to take the head off an Elise.

Dan

There is if you want to take out the engine to strip and deck the block.

Pretty sure I didn't say,"there is absolutely no need to remove the rear clam to take the engine out of an Elise."

Dan

[KingK_series]

Just want to say, there is absolutely no need to remove the rear clam to take the head off an Elise.

Dan

There is if you want to take out the engine to strip and deck the block.

Pretty sure I didn't say,"there is absolutely no need to remove the rear clam to take the engine out of an Elise."

Dan

????? not sure I understand what you are trying to say...

I am trying to say that there is absolutely no point in taking the head off [clam on or off] and skimming it - that will achieve absolutely nothing except introduce MORE problems into the engine

The only way to deal with this issue is to strip whole engine, deck block, and test the head, therefore clam needs to come off.

[campbell]

the solution;-

remove clam
remove head, strip and hardness test DO NOT SKIM UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
If the head is less than 95 brinnel on a recently calibrated modern digital hardness tester [ costing 2 grand which is why most garages/dealers do not have them] it is scrap.
If the head is above 95 brinnel - DO NOT SKIM, reassemble and reuse
Always strip short end, and DO DECK the block plus liner shoulders to straighten and give correct liner standproud of 4 thou
remove and replace plastic dowels with steel ones
remove old thermostat and replace with 82deg PRT.
use new OE longbolts
check and replace radiator for leaking plastic end caps, Proalloy do a good replacement.

This is the best that can be done without altering the water flow through the engine and a properly designed water pump,

these measures are therefore NOT a solution but will manage the problem sufficiently well to enjoy the engine and car.

Ignoring the contradiction from start and end of the quote above , this seems like a rather useful post which demystifies a whole load of K engine voodoo....

[Peter]

It's an interesting post. My question would be..

If you bought a fully functioning K series Elise, what (if anything) would your recommend as a series of pro-active steps to increase it's longevity?

[Dominic]

It's an interesting post. My question would be..

If you bought a fully functioning K series Elise, what (if anything) would your recommend as a series of pro-active steps to increase it's longevity?

Oh great! Something I can answer in the technical section! Whoop whoop - does not happen often.

So, to answer your question, I give you: "Dom's guaranteed HGF avoidance plan" ;

Step 1. Take said K series Elise.
Step 2. Drive into your Garage (Driveway or even parking space will do)
Step 3. Turn off the engine
Step 4. Put the car in gear (leaving the handbrake off)
Step 5. (Optional, and open to discussion) Plug in a trickle charger/ smart trickle charger to the battery... although if you follow Step 8, religiously, this is not really required!
Step 6. Lock the car
Step 7. (Again, optional) Cover the car with a sheet or if outdoors a waterproof cover.
Step 8. Leave the car alone.... for ever. ....(another option would be to sell it, that I could not possible recommend that)

Follow Step 8 in particular and you will never suffer HGF.

HTH

[CubanGav]

Scotboys probably reading all this thinking ffs what am I getting into here

Put it to JD. Let them do what they do. Get the car back and enjoy life

[KingK_series]

It's an interesting post. My question would be..

If you bought a fully functioning K series Elise, what (if anything) would your recommend as a series of pro-active steps to increase it's longevity?

a/ for min effort, just fit with a 82 DEG PRT

b/ for medium effort , strip, deck, fit and balance to lightweight single piece flywheel.

c/ for bombproofing, strip, deck, deck liner shoulders, flywheel + balance, mod waterways, modded gasket [for waterway mods] competition water pump

d/ for max fun, fit 2L KingK engine, forget "HGF", and go murder sc hondas.!

but c/ requires parts that are not commercially available

[KingK_series]

Scotboys probably reading all this thinking ffs what am I getting into here

Put it to JD. Let them do what they do. Get the car back and enjoy life

who is JD?

[tut]

d/ for max fun, fit 2L KingK engine, forget "HGF", and go commit suicide trying to murder sc hondas.!



tut

[CubanGav]

I have too ask..... How much for a D? I understand if its not something you want to give away.

JD Motor Engineers in Inch up here.

[CubanGav]

It would be fun chasing you though Tut.

[KingK_series]

d/ for max fun, fit 2L KingK engine, forget "HGF", and go commit suicide trying to murder sc hondas.!



tut

Bear in mind Tut a...."surprising" amount of power from a reliable K and a passenger less engine and gearbox weight............... wait for the numbers on the k20 thread, they are coooominnnnnnnng!!!!!!