Does the Lotus Elise suffer from Head Gasket Issues?

[Randomman]

As the title suggests really, someone asked me the other day and I couldnt answer! I am, of course, talking of the older (S1?) model with the 1.8 K series Rover engine in. I doubt Toyota would put weak gaskets on a revvy VVTi engine!

Also what are they like if your looking for a drivers car, fast and stick to the road like glue, cold and leaky with more rattles than a nursery is the response I've had so far, is this a good description.

 

[jug]

series 1 & 2 both have a k series engine, and despite the modifed head it is still prone to HG failure.

"lotus elise head gasket failure" finds 16900 results in google, do you need more of a warning than that?

fast and stick to the road like glue, cold and leaky with more rattles than a nursery

i've heard the same, but i cant fit in one to find out.

 

[jami]

Jug how do you know all this stuff?!

 

[jug]

the k series is one of my favorite engines

 

[custard]

yeah i cant recall what i read on this.it was a tip or the likes regarding the cooling set up but cant recall.
sure i read the engines are a bit of a pain to work on.

 

[99sei]

pain in the arse to change a HG on these, the bolts are the whole length of the engine.

although the suffer from HG failures, there are really good engines

 

[jug]

pain in the arse to change a HG on these, the bolts are the whole length of the engine.

yeah, stretch bolts, a stupid idea because no matter how tight you make a bolt of that length, or what its tensile strength is, it will still be able to move if you wiggle it in the middle. that wouldnt be a problem is the bolts sat in narrow holes, but on the k series the holes are too wide (to allow oil drainage) which means the bolts are more easily able to move. this is why the locating dowells are so critical, the bolts hold the head on, but only the dowells stop it moving, shockingly these dowells were plastic until fairly recently, and even the newer steel ones have seen failure.

 

[jamie86]

Get the MG TF instead real world it's just as fast especially with the elise TB thrown on

 

[Randomman]

Get the MG TF instead real world it's just as fast especially with the elise TB thrown on

Thats interesting, same 1.8 K-series I assume?

Didnt they do a 150bhp version of this as well, VVTi so I hope they sorted the headgasket out.

As for why its cr@p its a common misconception that it was the cooling system that caused this. Its true in the early 90's Rover Tried a new set up that kept coolent out the engine until it was warm. Great idea in theory. But the sudden rush of cold water all around the head caused the HG to warp and crack very easily.

The reason why the more modern K-Series is prone to HG faliure is that they used a novel silocon gel system. I just thought they would have put more effort into the elise engine.

I think its amazing that a company that had such close relationships with Honda has so many HG problems. Rover, you should've learnt from the best when you had the chance. I dont see HG problems on the S2000 and that rev's to 9000.

I think a VX220 is a better way to go anyway, either in 2.2 or the mental 2.0 turbo format.

 

[jamie86]

Depends what money your talking really 6kish gets you a MGTF that I believe they did a 160bhp version...

Or 10k is an original elise or high mileage VX220...

Read a really good article on tuning elise's anything from the K20 VTEC engine to the VAG 1.8T with 400bhp now that would be fun a supercar for £20k that actually has the same weight distrubation as standard and only about 20-30kg heavier :devil: :yum:

 

[arc]

didn't ford fix the HG issue, by putting the thermostat on the outflow of the engine (where rover should've to begin with!!)

 

[AppleSei]

Bit of a alternative suggestion

Chateram (sp) series 7?

I think that had the K-series engine and you would certainly turn heads

 

[jug]

ooh caterham 7, good suggestion, a proper track car than anyone can afford.

you can stick pretty much any engine you want in one of them (even bike engines) but the k series does seem to be the most popular option on both road and track, although i'd want the 2.3 cosworth :slayer:. i think the ford xflow was the most popular option back in the earlier days.

someone should stick a 20vT lump in one and give it a styling makeover, make an italian7

 

[Renegade_8]

MGF/TF are great value now. The VVC were 160 BHP. I think the TF were 115 for the 1.6(very underated short stroke engine) and 135 for the 1.8 If you want a car you can use they are a better choice than the Lotus, although seeing an Elise always makes me smile. With the K you can put a new desing head gasket (there are several out there) , remote thermostat metal dowels and a Ford oil rail (locates the bolts in the sump) still not 100% but you can also buy a low coolant alarm kit! . They are very tuneable and still being developed. Lastly , a "Megablade" 7 (Honda 900CC 4 bike engine)outdragged our MGB the other day (yeah theres a surprise same BHP 2:1 power to weight) plus my early car has the 3 synchro gearbox with the ratio compromises, however I could not live with something that made that much noise, (hearing damage levels)and revved to 11K to make its power.

 

[Gazza AK47]

Top Tip, never turn a K series engine over without the head on, as they have wet liners. My old boss turned the engine over I was working on, and sure enough the piston pushed its liner up. At the base of the liners are a little paper gasket that can tear.

Fortunately we got away with it.

Have done a HG on a MGF VVC, the inlet cam is in 2 halfs with the second half driven by a small cambelt on the back of the head between the inlet and Exhaust cams, it was a **** of a job!!!

Get an Elise with a Toyota motor, or get a VX220 as suggested.

An Elise with a K20 Type R motor,,,, Hmmm,,,, 2nd thoughts get an Aerial Atom:slayer: :slayer:

 

[vtec]

was in one of these elise thingys yesterday and have to say they aer the most akward, basic and uncomfortable car ive ever been in., im 5'10 and i was really uncomfortable in it, i cant see how people drive them? they look nice but i would never concider one.,

 

[jug]

at least you could fit in, the elise is part of a long list of cars i cant even fit in. i almost got stuck in a vx220, if i didnt have 2 people pulling me out and a 3rd pushing from the other side i'd probably still be stuck in it now. i'm only 6ft and 16stone ffs!

you can also buy a low coolant alarm kit!

i've fitted a few of them, my own design too